What to do after you throw up from alcohol

Alcohol Overdose and the Bacchus Maneuver

If the person is unconscious, semi-conscious or unresponsive, check for these symptoms of alcohol or drug overdose:

  • Cannot be roused and are unresponsive to your voice, shaking, or pinching their skin.
  • Skin is cold, clammy, pale, bluish and/or blotchy.
  • Breathing is slow - eight or fewer breaths per minute.
  • Experience lapses in breathing - more than 10 seconds between breaths.
  • Have seizures, convulsions or rigid spasms.
  • Vomit while asleep or unconscious and do not awaken.

When in doubt, remember MUST HELP.

What to do after you throw up from alcohol

Courtesy of Aware, Awake, Alive

If any of these symptoms of alcohol overdose exist, call 911 for help, and stay with them while waiting for emergency personnel:

  • Gently turn them onto their side and into the Bacchus Maneuver position.
  • Don't leave them alone at any time and be prepared to administer CPR.
  • Remember that there is a chance that a person who has passed out may not ever regain consciousness and there is a serious risk that death could occur.

If they are conscious and responsive:

  • Check often to make sure they are still conscious and responsive.
  • Make certain that they stay on their side, not their back. Gently turn them onto their side and into the Bacchus Maneuver position.
  • Before you touch them, tell them exactly what you are going to do. Be aware of any signs of aggression. Do not ridicule, judge, threaten or try to counsel them.
  • Remain calm and be firm. Avoid communicating feelings of anxiety or anger.
  • Keep them quiet and comfortable. If they are in the sun, move them to the shade. If cold, move them to a warm place and offer a blanket.
  • Don't give them food, drink or medication of any kind.
  • Remember that only time will sober up a drunk person. Walking, showering or drinking coffee will not help and may actually cause harm.

What can happen if an alcohol overdose goes untreated?

  • A person could choke on their vomit.
  • Breathing may slow down, become irregular, and stop.
  • Heart may beat irregularly and stop.
  • Hypothermia (low body temperature).
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can lead to seizures.
  • Severe dehydration from vomiting, which can cause seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.

Seek medical help for a friend who has had too much to drink. Your friend may become upset if you call 911, but it's better to have your friend alive and upset than to lose them.

Responding to alcohol overdose:

Whether someone is conscious or unconscious, first perform the Bacchus Maneuver.

If someone passes out from drinking too much, you can help by positioning them so they will not choke on their vomit. If you are worried about them, get medical attention, especially if you can't awaken them to the point that they can talk to you.

The Bacchus Maneuver

  1. Raise the arm that is closest to you above their head. Prepare to roll them towards you.
    What to do after you throw up from alcohol
  2. Gently roll them toward you, guarding their head from hitting the floor. The head should rest in front of the arm, not on it.
    What to do after you throw up from alcohol
  3. Tilt the head up to maintain airway. Tuck their nearest hand under the cheek to help maintain head tilt and raise the face off the floor.
    What to do after you throw up from alcohol
  4. Check on them often.

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SHIFT

The experience of throwing up after drinking is awful, and it may wear off the buzz. However, this may signal that your body is trying to tell you something important and may indicate an underlying concern. The article explains why alcohol makes you throw up and how to recover from it. Read on.

In This Article

  • Why Does Alcohol Make You Throw Up?
  • What To Consume After Throwing Up?
  • Side Effects Of Throwing Up After Drinking Alcohol
  • When To See A Doctor?
  • Infographic: How Not To Throw Up After Drinking
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Key Takeaways

Why Does Alcohol Make You Throw Up?

It is evident that any kind of alcohol could be toxic to our health. The body may take a lot more effort to break down these alcoholic substances. When one consumes alcohol, the liver enzymes break it down into acetaldehyde. However, when the acetaldehyde levels get too high in the liver, our body reacts by making us vomit. This way, you are flushing out the excess alcohol that your liver is finding hard to break down (1).

An excessive amount of alcohol may also irritate the lining of your stomach. This, in turn, may cause acid to build-up and make you nauseous (1).

These are a few reasons alcohol may cause you to throw up. However, you can consume certain foods to enhance recovery. Read on.

What To Consume After Throwing Up?

1. Water

When you throw up, your body gets dehydrated. Hence, keep drinking water to keep your body hydrated. Regular fluid intake may also help treat your hangover.

2. Coffee/Tea

Coffee to avoid throwing upCoffee to avoid throwing up

Shutterstock

The caffeine in coffee or tea doesnt do much to cure your hangover. However, drinking these beverages the night after a heavy drinking session may help reduce your headache and the whole groggy effect.

3. Bananas

When you throw up after drinking, your body loses important electrolytes and becomes dehydrated. Bananas are rich in potassium, which may help restore the bodys electrolytes and aid in your recovery. However, more research is warranted in this regard.

4. Watermelon

Watermelon to avoid throwing upWatermelon to avoid throwing up

Shutterstock

Watermelon contains 92% water (2). Hence, eating watermelon after a night of heavy drinking may help restore your bodys hydration.

5. Avocado

Avocado to avoid throwing up after drinkingAvocado to avoid throwing up after drinking

Shutterstock

Apart from bananas, avocados can also be a great source of potassium (3). Avocado is also known to help treat liver injury (4). As heavy drinking may cause harm to the liver, eating avocado could be considered beneficial.

6. Oranges

Oranges are rich in vitamin C. Studies show that vitamin C can elevate glutathione levels in the blood (5). Glutathione is an antioxidant that helps detoxify your body and the liver (6).

7. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is rich in carbohydrates that may help elevate your sugar levels and mood. It may help you deal with hangover fatigue. Additionally, oatmeal contains several nutrients that also may boost your energy levels and fight fatigue (7).

8. Green Tea

Green tea to avoid throwing up after drinkingGreen tea to avoid throwing up after drinking

Shutterstock

Green tea is believed to speed up the process of alcohol metabolism and reduce the chances of liver injury (8). Drinking green tea may soothe your mind and body too.

While these foods may help with your recovery, it is important to note that throwing up after drinking alcohol does have its own side effects.

Side Effects Of Throwing Up After Drinking Alcohol

  •  Apart from feeling awful due to vomiting continuously, you will also suffer from headaches, an upset stomach, and body aches.
  •  Excess drinking followed by throwing up may cause excess dehydration and affect your kidneys. Make sure to rehydrate yourself.
  •  Some may also experience gastrointestinal bleeding. In extreme cases, you may breathe in your vomit that may travel into your lungs and lead to pneumonia.

Usually throwing up after drinking doesnt require a doctors attention. However, in few cases, you must visit a doctor as soon as possible.

When To See A Doctor?

  •  If you havent stopped throwing up even after 24 hours of drinking.
  •  If you show signs of dehydration like dizziness and inability to pee.
  •  If you have a fever.
  •  If you find traces of blood in your vomit.

Infographic: How Not To Throw Up After Drinking

Throwing up after drinking is a terrible experience that leaves you regretting all your lifestyle choices every time it happens. It is also detrimental to your health as you lose electrolytes and stand the risk of severe dehydration. Of course, there are ways to feel better and stop further vomiting, but as the cliche goes, prevention is better than cure.

So, check out this infographic to learn about some tricks and a few do’s and don’ts to avoid puking after drinking again.

how not to throw up after drinking [infographic]

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Drinking alcohol can be fun, but the after-effects of binge drinking can cause the high to fade quickly. Throwing up after drinking is a classic symptom of excessive alcohol consumption. So, make sure you eat or drink something hydrating and nutritious to replenish your health and electrolytes. Follow our advice to recover quickly from throwing up. These remedies are effective as they use natural ingredients that boost liver function and balance electrolyte levels. However, if the condition persists along with other worrying symptoms, consult your healthcare provider. It is recommended that you limit your alcohol intake to prevent throwing up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to throw up or hold it in?

It is better to throw up if you are feeling nauseous after drinking. Nausea and vomiting are often signs that your body has more alcohol than it can effectively process. Therefore, while throwing up doesn’t feel great, it may be helpful to get rid of the excess alcohol or acid buildup by letting it out rather than forcefully holding it in. However, avoid forceful vomiting.

Key Takeaways

  • During the breakdown of alcohol, acetaldehyde is formed in the liver, and when it becomes too high, our bodies react by making us vomit.
  • You may also feel nauseated after drinking excessive alcohol because it can make your stomach lining irritated, causing acid to build up.
  • Drinking plenty of fluids and consuming fruits like watermelon and orange can help you replenish and recover after throwing up.

Sources

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

  • Alcohol hangover – mechanisms and mediators,
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6761819/
  • Watermelon lycopene and allied health claimshttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4464475/
  • Hass avocado composition and potential health effectshttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3664913/
  • Liver injury suppressing compounds from avocado (Persea americana)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11368579/
  • Vitamin C elevates red blood cell glutathione in healthy adultshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8317379/
  • Glutathione depletion and recovery after acute ethanol administration in the aging mouseGlutathione depletion and recovery after acute ethanol administration in the aging mouse
  • Nutritional advantages of oats and opportunities for its processing as value added foods – a reviewhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4325078/
  • Effects of beverages on alcohol metabolism: potential health benefits and harmful impactshttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4813215/

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Sucharita Mishra has a Master’s degree in Biotechnology and specializes in writing on Health and Wellness. She has worked on... more

Dr. Sandeep Jassal is a postgraduate in preventive health and lifestyle disease management by profession and a health awareness missionary... more