Alchohol and Sleep

[Jay Aitchsee]

FWIW

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa41.htm

Recovery and Relapse.Despite some improvement after withdrawal subsides, sleep patterns may never return to normal in those with alcoholism, even after years of abstinence (3,21). Abstinent alcoholics tend to sleep poorly, with decreased amounts of SWS and increased nighttime wakefulness that could make sleep less restorative and contribute to daytime fatigue (22). Resumption of heavy drinking leads to increased SWS and decreased wakefulness. This apparent improvement in sleep continuity may promote relapse by contributing to the mistaken impression that alcohol consumption improves sleep (23-25). Nevertheless, as drinking continues, sleep patterns again become disrupted (3).

(3) Aldrich, M.S. Effects of alcohol on sleep. In: Lisansky Gomberg, E.S., et al., eds. Alcohol Problems and Aging. NIAAA Research Monograph No. 33. NIH Pub. No. 98-4163. Bethesda, MD: NIAAA, in press. (21) Williams, H.L., and Rundell, Jr., O.H. Altered sleep physiology in chronic alcoholics: Reversal with abstinence. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 5(2):318-325, 1981. (22) Gillin, J.C., et al. EEG sleep studies in "pure" primary alcoholism during subacute withdrawal: Relationships to normal controls, age, and other clinical variables. Bio Psychiatry 27:477-488, 1990. (23) Lester, B.K., et al. Chronic alcoholism, alcohol and sleep. In: Gross, M.M., ed. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology: Volume 35. Alcohol Intoxication and Withdrawal: Experimental Studies. New York: Plenum Press, 1973. pp. 261-279. (24) Skoloda, T.E., et al. Sleep quality reported by drinking and non-drinking alcoholics. In: Gottheil, E.L., et al., eds. Addiction Research and Treatments: Converging Trends. New York: Pergamon Press, 1979. pp. 102-112. (25) Zarcone, V., et al. Alcohol, sleep and cerebrospinal fluid changes in alcoholics: Cyclic AMP and biogenic amine metabolites in CSF. In: Gross, M.M., ed. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology: Volume 85A. Alcohol Intoxication and Withdrawal--IIIa: Biological Aspects of Ethanol. New York: Plenum Press, 1977. pp. 593-599.

Jay

[MaxDarkside]

Interesting. Thanks. I think this is approximately correct, also...

Alcohol consumed at bedtime, after an initial stimulating effect, may decrease the time required to fall asleep. Because of alcohol's sedating effect, many people with insomnia consume alcohol to promote sleep. However, alcohol consumed within an hour of bedtime appears to disrupt the second half of the sleep period (7). The subject may sleep fitfully during the second half of sleep, awakening from dreams and returning to sleep with difficulty. With continued consumption just before bedtime, alcohol's sleep-inducing effect may decrease, while its disruptive effects continue or increase (8). This sleep disruption may lead to daytime fatigue and sleepiness

[Jay Aitchsee]

Yeah Max, but this is the part that really gets me

sleep patterns may never return to normal in those with alcoholism, even after years of abstinence

[Guest]

sleep patterns may never return to normal in those with alcoholism, even after years of abstinence

Thanks for posting this. If it's true that alcohol could permanently alter the way you sleep, everyone should be aware.

[AHI15]

Good grief. Just more evidence that in our certifiably insane society the only legal recreational intoxicating drug, alcohol, is one of the most dangerous of all drugs.

Alcohol is not a beverage. Alcohol is a drug, adminstered via beverage.

[chunkyfrog]

Darn! I so enjoyed my rare bottle of beer the other night.
The Zeo said I slept very efficiently--27% deep sleep (2:02 of 7:28 total).
ZQ = 94!
--or was that bad?

[AHI15]

Darn! I so enjoyed my rare bottle of beer the other night.
The Zeo said I slept very efficiently--27% deep sleep (2:02 of 7:28 total).
ZQ = 94!
--or was that bad?

I doubt it's bad in moderation, as with most anything. Enjoy!

[chunkyfrog]

Moderation is a no-brainer for me.
A double cocktail used to put me out like a light.
I know my limit--one beer is it.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Most threads about alcohol and CPAP, or alcohol and sleep architecture never seem to go past 6-7 replies. I don't know why, but there just isn't much interest on this forum. Here's one of the longer ongoing discussions, with some recent updates. Note: my succinct and pithy comments are far better than everyone elses <heh, heh, heh>
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=57977&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=alcohol

[Chuck Connors]

[quote="Jay Aitchsee"]FWIW

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa41.htm

Jay,

Thanks for posting this. I noted that this news report is from 1998 and one of the citations they reference (21) is from a paper written in 1981. While I'm sure some of the information is still relevant today, I'd hope that there has been more research conducted since that time. That said, I don't think there is any doubt that alcohol has an adverse effect on people with sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation and other medical conditions. Personally, I don't see any upside or positive attributes to alcohol.

-Chuck-

[Jay Aitchsee]

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/alco ... -long-term
Alcoholism May Alter Sleep Long-Term

Chuck, this is the latest I've seen. It supports the earlier findings. Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything relating to treatment.

Jay

[Lizistired]

FWIW
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa41.htm

Jay

Jay, I read a similar, but not so detailed article quite some time ago. It doesn't appear that any long term research is being done. But even data gathered from sleep studies would for the most part rely on self reporting.
I guess considering all of the different ways that alcohol damages the body, this may disappointing, but not so suprising. I'm sure the health care industry's response would be, Well duh.... except where there is a new profit stream.
I thought the "second half" references were interesting. Maybe there is more to the "first sleep", "second sleep" periods, and getting up in between. Maybe alcohol use/abuse has always been as prevalent as it is today.
Also, interesting info on infants.
Thanks for posting.
Liz

[Jay Aitchsee]

Yes Liz, we see many reports of 2nd half sleep disturbance on this forum. This too, seems pertinent

Those with alcoholism appear to be at increased risk for sleep apnea, especially if they snore

Jay

[markk]

Many years ago, I read a study on sleep and the effects of stress, alcohol, food, etc, on sleep.

It was a tour de force on why using alcohol to get to sleep is self defeating. While physical observations showed more sleep, the brain patters demonstrated that until the alcohol was metabolized from the bloodstream, the beneficial effects were mostly absent, and once the effects wore off, it took far longer to finally reach REM sleep, and the physological restoration of sleep was deeply impaired overall. It was almost the equivalent of not sleeping at all until it was removed from your bloodstream, the physical withdrawal was done.

So, while it might be something you may indulge in, it isn't something that has any benefits. Like staying up late once in a while may not have signficant harm, it certainly won't ever help you.