Does anyone drink on c-pap?

[katiek3451]

I've heard we're not supposed to drink while on c-pap, but I do like the occasional glass of wine (or two). Does anyone drink? What kind of problems have you noticed if you have? I've been on c-pap for about two months now and have gotten a lot of good tips reading on this site. I still struggle with some leaks, which drive me crazy, but with some repositioning, I can usually fix it. Have not figured out how to do the tights fix yet! (have the nasal pillows). So, to drink, or not to drink? What say you?
katiek

[btesterman]

I'm sure we have forum members who could give you much more medically technical info than I, but it seems that alcohol would relax the muscles thereby allowing more apneas or hypopneas - sort of counteracting what you're trying to accomplish with the CPAP. I have heard various places that drinking at bedtime may put you to sleep sooner BUT you will wake after a few hours sleep. I also have a glass of wine occasionally, just reserve it for special times. ( I also don't have severe OSA and am able to keep my AHI under that magic 5 number most of the time.)

[DreamDiver]

I rarely drink. When I do, I see it in a rise in AHI. It's literally not worth the extra headache for me. YMMV.

[DaveMunson]

At first I thought this was a joke. Yes. I live and enjoy life in all endeavors, including drink.

[Thomas F.]

I recommend taking the mask off first

IMHO drinking too much is a problem because the muscles relax even more. This could create a situation in which you require more air pressure than normal. If your CPAP is not delivering the additional amount of pressure you need because of alcohol, it could result in a higher AHI.

Now, if you are using APAP mode then the machine could ramp up to deliver more pressure needed and you will feel great in the morning ( or possible headache because of Pabst Blue Ribbon)

[Janknitz]

My AHI's are running 0.3 to 0.5 on CPAP, and I regularly drink a glass of wine, or occasionally two with dinner. It's hard not to when your husband is a professional winemaker He isn't paid all that well, but we get LOTS of wine!

We use "tasting glasses"--those used at the wine tasting fundraisers that are ubiquitous here in wine country--and my usual pour is only 2 ounces (not 4 oz that most people think of as a "glass of wine"). (If you have any "souvenier" wine glasses from tastings, usually the bottom of the printed logo on the glass is at the 2 oz mark--they make it easy for the people pouring at those events to measure the tasting pour).

When I did my home sleep study, we were instructed NOT to drink that night and I did not. My AHI's were pretty high even without my usual glass of wine (77). So I don't see that the wine is affecting my AHI's on CPAP. As a matter of fact, last night I had dinner at a late meeting, and my AHI went up to 0.7 last night--no wine.

I am more likely to fall asleep in front of the t.v. if I've had any wine (aren't I a fun date?), and the danger there is I'm not usually wearing my CPAP when that happens. So I'm sure I have some AHI's during those cat naps but they are usually of very short duration.

[btesterman]

One thing I've found in my XX years of life is that every person's body reacts to things differently. I guess I'd go by how the wine affects your AHI and how you feel the next day.

[guest2]

I specifically asked both my sleep doctor and my gp this question and got the same answer from both. Drinking in moderation will not affect your therapy, but I do agree with previous posts that everyone reacts differently to alchohol and therapy. I do know that over the last holidays when we were having a little to much fun that my therapy that night was not good. But then nothing else was the next day either and they say we get wiser with age.

[Komodo]

I drink as much as I always did!

6-8 cans of beer daily is usual, double that in the Summer. On the RARE occasion when I've "over indulged", I didn't see any change in my numbers. Also, on days where I haven't had a drop to drink, I didn't see any changes either.

[Country4ever]

I don't drink, but I can't imagine that an occasionally drink would hurt. It might affect you just like eating carbs close to bedtime would......it might increase your AHI a bit.

[RLAUREN]

It is like the guy that went to the Doctor and asked "If I gave up wine, women, and song, will I live longer" The Doctor replied "maybe not, but it will certainly fell that way" Have a great weekend!

[Ruffinit]

I'd never heard that you shouldn't. All things being equal, I try to maintain everything as it was before this hell. That being said, I drink, I don't drink... I normally do not drink over 2 if I do indulge though...

The more I'm on this, the more I consider heavy drinking.. But I'm having a problem finding something that doesn't leave a taste in my mouth after a fifth.... But then after a fifth who cares anyway...

[Uncle_Bob]

I enjoy a few rum and cokes most nights, they tend to get taller and taller as the weekend approaches

I see no negative effects on therapy in fact i notice i get to sleep easier and have fewer centrals.

On ALL the nights i have had an AHI of 0 i have had 2-3 drinks close to bedtime.

I take milk thistle supplement as a thank-you to my liver.

[srwesely]

No. Can't drink with all my meds. But I'm about ready to start... (mask leak issues also...)

[park_ridge_dave]

I occasionally have a glass or two with my bride after/with dinner. So I am not immune

But, like many things too much of a good thing is too much

The thought of "over-imbibing" and then "spewing" into my Mirage FFM is too difficult to think about (yikes ) not to mention dangerous

I have had two nights where I did have two glasses of wine (total approx 8 oz) with dinner and I noticed no real effect on my numbers.

However, my numbers are garbage anyway

I would discuss it with my primary sleep doctor.

Cheers,

Dave