Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy It Causes SleepinessWhy It Keeps You UpOther Negative EffectsDisrupted Sleep EffectsHow Much Affects SleepFeeling Tired the Next DayTips to Manage Sleepiness
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why It Causes Sleepiness
Why It Keeps You Up
Other Negative Effects
Disrupted Sleep Effects
How Much Affects Sleep
Feeling Tired the Next Day
Tips to Manage Sleepiness
Many people experience a wave of sleepiness after consuming alcohol. As a central nervous system (CNS) depressant,alcoholhas a sedative effect that may cause you to fall asleep more quickly than usual.However, the initial drowsiness alcohol causes can be deceiving. Alcohol disrupts sleep quality throughout the night, leading to less restful and restorative sleep.This article discusses the science behind why alcohol makes you sleepy, how to minimize drowsiness while drinking, and the broader effects alcohol has on your sleep and overall health.Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman / Getty ImagesWhy Alcohol Makes You SleepyBy depressing thecentral nervous system, alcohol reduces the brain’s ability to process information and respond to stimuli.This depressant effect is why many people experience a sense of relaxation and reduced anxiety after a few drinks. Once the body’s systems slow down, this can quickly turn into drowsiness. Here’s how it works:When you drink alcohol, it’s absorbed through the stomach and small intestine and moves into your bloodstream.Once in the bloodstream, alcohol reaches your brain within minutes, where it interacts with various neurotransmitters — chemical messengers that send signals to neurons throughout your body and control your behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.Alcohol primarily interacts with two importantneurotransmitters—gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate—as follows:GABAis a neurotransmitter that calms the CNS and slows down signals from other neurotransmitters to help your brain process information at a reasonable pace. Alcohol enhances the effects of GABA, slowing down communication between brain cells, which translates to a feeling of relaxation and calmness.Glutamateis a neurotransmitter that promotes communication between brain cells and plays a role in nearly every body function, including learning, memory, and mood.Alcohol reduces glutamate actions, contributing to the overall slowdown of brain activity.The effects of alcohol on these neurotransmitters is sedative, which is why alcohol initially makes you relaxed and drowsy and may help you fall asleep more easily.Why Alcohol Also Keeps You UpWhile alcohol initially induces drowsiness, it ultimately disrupts normal sleep patterns, leading to a night of fragmented and unrefreshing sleep. Here’s how alcohol interferes with your sleep cycle:Reduces REM SleepAlcohol significantly affects rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a vital sleep stage for cognitive functions like memory consolidation, learning, and emotional regulation.Alcohol suppresses REM sleep, particularly during the first half of the night, reducing the amount of time you spend in this restorative sleep phase.Reduced REM sleepcan leave you with brain fog and fatigue the following day.Disrupts the Sleep CycleAlcohol disrupts the natural cycle ofsleep stages, which typically alternates between non-REM and REM sleep every 80 to 100 minutes, between four and six times a night.After a night of drinking, you may enter a deeper sleep than usual as soon as you fall asleep and spend less time in REM sleep. As the night wears on, you experience less deep sleep and more light sleep, leading to sleep disturbances and poor-quality sleep.Causes Night Awakenings and Frequent UrinationAlcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production, leading to more frequent bathroom trips throughout the night and fragmented sleep. The diuretic effects of alcohol increase as your blood alcohol concentration rises, meaning the more you drink, the more you’ll wake up at night to pee. Alcohol’s diuretic effects can also contribute to dehydration, as your body expels fluids faster than you replace them.Promotes Vivid DreamsDrinking alcohol before bedtime may cause more vivid, sometimes unpleasant dreams.Research shows that alcohol consumption is associated with more action-filled, aggressive dreams. Because alcohol suppresses REM sleep in the first half of the night, people tend to have more REM sleep in the later part of the night (REM rebound), which may lead to more vivid and bizarre dreams and more frequent wakings that increase dream recall.Other Negative Effects of Alcohol on Your SleepBeyond causing drowsiness and sleep disruptions, alcohol can have other adverse effects on your sleep quality.Leads to InsomniaResearch shows alcohol consumption can cause or worseninsomnia, a sleep disorder that causes problems falling or staying asleep. While alcohol may initially help you fall asleep, as the night progresses and your body metabolizes the alcohol, you may experience disruptions in the sleep cycle and have trouble falling back asleep later in the night.Long-term moderate to heavy alcohol consumption is associated with high rates of insomnia, with up to 76% of people with alcohol use disorder experiencing insomnia.Worsens Sleep ApneaSleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep when the airways are partially or fully blocked. Alcohol relaxes upper airway muscles, increasing the likelihood of the airways collapsing and moresleep apnea episodes, leading to more sleep disruptions.Worsens SnoringAlcohol slows your breathing and causes you to take more shallow breaths. It also relaxes the airway muscles, narrowing the airways. The tissues vibrate and produce snoring sounds as you breathe.Snoringmay wake you or your partner up, leading to more fragmented sleep.Triggers Sleep Talking and SleepwalkingAlcohol can trigger parasomnias, involuntarysleep behaviorsthat contribute to poor sleep quality, such as sleep talking and sleepwalking. By interfering with your body’s normal circadian rhythm and sleep cycles, alcohol increases the likelihood of disruptive sleep behaviors that pose a safety risk.Adverse Effects of Disrupted SleepSleep disruptions from alcohol consumption can harm your overall health and well-being.Stress HormonesDisrupted sleep can increase the production of stress hormones likecortisol. People who get good-quality sleep typically have higher cortisol levels in the morning that decline throughout the day, reaching their lowest level at bedtime. Research shows that people with consistently poor sleep quality maintain high cortisol levels throughout the day, including at bedtime.Elevated cortisol levels can contribute to feelings of irritability, anxiety, and overall stress and increase the risk of long-term health problems.Heart RateFragmented sleep can negatively affect your heart health. Research shows that poor sleep quality and disrupted sleep raise heart rate,heart rate variability, and blood pressure while you sleep, which can stress the heart and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.Learning and MemorySleep is essential for consolidating information learned throughout the day and performing daily tasks. Sleep disruptions and lack of sleep can impair the brain’s ability to process and store new information, leading to a decline in cognitive functioning and problems with focus, memory, attention, alertness, decision-making, and judgment.Hot FlashesPoor sleep quality impairs your body’s ability to regulate body temperature.For menopausal women, in particular, disrupted sleep can trigger or worsenhot flashes. Sleep disturbances disrupt hormonal balance, which affects body temperature regulation.How Much Alcohol Does It Take to Affect Sleep?Even a small amount of alcohol can disrupt your sleep quality. Experts recommendavoiding alcohol at least four hours before bedtimeto prevent adverse effects on sleep.Moderate drinking, defined as one drink for women and two drinks for men per day, can cause sleep disruptions, including a shorter duration of sleep, frequent night awakenings, and disrupted sleep stages. Drinking more alcohol or stronger alcoholic beverages will have a more significant impact on your sleep, with a sharper reduction in REM and deep sleep, leaving you feeling tired and groggy the following day.Why You May Feel Tired the Day After Drinking AlcoholA feeling of fatigue after a night of drinking isn’t just from sleep interruptions. Alcohol has other effects on your body that contribute to feeling tired and sluggish the following day. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production and fluid loss from the body more quickly than you can replace it.Dehydrationzaps your energy levels, making you feel tired and less alert than usual.When your body is dehydrated, blood volume and blood pressure decrease, making it harder for your heart to pump blood efficiently. Dehydration also decreases oxygen and nutrient delivery to your body’s organs and contributes to fatigue.Alcohol also interferes with your body’s ability to absorb essential vitamins and minerals from food, like folate or folic acid (vitamin B9), iron, and magnesium, which fuel your body’s tissues and functions. Nutrient deficiencies can further contribute to low energy levels.Does Alcohol Dehydrate You? (And What You Can Do About It)Tips for Managing Sleepiness After DrinkingWhile it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether for a truly restful night’s sleep, there are some strategies to minimize sleepiness after consuming alcohol, such as:Pace yourself with water: Alternate alcoholic beverages with glasses of water throughout the evening to help counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol.Hydrate before bed: Before falling asleep, drink a glass of water to help replenish your body’s lost fluids.Limit caffeine and sugary drinks: Avoid caffeine and sugary drinks after consuming alcohol. While they may initially provide a pick-me-up, they can disrupt your sleep.Eat before drinking: Opt for a healthy, nutrient-dense meal before drinking, which can help slow the absorption of alcohol and prevent intoxication.Drink earlier in the evening: Avoid drinking alcohol at least four hours before bedtime to give your body time to metabolize the alcohol and reduce the impact on your sleep quality.Prioritize sleep hygiene: Create a dark, cool environment and stick to a bedtime routine that helps you unwind and promotes sleep before bedtime. Sleep hygiene habits may include avoiding screens, gentle stretches, or breathing exercises before you sleep.SummaryWhile alcohol may initially make you feel drowsy, it can interfere with your sleep cycle, cause frequent night awakenings, and lead to poor sleep quality. Chronic or heavy alcohol consumption can worsen these effects and contribute to long-term health problems.If you drink, practice moderation and prioritize your health with strategies like staying hydrated and maintaining good sleep hygiene to minimize the negative effects on your sleep. Avoiding alcohol altogether is recommended for a truly restful and restorative night’s sleep.
Many people experience a wave of sleepiness after consuming alcohol. As a central nervous system (CNS) depressant,alcoholhas a sedative effect that may cause you to fall asleep more quickly than usual.However, the initial drowsiness alcohol causes can be deceiving. Alcohol disrupts sleep quality throughout the night, leading to less restful and restorative sleep.
This article discusses the science behind why alcohol makes you sleepy, how to minimize drowsiness while drinking, and the broader effects alcohol has on your sleep and overall health.
Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman / Getty Images
Why Alcohol Makes You Sleepy
By depressing thecentral nervous system, alcohol reduces the brain’s ability to process information and respond to stimuli.This depressant effect is why many people experience a sense of relaxation and reduced anxiety after a few drinks. Once the body’s systems slow down, this can quickly turn into drowsiness. Here’s how it works:
When you drink alcohol, it’s absorbed through the stomach and small intestine and moves into your bloodstream.Once in the bloodstream, alcohol reaches your brain within minutes, where it interacts with various neurotransmitters — chemical messengers that send signals to neurons throughout your body and control your behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.
Alcohol primarily interacts with two importantneurotransmitters—gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate—as follows:
The effects of alcohol on these neurotransmitters is sedative, which is why alcohol initially makes you relaxed and drowsy and may help you fall asleep more easily.
Why Alcohol Also Keeps You Up
While alcohol initially induces drowsiness, it ultimately disrupts normal sleep patterns, leading to a night of fragmented and unrefreshing sleep. Here’s how alcohol interferes with your sleep cycle:
Reduces REM Sleep
Alcohol significantly affects rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a vital sleep stage for cognitive functions like memory consolidation, learning, and emotional regulation.Alcohol suppresses REM sleep, particularly during the first half of the night, reducing the amount of time you spend in this restorative sleep phase.Reduced REM sleepcan leave you with brain fog and fatigue the following day.
Disrupts the Sleep Cycle
Alcohol disrupts the natural cycle ofsleep stages, which typically alternates between non-REM and REM sleep every 80 to 100 minutes, between four and six times a night.After a night of drinking, you may enter a deeper sleep than usual as soon as you fall asleep and spend less time in REM sleep. As the night wears on, you experience less deep sleep and more light sleep, leading to sleep disturbances and poor-quality sleep.
Causes Night Awakenings and Frequent Urination
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production, leading to more frequent bathroom trips throughout the night and fragmented sleep. The diuretic effects of alcohol increase as your blood alcohol concentration rises, meaning the more you drink, the more you’ll wake up at night to pee. Alcohol’s diuretic effects can also contribute to dehydration, as your body expels fluids faster than you replace them.
Promotes Vivid Dreams
Drinking alcohol before bedtime may cause more vivid, sometimes unpleasant dreams.
Research shows that alcohol consumption is associated with more action-filled, aggressive dreams. Because alcohol suppresses REM sleep in the first half of the night, people tend to have more REM sleep in the later part of the night (REM rebound), which may lead to more vivid and bizarre dreams and more frequent wakings that increase dream recall.
Other Negative Effects of Alcohol on Your Sleep
Beyond causing drowsiness and sleep disruptions, alcohol can have other adverse effects on your sleep quality.
Leads to Insomnia
Research shows alcohol consumption can cause or worseninsomnia, a sleep disorder that causes problems falling or staying asleep. While alcohol may initially help you fall asleep, as the night progresses and your body metabolizes the alcohol, you may experience disruptions in the sleep cycle and have trouble falling back asleep later in the night.
Long-term moderate to heavy alcohol consumption is associated with high rates of insomnia, with up to 76% of people with alcohol use disorder experiencing insomnia.
Worsens Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep when the airways are partially or fully blocked. Alcohol relaxes upper airway muscles, increasing the likelihood of the airways collapsing and moresleep apnea episodes, leading to more sleep disruptions.
Worsens Snoring
Alcohol slows your breathing and causes you to take more shallow breaths. It also relaxes the airway muscles, narrowing the airways. The tissues vibrate and produce snoring sounds as you breathe.Snoringmay wake you or your partner up, leading to more fragmented sleep.
Triggers Sleep Talking and Sleepwalking
Alcohol can trigger parasomnias, involuntarysleep behaviorsthat contribute to poor sleep quality, such as sleep talking and sleepwalking. By interfering with your body’s normal circadian rhythm and sleep cycles, alcohol increases the likelihood of disruptive sleep behaviors that pose a safety risk.
Adverse Effects of Disrupted Sleep
Sleep disruptions from alcohol consumption can harm your overall health and well-being.
Stress Hormones
Disrupted sleep can increase the production of stress hormones likecortisol. People who get good-quality sleep typically have higher cortisol levels in the morning that decline throughout the day, reaching their lowest level at bedtime. Research shows that people with consistently poor sleep quality maintain high cortisol levels throughout the day, including at bedtime.
Elevated cortisol levels can contribute to feelings of irritability, anxiety, and overall stress and increase the risk of long-term health problems.
Heart Rate
Fragmented sleep can negatively affect your heart health. Research shows that poor sleep quality and disrupted sleep raise heart rate,heart rate variability, and blood pressure while you sleep, which can stress the heart and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Learning and Memory
Sleep is essential for consolidating information learned throughout the day and performing daily tasks. Sleep disruptions and lack of sleep can impair the brain’s ability to process and store new information, leading to a decline in cognitive functioning and problems with focus, memory, attention, alertness, decision-making, and judgment.
Hot Flashes
Poor sleep quality impairs your body’s ability to regulate body temperature.For menopausal women, in particular, disrupted sleep can trigger or worsenhot flashes. Sleep disturbances disrupt hormonal balance, which affects body temperature regulation.
How Much Alcohol Does It Take to Affect Sleep?
Even a small amount of alcohol can disrupt your sleep quality. Experts recommendavoiding alcohol at least four hours before bedtimeto prevent adverse effects on sleep.
Moderate drinking, defined as one drink for women and two drinks for men per day, can cause sleep disruptions, including a shorter duration of sleep, frequent night awakenings, and disrupted sleep stages. Drinking more alcohol or stronger alcoholic beverages will have a more significant impact on your sleep, with a sharper reduction in REM and deep sleep, leaving you feeling tired and groggy the following day.
Why You May Feel Tired the Day After Drinking Alcohol
A feeling of fatigue after a night of drinking isn’t just from sleep interruptions. Alcohol has other effects on your body that contribute to feeling tired and sluggish the following day. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production and fluid loss from the body more quickly than you can replace it.Dehydrationzaps your energy levels, making you feel tired and less alert than usual.
When your body is dehydrated, blood volume and blood pressure decrease, making it harder for your heart to pump blood efficiently. Dehydration also decreases oxygen and nutrient delivery to your body’s organs and contributes to fatigue.
Alcohol also interferes with your body’s ability to absorb essential vitamins and minerals from food, like folate or folic acid (vitamin B9), iron, and magnesium, which fuel your body’s tissues and functions. Nutrient deficiencies can further contribute to low energy levels.
Does Alcohol Dehydrate You? (And What You Can Do About It)
Tips for Managing Sleepiness After Drinking
While it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether for a truly restful night’s sleep, there are some strategies to minimize sleepiness after consuming alcohol, such as:
Summary
While alcohol may initially make you feel drowsy, it can interfere with your sleep cycle, cause frequent night awakenings, and lead to poor sleep quality. Chronic or heavy alcohol consumption can worsen these effects and contribute to long-term health problems.
If you drink, practice moderation and prioritize your health with strategies like staying hydrated and maintaining good sleep hygiene to minimize the negative effects on your sleep. Avoiding alcohol altogether is recommended for a truly restful and restorative night’s sleep.
30 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Alcohol.Helaakoski V, Kaprio J, Hublin C, et al.Alcohol use and poor sleep quality: a longitudinal twin study across 36 years.Sleep Adv. 2022;3(1):zpac023. doi:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac023National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol and you: an interactive body.California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.Alcohol facts.Sheffler ZM, Reddy V, Pillarisetty LS.Physiology, neurotransmitters. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Prisciandaro JJ, Schacht JP, Prescot AP, et al.Brain glutamate, GABA, and glutamine levels and associations with recent drinking in treatment-naïve individuals with alcohol use disorder versus light drinkers.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(2):221-226. doi:10.1111/acer.13931Kashem MA, Šerý O, Pow DV, et al.Actions of alcohol in brain: Genetics, metabolomics, GABA receptors, proteomics and glutamate transporter GLAST/EAAT1.Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2021;14(2):138-149. doi:10.2174/1874467213666200424155244Pal MM.Glutamate: The master neurotransmitter and it implications in chronic stress and mood disorders.Front Hum Neurosci. 2021;15:722323. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.722323Blumberg MS, Lesku JA, Libourel PA, et al.What Is REM sleep?.Curr Biol. 2020;30(1):R38-R49. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.045Park SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, et al.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015;36(6):294-299. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294Anniss AM, Young A, O’Driscoll DM.Microsleep assessment enhances interpretation of the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test.J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(8):1571-1578. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9250National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.How sleep works: Sleep phases and stages.Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, et al.The diuretic action of weak and strong alcoholic beverages in elderly men: a randomized diet-controlled crossover trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7):660. doi:10.3390/nu9070660Ma C, Pavlova M, Li J, et al.Alcohol consumption and probable rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2018;5(10):1176-1183. doi:10.1002/acn3.630He S, Hasler BP, Chakravorty S.Alcohol and sleep-related problems.Curr Opin Psychol. 2019;30:117-122. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.03.007Chakravorty S, Chaudhary NS, Brower KJ.Alcohol dependence and its relationship with insomnia and other sleep disorders.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016;40(11):2271-2282. doi:10.1111/acer.13217Burgos-Sanchez C, Jones NN, Avillion M, et al.Impact of alcohol consumption on snoring and sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;163(6):1078-1086. doi:10.1177/0194599820931087Jiménez-Correa U, Santana-Miranda R, Barrera-Medina A, et al.Parasomnias in patients with addictions-a systematic review.CNS Spectr. 2022;27(1):58-65. doi:10.1017/S1092852920001911Hackett RA, Dal Z, Steptoe A.The relationship between sleep problems and cortisol in people with type 2 diabetes.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020;117:104688. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104688Society for Endocrinology.Cortisol.Sajjadieh A, Shahsavari A, Safaei A, et al.The association of sleep duration and quality with heart rate variability and blood pressure.Tanaffos. 2020;19(2):135-143.Khan MA, Al-Jahdali H.The consequences of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance.Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2023;28(2):91-99. doi:10.17712/nsj.2023.2.20220108Harding EC, Franks NP, Wisden W.The temperature dependence of sleep.Front Neurosci. 2019;13:336. doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00336National Institute on Aging.Sleep problems and menopause: what can I do?Sleep Health Foundation.Caffeine, food, alcohol, smoking, and sleep.MedlinePlus.Dehydration.Watso JC, Farquhar WB.Hydration status and cardiovascular function.Nutrients. 2019;11(8):1866. doi:10.3390/nu11081866Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, et al.Vitamins and minerals for energy, fatigue and cognition: a narrative review of the biochemical and clinical evidence.Nutrients. 2020;12(1):228. doi:10.3390/nu12010228Butts M, Sundaram VL, Murughiyan U, et al.The Influence of Alcohol Consumption on Intestinal Nutrient Absorption: A Comprehensive Review.Nutrients. 2023;15(7):1571. doi:10.3390/nu15071571Harvard Health.7 steps to cure a hangover.
30 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Alcohol.Helaakoski V, Kaprio J, Hublin C, et al.Alcohol use and poor sleep quality: a longitudinal twin study across 36 years.Sleep Adv. 2022;3(1):zpac023. doi:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac023National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol and you: an interactive body.California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.Alcohol facts.Sheffler ZM, Reddy V, Pillarisetty LS.Physiology, neurotransmitters. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Prisciandaro JJ, Schacht JP, Prescot AP, et al.Brain glutamate, GABA, and glutamine levels and associations with recent drinking in treatment-naïve individuals with alcohol use disorder versus light drinkers.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(2):221-226. doi:10.1111/acer.13931Kashem MA, Šerý O, Pow DV, et al.Actions of alcohol in brain: Genetics, metabolomics, GABA receptors, proteomics and glutamate transporter GLAST/EAAT1.Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2021;14(2):138-149. doi:10.2174/1874467213666200424155244Pal MM.Glutamate: The master neurotransmitter and it implications in chronic stress and mood disorders.Front Hum Neurosci. 2021;15:722323. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.722323Blumberg MS, Lesku JA, Libourel PA, et al.What Is REM sleep?.Curr Biol. 2020;30(1):R38-R49. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.045Park SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, et al.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015;36(6):294-299. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294Anniss AM, Young A, O’Driscoll DM.Microsleep assessment enhances interpretation of the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test.J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(8):1571-1578. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9250National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.How sleep works: Sleep phases and stages.Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, et al.The diuretic action of weak and strong alcoholic beverages in elderly men: a randomized diet-controlled crossover trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7):660. doi:10.3390/nu9070660Ma C, Pavlova M, Li J, et al.Alcohol consumption and probable rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2018;5(10):1176-1183. doi:10.1002/acn3.630He S, Hasler BP, Chakravorty S.Alcohol and sleep-related problems.Curr Opin Psychol. 2019;30:117-122. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.03.007Chakravorty S, Chaudhary NS, Brower KJ.Alcohol dependence and its relationship with insomnia and other sleep disorders.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016;40(11):2271-2282. doi:10.1111/acer.13217Burgos-Sanchez C, Jones NN, Avillion M, et al.Impact of alcohol consumption on snoring and sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;163(6):1078-1086. doi:10.1177/0194599820931087Jiménez-Correa U, Santana-Miranda R, Barrera-Medina A, et al.Parasomnias in patients with addictions-a systematic review.CNS Spectr. 2022;27(1):58-65. doi:10.1017/S1092852920001911Hackett RA, Dal Z, Steptoe A.The relationship between sleep problems and cortisol in people with type 2 diabetes.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020;117:104688. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104688Society for Endocrinology.Cortisol.Sajjadieh A, Shahsavari A, Safaei A, et al.The association of sleep duration and quality with heart rate variability and blood pressure.Tanaffos. 2020;19(2):135-143.Khan MA, Al-Jahdali H.The consequences of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance.Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2023;28(2):91-99. doi:10.17712/nsj.2023.2.20220108Harding EC, Franks NP, Wisden W.The temperature dependence of sleep.Front Neurosci. 2019;13:336. doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00336National Institute on Aging.Sleep problems and menopause: what can I do?Sleep Health Foundation.Caffeine, food, alcohol, smoking, and sleep.MedlinePlus.Dehydration.Watso JC, Farquhar WB.Hydration status and cardiovascular function.Nutrients. 2019;11(8):1866. doi:10.3390/nu11081866Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, et al.Vitamins and minerals for energy, fatigue and cognition: a narrative review of the biochemical and clinical evidence.Nutrients. 2020;12(1):228. doi:10.3390/nu12010228Butts M, Sundaram VL, Murughiyan U, et al.The Influence of Alcohol Consumption on Intestinal Nutrient Absorption: A Comprehensive Review.Nutrients. 2023;15(7):1571. doi:10.3390/nu15071571Harvard Health.7 steps to cure a hangover.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Alcohol.Helaakoski V, Kaprio J, Hublin C, et al.Alcohol use and poor sleep quality: a longitudinal twin study across 36 years.Sleep Adv. 2022;3(1):zpac023. doi:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac023National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol and you: an interactive body.California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.Alcohol facts.Sheffler ZM, Reddy V, Pillarisetty LS.Physiology, neurotransmitters. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.Prisciandaro JJ, Schacht JP, Prescot AP, et al.Brain glutamate, GABA, and glutamine levels and associations with recent drinking in treatment-naïve individuals with alcohol use disorder versus light drinkers.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(2):221-226. doi:10.1111/acer.13931Kashem MA, Šerý O, Pow DV, et al.Actions of alcohol in brain: Genetics, metabolomics, GABA receptors, proteomics and glutamate transporter GLAST/EAAT1.Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2021;14(2):138-149. doi:10.2174/1874467213666200424155244Pal MM.Glutamate: The master neurotransmitter and it implications in chronic stress and mood disorders.Front Hum Neurosci. 2021;15:722323. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.722323Blumberg MS, Lesku JA, Libourel PA, et al.What Is REM sleep?.Curr Biol. 2020;30(1):R38-R49. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.045Park SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, et al.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015;36(6):294-299. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294Anniss AM, Young A, O’Driscoll DM.Microsleep assessment enhances interpretation of the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test.J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(8):1571-1578. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9250National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.How sleep works: Sleep phases and stages.Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, et al.The diuretic action of weak and strong alcoholic beverages in elderly men: a randomized diet-controlled crossover trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7):660. doi:10.3390/nu9070660Ma C, Pavlova M, Li J, et al.Alcohol consumption and probable rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2018;5(10):1176-1183. doi:10.1002/acn3.630He S, Hasler BP, Chakravorty S.Alcohol and sleep-related problems.Curr Opin Psychol. 2019;30:117-122. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.03.007Chakravorty S, Chaudhary NS, Brower KJ.Alcohol dependence and its relationship with insomnia and other sleep disorders.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016;40(11):2271-2282. doi:10.1111/acer.13217Burgos-Sanchez C, Jones NN, Avillion M, et al.Impact of alcohol consumption on snoring and sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;163(6):1078-1086. doi:10.1177/0194599820931087Jiménez-Correa U, Santana-Miranda R, Barrera-Medina A, et al.Parasomnias in patients with addictions-a systematic review.CNS Spectr. 2022;27(1):58-65. doi:10.1017/S1092852920001911Hackett RA, Dal Z, Steptoe A.The relationship between sleep problems and cortisol in people with type 2 diabetes.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020;117:104688. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104688Society for Endocrinology.Cortisol.Sajjadieh A, Shahsavari A, Safaei A, et al.The association of sleep duration and quality with heart rate variability and blood pressure.Tanaffos. 2020;19(2):135-143.Khan MA, Al-Jahdali H.The consequences of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance.Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2023;28(2):91-99. doi:10.17712/nsj.2023.2.20220108Harding EC, Franks NP, Wisden W.The temperature dependence of sleep.Front Neurosci. 2019;13:336. doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00336National Institute on Aging.Sleep problems and menopause: what can I do?Sleep Health Foundation.Caffeine, food, alcohol, smoking, and sleep.MedlinePlus.Dehydration.Watso JC, Farquhar WB.Hydration status and cardiovascular function.Nutrients. 2019;11(8):1866. doi:10.3390/nu11081866Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, et al.Vitamins and minerals for energy, fatigue and cognition: a narrative review of the biochemical and clinical evidence.Nutrients. 2020;12(1):228. doi:10.3390/nu12010228Butts M, Sundaram VL, Murughiyan U, et al.The Influence of Alcohol Consumption on Intestinal Nutrient Absorption: A Comprehensive Review.Nutrients. 2023;15(7):1571. doi:10.3390/nu15071571Harvard Health.7 steps to cure a hangover.
MedlinePlus.Alcohol.
Helaakoski V, Kaprio J, Hublin C, et al.Alcohol use and poor sleep quality: a longitudinal twin study across 36 years.Sleep Adv. 2022;3(1):zpac023. doi:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac023
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol and you: an interactive body.
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.Alcohol facts.
Sheffler ZM, Reddy V, Pillarisetty LS.Physiology, neurotransmitters. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Prisciandaro JJ, Schacht JP, Prescot AP, et al.Brain glutamate, GABA, and glutamine levels and associations with recent drinking in treatment-naïve individuals with alcohol use disorder versus light drinkers.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(2):221-226. doi:10.1111/acer.13931
Kashem MA, Šerý O, Pow DV, et al.Actions of alcohol in brain: Genetics, metabolomics, GABA receptors, proteomics and glutamate transporter GLAST/EAAT1.Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2021;14(2):138-149. doi:10.2174/1874467213666200424155244
Pal MM.Glutamate: The master neurotransmitter and it implications in chronic stress and mood disorders.Front Hum Neurosci. 2021;15:722323. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.722323
Blumberg MS, Lesku JA, Libourel PA, et al.What Is REM sleep?.Curr Biol. 2020;30(1):R38-R49. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.11.045
Park SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, et al.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015;36(6):294-299. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294
Anniss AM, Young A, O’Driscoll DM.Microsleep assessment enhances interpretation of the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test.J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(8):1571-1578. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9250
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.How sleep works: Sleep phases and stages.
Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, et al.The diuretic action of weak and strong alcoholic beverages in elderly men: a randomized diet-controlled crossover trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7):660. doi:10.3390/nu9070660
Ma C, Pavlova M, Li J, et al.Alcohol consumption and probable rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2018;5(10):1176-1183. doi:10.1002/acn3.630
He S, Hasler BP, Chakravorty S.Alcohol and sleep-related problems.Curr Opin Psychol. 2019;30:117-122. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.03.007
Chakravorty S, Chaudhary NS, Brower KJ.Alcohol dependence and its relationship with insomnia and other sleep disorders.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016;40(11):2271-2282. doi:10.1111/acer.13217
Burgos-Sanchez C, Jones NN, Avillion M, et al.Impact of alcohol consumption on snoring and sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;163(6):1078-1086. doi:10.1177/0194599820931087
Jiménez-Correa U, Santana-Miranda R, Barrera-Medina A, et al.Parasomnias in patients with addictions-a systematic review.CNS Spectr. 2022;27(1):58-65. doi:10.1017/S1092852920001911
Hackett RA, Dal Z, Steptoe A.The relationship between sleep problems and cortisol in people with type 2 diabetes.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020;117:104688. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104688
Society for Endocrinology.Cortisol.
Sajjadieh A, Shahsavari A, Safaei A, et al.The association of sleep duration and quality with heart rate variability and blood pressure.Tanaffos. 2020;19(2):135-143.
Khan MA, Al-Jahdali H.The consequences of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance.Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2023;28(2):91-99. doi:10.17712/nsj.2023.2.20220108
Harding EC, Franks NP, Wisden W.The temperature dependence of sleep.Front Neurosci. 2019;13:336. doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.00336
National Institute on Aging.Sleep problems and menopause: what can I do?
Sleep Health Foundation.Caffeine, food, alcohol, smoking, and sleep.
MedlinePlus.Dehydration.
Watso JC, Farquhar WB.Hydration status and cardiovascular function.Nutrients. 2019;11(8):1866. doi:10.3390/nu11081866
Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, et al.Vitamins and minerals for energy, fatigue and cognition: a narrative review of the biochemical and clinical evidence.Nutrients. 2020;12(1):228. doi:10.3390/nu12010228
Butts M, Sundaram VL, Murughiyan U, et al.The Influence of Alcohol Consumption on Intestinal Nutrient Absorption: A Comprehensive Review.Nutrients. 2023;15(7):1571. doi:10.3390/nu15071571
Harvard Health.7 steps to cure a hangover.
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