Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Why Am I Having Mental Blackouts After Drinking Alcohol?
Posted on
Mon, 7 May 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 7 May 2018
Answered on
Fri, 20 Oct 2023
Last reviewed on
Question : I have been having mental blackouts when i'm mad and had a drink or two? its been happening a lot lately, one time my husband said that I was literally trying to pull out his teeth with my hands, i'm wide awake according to him...but i have no recollection of it nor remember it from happening.
Brief Answer:
Information on black outs from alcohol.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
What you are describing is an alcohol induced "black out". A blackout involves memory loss usually without loss of consciousness (although sometimes people do pass out). It usually is associated with bing drinking, when the blood alcohol level reaches 0.15. It is unusual for this to happen after 1-2 drinks, but if it happened after only that number, your body may have an excessive sensitivity to alcohol, possibly from liver impairment.
Some people are more prone to black outs than others.
Treatment is abstinence from drinking, and I recommend seeing your doctor to do a blood test for liver enzymes to see if there is any problem there.
Information on black outs from alcohol.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
What you are describing is an alcohol induced "black out". A blackout involves memory loss usually without loss of consciousness (although sometimes people do pass out). It usually is associated with bing drinking, when the blood alcohol level reaches 0.15. It is unusual for this to happen after 1-2 drinks, but if it happened after only that number, your body may have an excessive sensitivity to alcohol, possibly from liver impairment.
Some people are more prone to black outs than others.
Treatment is abstinence from drinking, and I recommend seeing your doctor to do a blood test for liver enzymes to see if there is any problem there.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
This particular incident with my husband, i did not have any alcohol though. I had a cough and was feeling under the weather so I went home early from work. I probably took an over the counter cough syrup and went to bed. From there I had no idea what took place until my husband asked me if I knew what I was doing the night before. The 1st incident, they woke me up from a deep sleep on the couch to go upstairs. By the time we were up I had an outburst, crying out loud, calling all my kids by name and hugging them. They asked me the next day if I knew what went on. I didn’t.
And the so called “blackout “ happens when I’m upset/mad, I start crying, and..hours later...everything else is a mystery. I have no blackout episodes when everything is a ok, even with several drinks. We go out to clubs, bar and grill, etc, and have a couple of drinks plus a shot of tequila without any incident. I don’t ever get myself hammered that I can’t function or know what I’m doing. But, when I’m upset and mad at me husband about something he did, and I start crying and arguing with him, I tend to blackout.
And the so called “blackout “ happens when I’m upset/mad, I start crying, and..hours later...everything else is a mystery. I have no blackout episodes when everything is a ok, even with several drinks. We go out to clubs, bar and grill, etc, and have a couple of drinks plus a shot of tequila without any incident. I don’t ever get myself hammered that I can’t function or know what I’m doing. But, when I’m upset and mad at me husband about something he did, and I start crying and arguing with him, I tend to blackout.
Brief Answer:
Questions so that I can advise
Detailed Answer:
How often have these black outs happened?
And can you list the ingredients (active and inactive) in the cough medicine, or just the full name of it?
When did the black outs first start?
Do you have any other neurologically related symptoms - continuous or frequent headache, increasing problems with memory or ability to focus at work, etc?
Questions so that I can advise
Detailed Answer:
How often have these black outs happened?
And can you list the ingredients (active and inactive) in the cough medicine, or just the full name of it?
When did the black outs first start?
Do you have any other neurologically related symptoms - continuous or frequent headache, increasing problems with memory or ability to focus at work, etc?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
