Drinking giving me insomnia as I get older?

[Anonymous]

I'm 60, never drank a lot, never more than 2-3 beers in an evening, and that no more than once or twice a week. But when I have more than one beer I now notice I'm waking more in the middle of the night, sometimes not falling back to sleep and dragging the next day. Wonder if anyone else has experienced this.

[Anonymous]

I'm in my mid 40s and that happens to me when I drink. So I've cut down on drinking a lot because I sleep horrible if I drink.

[Anonymous]

Drinking is a young man's game.

[Anonymous]

What's worse is drinking to cope with stress. Then you're up in the middle of the night thinking about those things that are stressing you!

[Anonymous]

I am a woman (50) and def sleep better when I don't drink my wine at night- just noticed this recently.

[Anonymous]

Woman here, 44, and this is true for me as well. I can have one drink and be fine, but 2 or more is just not worth it anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a woman (50) and def sleep better when I don't drink my wine at night- just noticed this recently.

Same! I also get the middle-of-the-night wake-up that OP describes. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

I sleep fine when I drink my wine (once or twice a week). In fact, I can drink caffeinated coffee not too long before bed and sleep just fine. I'm in my early fifties so maybe that'll change down the road.

[Anonymous]

Woman, 42. This started for me a couple years ago. Now even one glass of wine after 8:00 and I am awake most of the night.

[Anonymous]

I have a Fitbit and noticed that my nighttime heart rate is much higher when I've been drinking. If I over do it it's crazy! I usually don't drink after dinner time anymore because of the effect on my sleep. I'm 37.

[Anonymous]

It is simply a fact that alcohol interferes with sleep. Insomnia is not uncommon.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Interesting. So, I guess it isn't so bad if you drink earlier in the day, like with coffee and caffeine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Interesting. So, I guess it isn't so bad if you drink earlier in the day, like with coffee and caffeine.

I can't stand drinking alcohol early in the day. It just sort of lugs me down, takes the edge off my energy. If I have a drink, I'll have it in the evening and it doesn't bother my sleep. On the other hand, I prefer caffeinated drinks (coffee, etc) earlier in the day. But if I have coffee after dinner, I can still fall asleep at night.

[Anonymous]

It always did for me - it's why I'm not a huge drinker. One drink at most, earlier in the day (like at an afternoon barbecue)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a Fitbit and noticed that my nighttime heart rate is much higher when I've been drinking. If I over do it it's crazy! I usually don't drink after dinner time anymore because of the effect on my sleep. I'm 37.

I also find that alcohol affects my heart rate.