The Real Reason Alcohol Makes You Sleepy

Alcohol is a depressant so it makes sense that it has an overall sedative effect on the central nervous system. This is the most overarching answer to “why does alcohol make me tired?” This slowed brain activity is to blame for the lethargy, sluggishness or heaviness you may experience after even just one drink. But have you noticed that while a drink or two may make you tired, sometimes alcohol can actually keep you awake, and certain drinks seem to have different effects on energy levels? Let’s learn why.

Why Does Some Alcohol Make You Tired?

Many people like to unwind at the end of a long day with a glass of red wine. Why? While it's a depressant like all other drinks, red varietals have an extra sleepy element that other alcohols do not: melatonin. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in humans that signals the body it is time to sleep. This is why red wine has a particular sleepiness-inducing effect. Other alcoholic drinks might relax your system after one or two, but they won’t make you ready to nod off quite like a nice red would.

Does Alcohol Affect Sleep? 

Now, if you’re asking, “why does alcohol make me tired,” the day after drinking, that’s most likely because increased amounts of alcohol have a detrimental effect on quality of sleep. It goes without saying that getting carried away into the wee hours of the morning on a night out will rob you of precious sleep. But what about those nights where you only had a few drinks, got to bed, and you’re still overtired the following day? Studies show that alcohol consumption interrupts your body’s ability to get into REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. This stage of the sleep cycle is the most restorative. So even a few drinks can prevent this important phase from doing its job to prepare the brain and body for the next day. This can also lead to insomnia: having a few drinks before bedtime might help you get to sleep, but it won’t help you stay asleep or get that deep, rejuvenating sleep. Over the span of multiple nights, this could be a dangerous cycle.

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Take Flyby to Reduce Next Day Drag

While Flyby Recovery Capsules are absolutely not a substitute for healthy, high-quality sleep, if you do experience intense hangover symptoms, they may help you to wake up feeling more refreshed. Our Recovery Capsules work by helping your body to replenish essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Take three capsules before drinking, and another three before bedtime to experience the difference in your morning. As far as catching up on sleep, we highly support a solid nap and a great slumber the next night!