Is yellow vomit after drinking alcohol normal?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Is yellow vomit after drinking alcohol normal?
No, Yellow vomit after drinking alcohol is not normal. It indicates that you’re throwing up bile, and according to experts, it could be the first sign of liver damage. This usually happens with heavy drinkers, as occasional alcohol intake does not lead to throwing up bile. (1)
This could be a sign telling you to start limiting your alcohol intake. Alcohol is injurious to your health in more ways than you can imagine.
What to do if you’re throwing up yellow-colour contents after drinking?
If you’re throwing up bile after drinking, there are a few things that could help you. These include:
Cut back on alcohol
The first and very basic thing you should do is cut back on alcohol. As I just stated, alcohol can start to damage your liver (2,3). It not only damages the normal functioning of the organ but also increases the production of free radicals in your body which increases the risk of cancer.
Prolonged alcohol use can also lead to cirrhosis, which is characterised by inflammation of the liver.
Increase your fluid intake
Throwing up bile can severely dehydrate your body. When alcohol irritates your stomach, it triggers vomiting and all the fluids present in your stomach are lost.
This dehydration could cause further complications if it is not managed properly. If you are feeling way too drained, I would recommend you talk to your healthcare provider.
Severe dehydration is not reversed simply by drinking water and you may need an IV infusion of water and electrolytes to make up for it.
Take OTC medications
If you continue to feel nauseous, you can ask your local pharmacy for an OTC antiemetic medication to help manage your vomiting episodes. Excessive vomiting can lead to muscle strain, resulting in discomfort and potential breathing difficulties.
You can also take OTC painkillers like Ibuprofen to help get some relief. Make sure you avoid Paracetamol as it is hepatotoxic in nature and may cause further damage to your liver.
Do not pair alcohol with medications
It is not wise to take medications with alcohol. There is always a possibility of an inevitable interaction between your prescription medications and alcohol and there is no way to predict how bad it will hit you if it occurs.
Meds are also generally heavy on your liver and kidneys as these two organs are primarily involved in the metabolism and excretion of medications. Such meds combined with alcohol can put twice the load on your liver which could aggravate liver damage.
Final words
Yellow vomiting after drinking alcohol is not normal and it could be a sign of a damaged liver. If you suspect that you have liver damage caused by alcohol, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly.
Your doctor may perform various tests, such as blood tests and imaging scans, to evaluate the extent of the liver damage. It is important to be honest about your alcohol consumption and any symptoms you may be experiencing.
They can recommend lifestyle changes, such as quitting alcohol, adopting a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. They may also prescribe medications or refer you to a specialist for further evaluation and management.
Remember, early detection and intervention are key in managing liver damage caused by alcohol.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
Way GW, Jackson KG, Muscu SR, Zhou H. Key Signaling in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease: The Role of Bile Acids. Cells. 2022 Apr 18;11(8):1374. doi: 10.3390/cells11081374. PMID: 35456053; PMCID: PMC9031669. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35456053/
2.-
Patel R, Mueller M. Alcoholic Liver Disease. 2022 Oct 24. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31536239. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546632
3.-
Basra G, Basra S, Parupudi S. Symptoms and signs of acute alcoholic hepatitis. World J Hepatol. 2011 May 27;3(5):118-20. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v3.i5.118. PMID: 21731904; PMCID: PMC3124878. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3124878/
