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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffUnfortunately, no medications or other treatments can prevent reactions to alcohol or other ingredients in alcoholic beverages. The only way to avoid a reaction is to avoid alcohol completely or avoid whatever particular substance causes your reaction. Read beverage labels carefully to see whether they contain ingredients or additives you know cause a reaction, such as sulfites or certain grains. But, be aware that labels may not list the ingredient or ingredients that cause your reaction.
The key treatment is to do your best to avoid the beverage in question. Work with your doctor to identify what steps you can take to relieve your symptoms and how to spot and respond to a severe reaction.
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- Stadie V, et al. Itching attacks with generalized hyperhydrosis as initial symptoms of Hodgkin's disease. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2003;17:559.
- Cianferoni A, et al. Food-induced anaphylaxis. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2012;32:165.
- Nakagawa Y, et al. Urticarial reactions caused by ethanol. Allergology International. 2006;55:411.
- Sticherling M, et al. Alcohol: Intolerance syndromes, urticarial and anaphylactoid reactions. Clinics in Dermatology. 1999;17:417.
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