hi,
great site.....I have a friend who when she has had a drink (in moderation) her fingers and her leg go stiff down her left side and her mouth droops.I know it sounds daft but she is worried and her doctor said he does not know what is causing it to happen.any help would be appreciated.

mabey it is an allergic reaction
or mabey the effects of the alchohol are intensifying the symptoms of a mild condition that she already has.

THANKS BIBC FOR OUR REPLY.I TOO THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE AN ALLERGIC REACTION AS SHE NEVER HAS THE PROBLEM IF SHE DOES NOT HAVE A DRINK.ONE THING I DID FORGET TO MENTION WAS THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN IF SHE DOES NOT SMOKE AT THE SAME TIME.THIS COULD PUT A DIFFERENT REFLECTION ON THINGS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE HAVING A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE.

I'm no doctor but the facts that you present all point to an allergic reaction between the nicotine from the cigarette and something in the drink. I'm a bit surprised that the doctor wouldn't say that right away. Please tell your friend to be careful.

The most serious possibility would be a partial vascular occlusion; since it is apparently always only one side of the body, an allergic reaction does not fit at all. Transient neurological symptoms such as you describe sound like what's called a TIA, which stands for transient ischemic (meaning decreased blood flow) attack. The relation to alcohol could be due to vasodilation which can occur, lowering blood pressure. I seriously doubt any blood test will give an answer. What she needs is a consultation with a vascular surgeon for evaluation of the circulation to her brain.

All of the answers you've received are helpful, but I'm thinking that if your friend has such an awful and scary reaction every time she goes near alcohol, perhaps she should NOT drink. Then she would not have to worry about the reaction, because the cause would be taken away. That's just my suggestion.