What Mimics the Feeling of Alcohol? Unpacking Mimetic Medications and Other Causes

October 7, 2025 •

5 min read

According to a 2021 report, fewer than 100 cases of auto-brewery syndrome—a rare condition where the body ferments carbohydrates into alcohol—have been documented globally, yet numerous other medications, health conditions, and substances exist that can mimic the feeling of alcohol. This phenomenon can be caused by a variety of factors, from the effects of everyday prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines to neurological disorders and herbal products.

Quick Summary

Explore the various substances, medical conditions, and pharmacological principles that can produce effects resembling alcohol intoxication. This article details the role of neurotransmitters like GABA, examines medications and rare syndromes, and compares synthetic versus herbal alternatives to achieve alcohol-like effects.

Key Points

GABA System is Key: Many substances and conditions that mimic alcohol's effects do so by influencing the inhibitory GABA neurotransmitter system in the brain, which controls relaxation and anxiety.
Medications Mimic Effects: Prescription medications like benzodiazepines and opioids, along with some OTC drugs like antihistamines, can produce sedative and impairing effects similar to alcohol due to their impact on the central nervous system.
Auto-Brewery Syndrome is Rare: A very rare medical condition, auto-brewery syndrome, causes the body to produce its own alcohol from carbohydrates in the gut, leading to genuine intoxication without drinking.
Underlying Health Conditions: Seemingly drunk behavior can be a symptom of more common medical issues like blood sugar imbalances, vestibular disorders, or neurological conditions, necessitating proper medical diagnosis.
Functional Alternatives Exist: A new generation of functional beverages and herbal supplements use compounds like kava, L-theanine, and ashwagandha to create relaxing, pro-social effects without alcohol, though they come with their own considerations.
Consult a Professional: Due to the wide range of potential causes, anyone experiencing unexplained drunk-like symptoms should consult a healthcare provider to determine the root cause and ensure safety.

Understanding the Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol

To understand what mimics the feeling of alcohol, it is essential to first know how ethanol affects the brain. As a central nervous system depressant, alcohol primarily acts on the brain's neurotransmitter systems. Its key mechanisms include:

Enhancing the GABA System: Alcohol increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which calms the brain. This leads to the characteristic feelings of relaxation, reduced anxiety, and disinhibition associated with drinking.
Suppressing the Glutamate System: Conversely, alcohol inhibits the major excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate. This suppression is linked to memory impairment and cognitive difficulties.
Triggering Dopamine Release: The rewarding effects of alcohol are also tied to the release of dopamine in the brain's reward centers, which reinforces the desire to drink. Chronic alcohol consumption can lead to the brain adapting by dampening its natural GABA response and increasing excitatory signals. This explains why dependent individuals may need more alcohol to achieve the same effect and why withdrawal can cause anxiety and hyperexcitability.

Medications and Clinical Conditions Causing Drunk-Like Symptoms

Several prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can cause side effects that mimic alcohol intoxication, often by targeting the same GABA system. Medical conditions, both common and rare, can also produce these symptoms.

Prescription and OTC Medications

Benzodiazepines: Drugs such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium) are prescribed for anxiety and sleep. They are GABA receptor agonists, meaning they activate the same receptors as alcohol, leading to sedation, reduced coordination, and confusion. Mixing them with alcohol is extremely dangerous.
Opioid Painkillers: Medications like Vicodin and Percocet can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired judgment, symptoms that can easily be mistaken for intoxication.
Antihistamines: Older, first-generation antihistamines, like diphenhydramine, are known to cause significant drowsiness and cognitive impairment. Many OTC cold and sleep aids contain these ingredients.

Medical Conditions

Auto-Brewery Syndrome: This extremely rare condition, also known as 'gut fermentation syndrome', causes the body to produce its own ethanol. It happens when microorganisms in the gut ferment carbohydrates, leading to intoxication without drinking. This can produce symptoms like confusion, dizziness, and even positive breathalyzer tests.
Blood Sugar Imbalances: Both low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can lead to symptoms resembling drunkenness. When blood glucose drops, the brain is deprived of fuel, causing confusion, slurred speech, and loss of coordination. High blood sugar can cause fatigue and confusion.
Vestibular Disorders: Problems with the inner ear, which controls balance, can cause intense episodes of vertigo, dizziness, and unsteady movement that can be confused with intoxication.
Neurological Conditions: Certain neurological issues, including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, small strokes, or brain tumors, can affect coordination, speech patterns, and cognitive function, creating symptoms similar to being drunk.
Sleep Deprivation: Chronic sleep loss has a significant impact on cognitive function, reaction time, and coordination, with extreme cases mimicking the impairment caused by a high blood alcohol content.

Herbal and Synthetic Alcohol Alternatives

As more people seek alternatives to alcohol, a variety of herbal and synthetic products are entering the market, aiming to replicate the positive, pro-social feelings of a buzz without the negative side effects like hangovers or liver damage.

Herbal and Botanical Compounds

Kava: An herbal extract from the South Pacific, kava interacts with GABA receptors to produce relaxation and reduce anxiety. It is often consumed as a tea or tincture and is the focus of a growing number of kava bars.
CBD (Cannabidiol): This compound derived from cannabis plants offers relaxing effects by interacting with endocannabinoid systems, though it does not produce the same psychoactive 'high' as THC.
Ashwagandha: An adaptogenic herb that helps manage stress responses, ashwagandha can promote a sense of calm and well-being.
L-Theanine: Found in matcha tea, this amino acid promotes relaxation and mental clarity by increasing GABA activity.

Synthetic Alternatives (Synthehol)

Some companies are developing synthetic compounds designed to mimic alcohol's desirable effects while avoiding the harmful ones. These compounds function as partial GABA receptor agonists, targeting specific subtypes associated with relaxation while limiting the full sedative effect. The goal is to create a drink that provides the 'buzz' without intoxication, hangovers, or addictive properties. However, these products are still subject to regulatory approval and require more research.

A Comparison of Alcohol Mimetics


Feature	Alcohol	Benzodiazepines	Kava	Functional Beverages (e.g., Synthehol)
Mechanism	Enhances GABA, inhibits glutamate, increases dopamine.	Full GABA receptor agonists.	Acts on GABA receptors.	Synthetic GABA partial agonists.
Relaxation Effect	Strong, dose-dependent.	Strong, can be addictive.	Mild to moderate, non-intoxicating.	Designed to be mild to moderate.
Intoxication/Impairment	Causes dose-dependent impairment.	Can cause significant impairment.	Typically non-impairing at social doses.	Designed to be minimally impairing.
Addictive Potential	High, can lead to dependence.	High, can lead to dependence.	Possible, some concerns about dependency.	Designed to have low potential, but requires more research.
Risks	Liver damage, cancer, CNS depression.	Dangerous interactions, CNS depression.	Potential for liver issues.	Unknown long-term risks, requires regulation.

Navigating the Risks of Mimetic Substances

For those who experience intoxication-like symptoms without drinking, a medical evaluation is crucial. These symptoms could signal an undiagnosed medical condition or dangerous side effects from medication. Never combine alcohol with sedating medications, as this can severely depress the central nervous system and can be fatal. While the emerging functional beverages and herbal supplements offer potential, they are not without risks. Kava, for instance, has been linked to liver inflammation in some cases. The long-term safety of new synthetic alternatives is still under investigation. The best approach is always to consult a healthcare professional to understand the root cause of any symptoms and to safely explore alternatives to alcohol.

Conclusion

From prescription drugs and rare conditions like auto-brewery syndrome to innovative herbal blends, the causes behind feeling intoxicated without consuming alcohol are diverse and complex. The primary mechanism for many of these is the manipulation of the brain's GABA neurotransmitter system, which also underpins alcohol's effects. While this area of pharmacology is evolving to offer potentially safer alternatives, it is essential to approach them with caution and awareness. Anyone experiencing unexplained symptoms resembling intoxication should seek medical advice promptly to rule out underlying health issues and ensure their safety. Continued research will shed more light on these fascinating compounds and conditions, offering new avenues for those seeking relaxation without the risks associated with conventional alcohol use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Several medical conditions can cause symptoms that mimic intoxication, including low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), inner ear (vestibular) disorders, neurological issues like multiple sclerosis or epilepsy, and the rare gut fermentation syndrome known as auto-brewery syndrome.

Yes, many medications have side effects that can resemble being drunk. This includes benzodiazepines for anxiety, opioids for pain, muscle relaxers, and some antihistamines found in cold and sleep medicines. It is dangerous to mix these with alcohol.

Auto-brewery syndrome is a rare condition where an overgrowth of yeast in the gut ferments ingested carbohydrates into alcohol. This can cause people to become intoxicated from eating certain foods, leading to symptoms like dizziness, confusion, and impaired coordination.

Yes, certain herbs interact with the brain's calming pathways. Kava root from the Pacific Islands is known for its relaxing effects by acting on GABA receptors, while L-theanine from matcha tea and ashwagandha can also promote a sense of calm.

Both alcohol and benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants that enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA. By activating GABA receptors, they produce feelings of relaxation and sedation, which is why they are so dangerous to mix.

Functional beverages are a new class of drinks that contain ingredients like nootropics, adaptogens, and botanicals (e.g., L-theanine, ashwagandha, CBD). They are designed to create a mild, pro-social buzz or relaxing sensation by influencing neurotransmitters like GABA, but without the negative effects of alcohol.

It can be. While some causes like dehydration or lack of sleep are benign, symptoms of intoxication without drinking can also point to serious underlying medical conditions. It is important to seek medical advice for proper diagnosis and treatment.