Relationship between the cardiac response to acute intoxication and alcohol-induced subjective effects throughout the blood alcohol concentration curve

RATIONALE: There is evidence to suggest that individual differences in the subjective response to alcohol exist and exaggerated cardiac response to alcohol has been suggested to be a marker of increased sensitivity to the stimulant properties of alcohol. OBJECTIVES: The present investigation examines the relationship between cardiac reactivity to alcohol measured on the ascending limb of the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) curve and the subjective stimulant and sedative effects of alcohol throughout the BAC curve. METHODS: The stimulant and sedative effects of alcohol anticipatory to alcohol and during the ascending and descending limbs of the BAC curve were evaluated using the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale in 39 male social drinkers. RESULTS: Cardiac response to ethanol measured on the ascending limb of the BAC curve was positively correlated with intoxicated stimulant effects at numerous time points during the ascending and descending limbs of the BAC curve (ps < 0.01). No associations were found between cardiac change following alcohol and alcohol-related sedative effects at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: Objective and subjective reports of stimulation post-alcohol ingestion may increase risk for problematic drinking.