Cited by 391Sleep and Wakefulness ResearchSleep and related disordersAlcohol Consumption and Health Effects

Alcohol and sleep I: effects on normal sleep

Ebrahim, Irshaad O., Shapiro, Colin M., Williams, Adrian J., Fenwick, Peter B.·2013·Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research

Abstract

This review provides a qualitative assessment of all known scientific studies on the impact of alcohol ingestion on nocturnal sleep in healthy volunteers. At all dosages, alcohol causes a reduction in sleep onset latency, a more consolidated first half sleep and an increase in sleep disruption in the second half of sleep. The effects on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in the first half of sleep appear to be dose related with low and moderate doses showing no clear trend on REM sleep in the first half of the night whereas at high doses, REM sleep reduction in the first part of sleep is significant. Total night REM sleep percentage is decreased in the majority of studies at moderate and high doses with no clear trend apparent at low doses. The onset of the first REM sleep period is significantly delayed at all doses and appears to be the most recognizable effect of alcohol on REM sleep followed by the reduction in total night REM sleep. The majority of studies, across dose, age and gender, confirm an increase in slow wave sleep (SWS) in the first half of the night relative to baseline values. The impact of alcohol on SWS in the first half of night appears to be more robust than the effect on REM sleep and does not appear to be an epiphenomenon REM sleep reduction. Total night SWS is increased at high alcohol doses across gender and age groups.

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Crossref · 10.1111/acer.12006

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36 of 36 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Acute alcohol consumption tends to reduce the latency to sleep onset, increase slow wave sleep and sleep consolidation, and decrease rapid eye movement (REM) during the first half of the sleep period.

    “Acute alcohol consumption tends to reduce the latency to sleep onset, increase slow wave sleep (deep sleep) and sleep consolidation, and decrease rapid eye movement (REM) during the first half of the sleep period (see Ebrahim, Shapiro, Williams, & Fenwick, 2013 for review).”

    From Sleep and circadian contributions to adolescent alcohol use disorder (2015) · cites this paper as Ebrahim et al., 2013

  • Alcohol use itself can lead to sleep and circadian disturbance.

    “Alcohol use itself can lead to sleep and circadian disturbance (Ebrahim et al., 2013; Hasler, Smith, et al., 2012), raising the possibility of a vicious cycle.”

    From Sleep and circadian contributions to adolescent alcohol use disorder (2015) · cites this paper as Ebrahim et al., 2013

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Authors
Ebrahim, I. O., Shapiro, C. M., Williams, A. J., & Fenwick, P. B.
Affiliations
  • London Sleep Centre – Neuropsychiatry London United Kingdom
  • University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author
Ebrahim, Irshaad O.
Venue
Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2013-01-24
Volume
37
Issue
4
Pages
539-49
ISSN
  • 0145-6008 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-0277
OpenAlex
W2157684242
Cited by
391
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 2
FWCI
1.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
Keywords
alcohol, sleep, sleep latency, REM sleep, slow-wave sleep, sleep consolidation, sleep disruption, alcohol dose, healthy volunteers, nocturnal sleep
MeSH terms
Alcohol Drinking, Ethanol, Animals, Humans, Sleep Stages, Sleep, REM, Polysomnography

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