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Why Do I Get Lightheaded After Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Posted By Liz (College Station, Tx) on 06/15/2015

I have high blood pressure and am taking 20mg of Enalapril twice a day. I began taking one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (with Mothers) with 1 teaspoon of honey in the mornings. Every time I take it I become light headed. I stopped taking it and the light headedness did not occur. I took my blood pressure during the times of lightheadedness and it was normal. Do you have any suggestions as to why I feel that way when I take it?

Replied by Deirdre (Atlanta) on 06/24/2015

Hi Liz,

Sorry I didn't see your question the first time around. I have had this exact same issue with apple cider vinegar. I used to guzzle quite a bit of ACV every day, but at some point about 5 years ago, I started to get anxiety, heart palpitations, lightheaded and dizziness with the effects lasting for at least 24 hours. Because I was drinking ACV daily, I started to have panic attacks driving on the highway and I finally went to the ER after feeling like I was having a heart attack in the grocery store one day. They didn't find anything wrong with me and suggested a prescription for Xanax instead! I never filled the prescription.

It took me a while but I FINALLY figured out it was the ACV causing my symptoms. In my case, I think it promptly depletes either magnesium, B-vitamins, or iodine. I'm guessing it's magnesium, but still not quite 100% sure.

ACV is still one of my favorite remedies and I still drink it from time to time, but never on an empty stomach and I always make sure to take those three supplements (potassium iodide, magnesium powder AND a b-complex) shortly afterwards. I have no problems now.

Hope this helps!

Replied by Liz (College Station, Tx) on 06/23/2015

I asked this question a week or so ago but was not a member and I never could find if I had a response, but now I have joined so I will try again. I have high blood pressure and am on Enalipril 20 mg twice a day. I read on here how apple cider vinegar with the Mother can help with blood pressure so I decided to try it. Instead of taking the 2 Tbls of vinegar like recommended, I started with 1 tsp in 8 oz of water with 1 tsp of honey. I did this on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. About 30 mins later, I became dizzy and light headed. I tried again the next day but I waited until after I ate, but had the same result. I continued for the next 2 days and continued with the light headedness. I stopped for a day and tried again with the same result, so I know the ACV is the reason. I even tried taking it before I went to bed and when I would wake up during the night, I was light headed. Would you have any idea why this is happening? Is it bad?

Replied by Sam (Miami) on 06/26/2015

You are on a medication. It is not known how it interacts with apple cider vinegar.

I can only tolerate organic Apple Cider vinegar, raw, unfiltered. Any other type gives me heartburn. Theoretically apple cider vinegar by itself should not cause dizziness or light headedness.

Start with a small amount- 1tsp on a glass of water.

Apply cider vinegar changes your blood acidity with time, that is why it is almost a panacea.

Replied by Ronald (Cape Town) on 10/16/2015

I started this morning with 3 tablespoons of ACV diluted in a glass of water, within a minute or two I experienced a lightheaded sensation.

So I am interested to see if you have found a solution yet.

Replied by Melanie (Usa ) on 06/24/2016

You all need to look into histaminosis. I have it and it causes a lot of these symptoms, especially all the ones Deirdre mentioned (I have almost the exact story!! ) vinegar is high in histamine and I just recently noticed that with in seconds of injesting it, I feel dizzy. So, no more for me.

Replied by David (Michigan) on 04/18/2017

This is normal because for unknown events in the body after consuming Apple Cider Vinegar non diluted causes your bloodsugar to lower can result in minor dizzyness. It's not a sign of concern!

Replied by Nama (Uk) on 04/22/2017

I have taking acv for 3 days. I felt light headed heart burn and nausea after taking ACV with garlic. I thought I was dieing. I checked my blood pressure it had gone up to 186/120. So for me no more.

Replied by Tracy (Co) on 08/03/2017

I took ACC for years. And all of a sudden I started getting light headed. So I stopped for a while. I started again and it got me like a tone of bricks. I was light headed for at least a day. I miss it, but had to stop.

Replied by Tim (California) on 08/29/2017

Each day for the last 4-5 days, I have been drinking small amounts of ACV and today I feel dizzy and light headed. I am thinking it is the ACV causing low blood pressure and/or low blood sugar. I am pretty skinny to begin with, but drink it for its other health effects. I think I'll probably have to cut it down to a couple sips once a week.

Replied by Ashley (Miami ) on 11/23/2020

The same thing happens to me, so weird!

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