Hangover Cures: Remedies That Work and Don’t Work

Most people have experienced a hangover — that horrible morning-after feeling of having overdone it on alcohol the day or night before. And, in fact, hangovers have been documented for thousands of years. But, modern science has yet to figure out how to cure one. If you ask around, or search for hangover cures online, you’ll likely be overwhelmed by folk remedies, personal anecdotes, and products that claim to magically cure your hangover. 

But do any of these really work? And what’s the science behind them? Here, we’ll take a closer look at what the evidence says about hangover treatments and cures: which ones may work, and which really don’t. 

What are typical hangover symptoms?

A hangover is characterized by unpleasant mental and physical symptoms that come on as blood alcohol levels return to zero. 

Typical hangover symptoms can vary for different people, but commonly include:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Fatigue

• Thirst

• Difficulty concentrating 

• Vomiting

• Stomachache

• Loss of appetite

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• Some foods and drinks can help with a hangover. From coconut water to chicken, here are the best (and worst) food and drinks when you’re dealing with a hangover.  

• Why are some hangovers worse than others? Histamine, sulfites, and other substances in alcoholic drinks can make hangovers feel worse. Learn how to avoid them. 

• Tips to get over a hangover: Three people share what works for them (and one doctor weighs in).

• Can you take Tylenol and drink alcohol? Yes, you can have Tylenol and drink alcohol as long as you drink in moderation. But there are some serious risks of liver damage if you overdo it. 

How to cure a hangover

If you’re looking for ways to help a hangover, there are some tried-and-tested approaches for  managing symptoms. There isn’t one cure-all solution — each separate remedy tends to work on a few symptoms. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective medications and natural remedies. 

1. NSAIDs

Since inflammation plays a role in why people feel so rough when they have a hangover, it would make sense that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) could help. And they might — but the evidence isn’t clear. 

In one study, people who took an NSAID called tolfenamic acid before drinking alcohol had fewer hangover symptoms and lower levels of inflammation. But, a more recent study showed that ibuprofen combined with alcohol could actually be toxic to liver cells after drinking. 

And, there’s another reason not to use NSAIDs to cure a hangover: They can be irritating to the stomach and cause kidney issues. It’s best to take NSAIDs with food and plenty of fluids, and space them out by at least a few hours before or after drinking alcohol.

Remember, while acetaminophen (Tylenol) is often used interchangeably with NSAIDs, it works differently. And it shouldn’t be taken for hangovers. In fact, acetaminophen can be toxic to the liver when drinking because both acetaminophen and alcohol affect liver function. 

2. Treatments for upset stomach and nausea

While NSAIDs help lower overall inflammation, you may still need to control symptoms like nausea or upset stomach, caused by the irritating effect of alcohol on the stomach lining. 

To ease the nausea or upset stomach from hangovers, try the following treatments:

• Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is an over-the-counter anti-nausea medication.

• Pepcid, Zantac, or Alka-Seltzer may help with some of the sour stomach you may feel.

3. Natural remedies and treatments 

There are an overwhelming number of supplements and natural products on the market that claim to prevent or treat hangover symptoms. But do any work? There’s some evidence to suggest possible benefits from the following supplements. But — and this is a big but — the evidence is based on small studies only, and it’s pretty weak:  

• Clove extract

• Pyritinol, a form of vitamin B6

• L-cysteine, an amino acid

• Red ginseng, a herb commonly used in Korea, may speed up how the body processes ethanol and reduce the intensity of hangover symptoms.

• Korean pear juice, another traditional Korean hangover remedy, may also improve hangover symptoms and lower blood alcohol levels. 

• Prickly pear extract may improve nausea and other hangover symptoms, and lower inflammation. 

• Dihydromyricetin (DHM), a chemical derived from the Japanese raisin tree, may improve inflammation, reduce hangover symptoms, and protect the liver.

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So, while supplements and natural products might sound like promising hangover cures, remember that much more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of these hangover supplements. 

And, natural supplements, in general, aren’t regulated as tightly as prescription medications. That means it’s hard to know what you’re getting when you buy these. For example, some hangover supplements contain vitamins in higher amounts than what’s typically recommended. Others don’t disclose all the doses of the different ingredients they include. 

As with medications, it’s always best to discuss any supplements and natural remedies that you’re considering with your healthcare professional. 

4. Eat carbohydrates 

Foods that are rich in carbohydrates can also help with hangover symptoms. Studies in people with diabetes have shown that drinking alcohol at night causes a drop in blood sugar levels the next morning. Low blood sugar can cause headaches and nausea, and it can also make you feel weak and lightheaded, worsening your hangover symptoms. 

So eating carbohydrate-rich foods can help by increasing your blood sugar levels. And there’s another reason to eat carbs. With a hangover, it’s common to feel queasy and have an upset stomach. Foods like bread and rice are gentle on your stomach and can help you feel better faster. 

Common myths about hangover cures

Much like natural supplements and products marketed at curing a hangover, there are plenty of anecdotal remedies that don’t have a whole heap of evidence supporting them. Here are a few of these hangover myths.  

Myth #1: Beer before wine is fine

It turns out that the order or combination of different types of liquor doesn’t affect how bad your hangover will be. How much alcohol you drink matters more: The more you drink, the more likely you are to have a worse hangover. So, moderate how much you drink, and listen to your own cues. If you’re starting to feel drunk or unwell, stop drinking.  

Myth #2: Hair of the dog

People commonly report that drinking more alcohol while you have a hangover will ease you through it. But there’s no evidence for this. If you’re hungover, more alcohol will just make you feel worse and add to the toxic burden your body is already experiencing. 

Myth #3: Sleep

It’s common to feel tired after drinking too much. And, good quality sleep, when needed, is always a good idea. But here’s the catch: Excess alcohol consumption affects the quality of sleep you get, so even after a night’s sleep, it’s likely you’ll feel very tired the morning after the night before. The more you drink, the more likely your sleep will be disturbed. 

Myth #4: Coffee and caffeine

A cup of coffee may perk you up during a hangover and help with certain symptoms, like that hangover headache. But beyond that, there isn’t much research for caffeine itself as a hangover cure. 

A study in rats showed that caffeine may help relieve headache symptoms from a hangover. But, another study (conducted in a lab) found that coffee may actually slow down the rate of ethanol breakdown, which could potentially worsen hangovers. So, it’s unclear. Until more research is done on humans, the evidence of caffeine being a hangover cure is lacking.

4 tips to prevent a hangover

Although there’s growing evidence that no amount of alcohol can be considered safe, there are  some ways to avoid getting a hangover after drinking.  

1. Limit your alcohol intake

The less you drink — both in amount and frequency — the less likely you are to have a  hangover. So cut back on the amount you drink, and slow down when you’re drinking. Alternating soft drinks or water between alcoholic drinks is a good way of slowing and lowering your alcohol consumption. 

2. Hydrate

Drinking too much alcohol can cause dehydration. And as we’ve seen, this can worsen symptoms of a hangover, like fatigue and thirst. It’s a good idea to drink water before you start drinking alcohol, and to continue hydrating with water in between alcoholic drinks. Having a large glass of water or cup of noncaffeinated herbal tea before bed can also help to rehydrate you.   

3. Avoid dark liquors

Dark liquors contain congeners, compounds that form when alcohol is made, which give these liquors their flavor and color. Bourbon and whisky may give you worse hangovers than clear liquors like vodka because of their higher congener content. Vodka can still give you a worse hangover than dark liquors, though, if you drink too much of it. This is because it’s the ethanol in alcohol that’s more likely to cause a hangover than a congener. 

4. Eat something before you drink

Eating along with drinking alcohol slows the rate at which ethanol is absorbed into the bloodstream. It also helps you process alcohol faster. Both of these can mean you’re less likely to have a hangover if you drink with a full stomach versus an empty stomach.    

How alcohol causes a hangover

There’s a solid amount of scientific research looking into what causes a hangover — and the headache that goes with it. And unsurprisingly, it’s down to how much alcohol you drink. The more alcohol you consume, the higher your blood alcohol concentration, and the worse your hangover will likely be. 

But exactly how excessive drinking causes a hangover isn’t fully understood. It likely involves complex and interconnected processes. Here’s what seems clear.  

After you drink an alcoholic drink, the alcohol (more specifically, ethanol) is absorbed into your blood, and travels all around your body affecting many different organs and processes. Because ethanol is toxic to the body, it works hard to break ethanol down and get rid of it. 

A hangover is likely a combination of:

• the lingering effects of excess alcohol on the brain and body 

• the impact of the body working hard to protect itself from alcohol and eliminate it from the blood 

Together, the effects of too much alcohol on the body are experienced as symptoms of a hangover.     

Here are some examples of how this plays out in the body: 

• Inflammation: High blood levels of alcohol increase inflammation in the body. It’s the body’s way of responding to injury or infection. Inflammation can affect the stomach and intestines, and it can cause widening of blood vessels in your body, including your skin and your brain. These changes may contribute to stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, flushing, and headaches. 

• Oxidative stress: Oxidative stress is what happens when the body works overtime to mop up harmful molecules called free radicals. Alcohol increases the production of these dangerous free radicals in the body. It’s likely that both the increase in free radicals — and the stress on the body from trying to neutralize them — play a role in many of the brain and digestive symptoms of a hangover. 

• Stomach irritation: Alcohol also affects the way your stomach works. It can increase the amount of stomach acid, and weakens stomach and intestinal muscles, causing heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and pain. 

• Altered brain signaling: Alcohol has powerful effects on the brain and the nervous system. It can affect your mood, coordination, reaction times, memory, and level of alertness. It does this by interfering with brain signaling and brain hormones. These effects can spill over into the next day and contribute to the tiredness and irritability associated with hangovers. 

• Disturbed sleep: Alcohol can also interfere with your sleep. So even though drinking too much may make you feel sleepy at first, it can disrupt your sleep patterns and affect your quality of sleep. Combined with the many other effects of alcohol, a bad night’s sleep can make a hangover even worse. 

What causes a hangover headache?

So many things! One of the main ways alcohol causes a headache is through dehydration. But this isn’t the only way. Here are all the ways drinking too much can cause a hangover headache: 

• Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it acts on the kidneys to produce more urine. The more urine you produce, the more fluids you lose from the body. Dehydration causes headaches. 

• Vasodilation: Alcohol expands blood vessels in the body, including in the brain. This  can cause or worsen a headache, too.  

• Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting, common with hangovers, can also contribute to dehydration and cause or worsen headaches in this way. 

• Fatigue: Disturbed sleep, caused by excess alcohol, or a disturbed sleep-wake cycle, can also lead to headaches.  

• Sensitivity to other ingredients in alcohol: People may be sensitive to certain ingredients in alcoholic beverages, such as sulfites, histamines, or tyramine, which can all trigger headaches in some people.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

Reviewed by:

Farzon A. Nahvi, MD

Dr. Nahvi is an emergency medicine physician and author of “Code Gray: Death, Life, and Uncertainty in the ER.” He works clinically at Concord Hospital in Concord, New Hampshire, and is a clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Prior to this, he worked as an ER physician and clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Mount Sinai Health System, NYU Langone Health, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, and the Manhattan VA. He is a graduate of Cornell University and NYU School of Medicine.

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