Talk:Hangover/Archive 1

Archive 1

Please do not add www.HangoverReview.com to external links

www.HangoverReview.com is just a front for www.HangoverStopper.com, i.e. it is purely commercial. Their respective IP addresses are 70.86.54.114 and 70.86.54.115, and their respective account IDs with Google statistics (viewable in their home pages' HTML suorce) are "UA-54710-4" and "UA-54710-1". Combine this with the fact that the page actively plugs Hangover Stopper, and it is evident that this page is the web equivalent of an infomercial. --ReverendDave 20:08, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Zyrtec (cetirizine HCl)

A lot of people here in Norway tout taking 1 or 2 tablets of "Zyrtec" (which I've found has the active ingredient "cetirizine") before drinking. This is an allergy medicine. Would there be any good reason for this - and should it be included in the Remedies-section? Stolsvik 17:15, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Googling for 'cetirizine alcohol' gives some links, mainly warning against the combination without any specifics. I remember reading something about it interacting with the alcohol metabolism, exaggerating the effects of the alcohol, while the user feels more sober, IIRC. My personal experience is that it reduces/eliminates the nausea, YMMV.

Cetirizine can in a small number of people cause drowsiness. If you are one of those people then it would infact increase the effects of alcohol. Generally it is not recommended to take. "old style" antihistamines like those found in medications for travel sickness can help with nausea, but WILL definitely increase the effects of alcohol — Preceding unsigned comment added by 202.72.165.212 (talk) 08:07, 17 December 2011 (UTC)

"Prevention" section?

There should maybe be a specificd section about "Preventing"? (As I understand "Remedy" as being somewhat "after the fact"?) Stolsvik 17:15, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Why were Charcoal and Calcium Carbonate not listed in the possible prevention section. There are over the counter remedies that contain these substances. Is there no scientific data recorded to back this theory up? Or did it just not get mentioned? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 65.247.121.5 (talk) 21:20, August 20, 2007 (UTC)

Why is the traditional method of drinking a liter (or two!) of water not mentioned? Just before going to bed (as prevention) and upon waking (remedy.) Because it is effective, but stymies the more commercial aspects? --Connel MacKenzie - wikt 19:52, 1 January 2008 (UTC)

Have you any references to support this? --Keithf2008 (talk) 22:44, 1 September 2009 (UTC)

Flavour compounds?

The part of the article about flavour compounds playing a part in the hangover seems very much like the commonfolk generalization of "this type of booze gives you worse hangovers, and that type does not". Can anyone back it up with factual research?

I'm removing it as it doesn't cite sources, and smacks of supposition. Feel free to add it back if you can provide a source other than empirical knowledge.

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Describe the new page here. I am quite concerned about my drinking...I am definately not a typical alcoholic cos when i have a hangover it puts me off drink for at least three days...but it always creeps back in and socially, i find it hard to resist going on the "piss" with my friends every weekend. its going on about 8 years of hard drinking every weekend and im only 23.I know I have the willpower to stop, and I am seriously considering it after this weekend seeing as I really went overboard and thought I was going to die I felt so awful the next day. Can you tell me if I have already gone too far? I am scared of the damage I am causing myself...my liver and kidneys etc. My email address is twentiesgal@hotmail.com I d really appreciate if someone could email me back about this... Best regards.

Wikipedia is not a proper forum to give you advice. However, I would strongly urge you to consult your doctor. She or he can provide you with all the information you need. Alcoholism is an addiction and can be very difficult to face alone but a medical professional can counsel you as to the best ways of getting rid of it. Good luck to you. - montréalais

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The last paragraph in particular seems something other than NPOV -- slightly condemnatory of, or at least condescending towards, drinking. --Calieber 20:56, 17 Oct 2003 (UTC)

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Genetic thing

I know that some people (Amerindians?) get drunk with less alcohol than others. Is there a correlation with having stronger hangovers or can both effects be independent?

Age also a factor?

Several anecdotal reports suggest that age is also a factor. Should this be included along with the genetic connection?

Can anyone point to medical factors which support this theory?

• Yes, both matters do have a medical basis, and are discussed at the blood alcohol concentration page. I will make a see also link to that page. Securiger 02:09, 8 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Sugar affects hangovers?

Is there a source or explanation of how sugar affects hangovers?

I have no real sources, but out of personal experience and storys, I can tell you that sweeter beverages get you more drunk. Perhaps the article on alcohol as some info. I assume if that something gets you drunker, it will also increase the hangover. This is all speculation, though.--Kasperl 13:55, 23 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I moderated the section about sugar causing hangovers for lack of evidence. --Joe Jarvis 02:43, Sep 26, 2004 (UTC)

That section includes a statement that sugar both does and then further down does not affect the hangover, one of them should probably be deleted. Dwade21 18:06, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Recipes?

Should the recipes in this article be moved to the Wikibooks Cookbook? -leigh (φθόγγος) 06:23, Dec 8, 2004 (UTC)

what about steam rooms and saunas?

From personal experience I can tell you that one hour in a sauana or 30 minutes in a steam room is a better hangover cure than all of the ones listed. Maybe someone with some grammatical aptitude could add it into the article.

-Actually, a major cause of hangover is dehydration. Therefore, spending time in a steam room or sauna exacerbates a hangover. Hydration is what a person needs to counter a hangover.David Justin 02:47, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

- As long as one drinks enough water, before, meanwhile, and after I don't know a better remedy to hangover than making some cardio (running, biking) and/or going into a sauna for at least 45 minutes. I am not going all theoritical here. When I feel bad in the morning after I drunk too much. I drink loads of water, run/bike/... as much as I can then do 45 minutes of sauna, and it's as if I never drank the day before. It's a tried and proven remedy.

-Yes, but Steam Rooms and Saunas help sweat out the toxins, so if one drinks plenty of water before and after their visit to the SR or S, dehydration will not be a problem.

- You cannot "sweat out" toxins in a steam room. This is purely a myth. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.73.75.201 (talk) 19:45, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

-Disagree. Although sweating, by nature, is the bodies way of cooling off, toxins present in the body are naturally elminated through the glands which produce sweat. Hydration before and after the use of a steam room or sauna would be recommended for anyone utilising them. It is not a myth that toxins are eliminated through the bodies pores. I would recommend this process only to healthy individuals that have had prior experience using them. Additionally, it would not be a bad idea to be accompanied by another person when using a steam room or sauna. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.203.222.119 (talk) 18:23, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

- This isn't an area of "agree" or "disagree." The only toxin generally released through sweat is urea. Sweat is made mostly of water and can contribute to dehydration. We lose traces of minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, etc.) through sweating, but these are not toxins. In fact, they are essential minerals that must be replaced after sweating. Sweating in and of itself cannot help a hangover through the passing of toxins present from alcohol consumption. Toxins ingested and produced from alcohol consumption are filtered through the liver and passed out of the body through the urine and through feces. I will admit that half an hour in my hot tub, a cold rag on my forhead, a big bottle of water or sports drink and 2 aspirin help a lot with my hangovers. But I think the sauna/steam/hot tub relief comes primarily through relaxation of the body and muscles which I'm also simultaneously rehydrating with the water I'm drinking, not through some magical release of toxins. No doubt, your sauna helps you feel better, but not for the reasons being argued here.

The are major differences between steam rooms and saunas. Steam rooms produce much less sweat. Steam rooms are also the preferred hangover cure in Russia and the former Soviet Union. Saunas produce a lot of sweat, and may not help with rehydrating, but both are effective. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.143.169.189 (talk) 03:40, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

Actually, your body does get rid of some waste through your skin. This is why people smell more like alcohol when they sweat. Its why people can smell differently when they eat a lot of dairy. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.131.20.93 (talk) 17:12, 7 May 2014 (UTC) -Steamrooms get more hot. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.165.173.138 (talk) 23:28, 8 October 2011 (UTC)

- Another falicy. Steam rooms can induce just as much sweating as saunas. Sweating occurs when the body's temperature reaches a certain threshhold and then attempts to cool itself. You notice sweating less in a steam room because your body is already damp from steam. But you can and do sweat just as much in a steam room as a sauna, depending on how your body temperature changes. In fact, you can even sweat while swimming, taking a hot shower or sitting in a hot tub. You don't notice the sweat because of the water, but it's there.

Sleep Apnea

Alcohol has been shown to cause sleep apnea in persons who do not normally have it. Sleep apnea in turn, is known to cause severe headaches (I can attest to that from first-hand experience). I added that information, but somebody who thought he knew better deleted my contribution -- HowardLeeHarkness

Well, it may have to do with source support. There must be studies linking alcohol to sleep apnea. JFW | T@lk 23:04, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

Add Breathing to Unproven remedies section?

Um...headaches are due to lack of blood in the cerebellum, if one has a headache you can guarantee its because of lack of sucrose from muscles, eg too much sugar dehydrates the body, alcohol also dehydrates the blood stream or replaces nutrients. You just need to breath hard to get rid of a hang over, do it for 30 seconds after taking some light aspirant from a willow tree or something. You need to create blood cells with oxygen, This is infact a good idea if it doesnt cause you to throw up, if you throw up you prob have alcohol poisoning which can be deadly. Water with a hot shower and breathing 30 seconds will get rid of your hangover, aspirin would only help. However aspirin will not take your headache away if you don't get the blood stream moving. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.255.25.193 (talk) 02:57, 8 January 2014 (UTC)

Hi and thanks for your comments but you will need to back those claims with citations of reliable medical sources (please see WP:MEDRS before making changes to the article.Ochiwar (talk) 05:41, 9 January 2014 (UTC)

Citations

A lot things in this article need citations. I removed the following:

...Although it's a well known fact that smokers get less drunk than non smokers whilst drinking - this was in New Scientist magazine.

Taurine has been touted as a cure all for liver problems associated with drinking. Taurine is the main ingredient in Red Bull and similar energy drinks. Some governments have banned this drink completely although it now seems that liver problems caused by a fatty liver which occurs when drinking can be slowed and even reversed by taking Taurine.

The first sentence is unencyclopedic and if such an article exists, we need a citation. The paragraph that follows also needs a citation (and a rewrite).

The statement is clearly an exaggeration, but there appears to be some research which may support this - a google scholar search for 'taurine liver acetaldehyde' or 'taurine liver ethanol' turns up a few. I'm working on reading through these and citing appropriately. Serialnutritionist (talk) 02:10, 18 September 2008 (UTC)

Jrkarp 22:35, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

day/night cold and flu tablets do wonders as long as you can keep them down. drop a couple of day-time if your off to work, or night-time if your after some sleep.

This line is more opinion and advice than a fact. Phrasing and spelling poor too. I suspect that these would only act as painkillers, masking the hangover rather than curing it.

Sweating through the use of a sauna is highly effective in cleaning your body of toxins. Through sweating, you purge heavy metals from your body. Also, the increase in your blood flow due to the heat also helps your body to cleanse you of toxins. It detoxifies you in a variety of ways, and you can easily find credible documentation from countless studies. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.214.81.209 (talk) 11:55, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

Origin of the term, hangover

Hi,

I've never written in Wikipedia before but I thought that this might be useful information.

The origin of the term hangover actually comes from London. I'm not sure of the year but there used to be a weekly gathering of everyone in the town for the hangings that took place that week. On the roads that people traveled to the hanging, many shops used to give out beer and liquor. So, many were intoxicated when they got to the place of hanging.

When people drank a lot, the next morning they would feel ill and they called it a hang over.

The phrase on the wagon came from the wagon driver which wouldn't drink on the way to the hanging. He was said to be, on the wagon.

---

I have heard of a slightly different account of the origin of the term.

On the day that someone was due to be hung from the gallows outside the Old Bailey, the person to be hung was paraded around the streets before being taken to the gallows. Whilst on the route they would be allowed their tipple of choice from a number of Public Houses on the way. They would therefore be intoxicated by the time they were 'hung over' the gallows.

On the wagon originates from that they were paraded around on the back of a wagon before they were hung.

Ripwiki1 (talk) 11:17, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Pickle Juice?

This should probably be under fictional cures, right? The salt will dehydrate you even more.

(I thought salt was GOOD for hydration. no?)

No, salt is definatly BAD for hydration- thats why salted snacks are free in some bars- it makes you want to drink.--Firbolag 23:33, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Salt should be good because it helps your body retain water, thus preventing dehydration. Thats why many sports drinks have high salt contents.

Sodium is an essential nutrient but excess salt in your diet can contribute to dehydration. It's not a way to cure a hangover or rehydrate yourself. There are various salts in some sports drinks because they are used to replace salts lost during excercise, sweating and urination. They don't actually help hydrate you. Water is what hydrates you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.73.75.201 (talk) 19:49, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Wrong and right. Salt, NaCl, is for the body to easily transfer water into its cells. Without salt, no water into the cells, and with no water, yes, then no water into the cells (simply explained). So it would be pretty useless to just eat food with salt in it, or just drink water: combine the two. Read about this in the articles about osmosis and diffusion. Grinder0-0 20:00, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

genetics

"Genetics also plays a part, as some people seldom, if ever, suffer hangover symptoms no matter how much they drink". correct me if im wrong but isn't "genetics" like saying "design is responsible"? it can be anything in the "design" of a human (edit: I don't mean "intelligent design" of course)

This is horsesh*t. Obviously some people can process alcohol better than others but it is impossible for someone to go out and drink 15 beers (for example) and feel perfectly normal the next day. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.191.160.175 (talk) 01:44, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

It's not impossible at all, you have stated no evidence to back it up. I have seen more consumed with no adverse effects. Genetics must play a part in these people, but until the gene is isolated, this is pure conjecture. However, I have personally witnessed more than 15 (drinks) consumed in one night with no adverse effects the following day. To say that's impossible is not your judgment call to make. - Josh Nelson, Vancouver Island, Canada —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.67.192.72 (talk) 21:15, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

"Obviously some people can process alcohol better than others but it is impossible for someone to go out and drink 15 beers (for example) and feel perfectly normal the next day. "

I'm one of those people who've never had a hangover, I know i'm not a verifiable source - but i've drunk more than that and not had a hangover the next day. I drink water every night before bed, which would help. But one night I wanted to test how much alcohol I could take. So on an empty stomach I got a bottle of vodka (about 20 standard drinks) and drank it in 10 minutes. I went unconcious, woke up in my own vomit but had no hangover (maybe the vomiting helped?).

When i drink 15 beers (or more and spirits) in a night, I'll drink water before bed. I'll feel a bit tired and have bad concentration over the next few days, but no headache, no nausea.

Anyway, as bad as my stories sound I'm a very occasional drinker, and I don't think I have a high alcohol tolerance (ie i get drunk as fast as most other occasional drinkers) I just never get hungover. Why? i don't know.

Damn you people! Basiljabber (talk) 09:35, 28 October 2008 (UTC)

I removed the part about pickle juice entirely which should maybe just have been edited but was clearly vandalized by "heavydrinkologists" from "point pleasant university" —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.68.249.207 (talk) 16:30, 26 October 2009 (UTC)

Cure

In the industry the best known hangover cure is time JayKeaton 00:16, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

That's an utterly pointless and obvious point. Snowbound 06:07, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

Tolerable Excuse

The intro said, "It is generally considered a tolerated excuse for missing work or school as there is no known immediate cure." That's completely ridiculous. If I had ever used a hangover as an excuse for missing school, I probably would have been suspended. I imagine employers don't look too highly on it either. It may be necessary to miss work when you have a hangover, but it's not necessary to get a hangover so it's hardly a tolerable excuse. I've excised this. Superm401 - Talk 05:44, 31 July 2006 (UTC) Well I hate to say it, but he is correct. Time is the best cure, I do not see why it should be excluded from this article.

Jaykeaton said - In the industry the best known hangover cure is time. I'm sorry but why did you even bother posting that comment. It's both pointless and twatish. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 156.133.50.12 (talk) 10:53, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

What the hell?

"Dehydration causes the brain to shrink away from the skull slightly."

Any scientific source for this?

• I found this here: "The body quickly compensates for water loss by borrowing water from other organs, such as the brain. This causes the brain to shrink away from the skull. Although the brain has no pain sensation, it has a covering called the dura that is connected to the skull by pain-sensitive filaments. If the brain shrinks during dehydration, the dura can become disformed, causing headaches...Stanford Daily, Aches, pains and dehydration: the science of a hangover, 25 November 1998". Haven't checked out the cited source, but thought I would put it here for you to check into.--198.37.16.228 06:41, 19 September 2006 (UTC)

• Regardless, does it really have anything to do with hangovers? "Oh, by the way, dehydration causes the brain to shrink away from the skull" with no note as to what that means, etc

• Well, if you read the quotation, you'll notice the last part explaining exactly what it means. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.67.192.72 (talk) 21:21, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

• The study cited observed subjects who became dehydrated as a result of exercise and not alcohol consumption. While the statement may be true in all cases of dehydration, it is not specifically stated in the article. A summary of the journal study can be found here.StephenPCook (talk) 21:41, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

Contradiction

I want to point out that in the section for "Supposed Remedies" it states that one should be wary of some day/night cold and flu tablets that contain paracetamol as it should not be mixed with alcohol, but 4 bullets below it mentions something about preemptive strikes by using Tylenol or ibuprofin. Tylenol is paracetamol. These statements are to be contradictory.

Tylenol is acetamenifen, not "paracetamol". —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.73.75.201 (talk) 19:52, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

Acetaminophen and Paracetamol are the same thing, the first is the American name, the second the European name. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.2.125.216 (talk) 09:57, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

"Using the bathroom"

Using the bathroom will help eliminate nausea? What exactly does that mean? Throwing up? Urinating? C'mon...

Pot Noodles???

I don't know who thinks pot noodles help a hangover, but I've never heard of that in any form.Rookie Rover 16:16, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

from personal expiriance, this does seem to help. My guess its just heavy foor help, the liquid could help rehydrate and a possible mental factor may be involved.

Re: Origin of the term, hangover (sources?)

that's a great account, but does anyone have any sources for this info?

I should also add that I have heard a very different etymology of the term. It is my understanding that the original definition of the word "hangover" doesn't actually refer to feeling sick the morning after, but that it meant a person is still drunk the morning after because they haven't metabolized all of the alcohol in their system overnight.

It's not uncommon, for example, for people to get arrested for DUI in the morning because they got so sloshed the night before that they're still legally drunk when they go out in the morning. 206.194.127.112 (talk) 21:41, 8 July 2009 (UTC)

Nicotine contradiction

In the beginning of the article it mentions "Nicotine consumption can often worsen hangovers, as smokers tend to smoke much more than usual while under the influence of alcohol." but later in the article it says that nicotine clears up the effects of hangovers. These two completley disgaree with one another...is there proof/support for either one being correct? Any proof that smokers smoke more while intoxicated, or is that just something we all think? Rrten00 15:13, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Red Wine Headache

This seems like a special case of a hangover. Certainly, if I had a red wine headache and wanted to find out more on Wikipedia, I would head to this article first. Thus, proposed merger. --Ginkgo100 ^talk 21:58, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Red Wine Headache is not a hangover. It can hit a person within 15 minutes of having a single glass. That same person might drink 3 glasses of white wine or other alcoholic drinks with no effect. Red Wine Headache is sometimes mistaken for a migraine because of the severe headache and because the person knows they did not drink to excess. It is not a reaction to alcohol but rather to tannins, histamines, or prostaglandins found in red wines.

A compound in red wine, not present in other alcohols, specifically causes migraines. [Littlewood, et al (1988) Lancet, 1:558-9. Trethewie and Khaled (1972) Br Med J 3:290-1.] 141.157.12.34 06:54, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

Would staying up prevent a hang over?

Theoretically would you still get a hangover if you stayed awake? i have never tired it but i think it might be something to study.--65.30.202.245 03:12, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Trust me, it doesn't. MrAngy 11:52, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

True, it doesn't really work, but I would say that if you stay awake for a considerable number of hours after drinking then get up late, your hangover won't be as bad.--h i s s p a c e r e s e a r c h 09:26, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

Hey I think you might be on to something. If you "aim" your sleep when the hangover is going to hit you the worst by waiting until the hangover symptoms are about to start shouldn't you be able to cut a few hours off the hangover? You still have the hangover for the same length of time, but it still seems like a partial remedy to me.76.31.64.54 (talk) 05:16, 12 December 2007 (UTC)

Problem is, one of the primary causes of hangover is dehydration. Potentially, therefore, your hangover would only be made worse by staying up late because your body will only dry out more. You're best to drink as much water as you can stomach, then go to bed.

Or, alternatively... don't drink so much. Just sayin' 206.194.127.112 (talk) 21:34, 8 July 2009 (UTC)

In my experience if you stay up to avoid a hang over you're not avoiding it, just easing through it. Its a matter of perception. If the symptoms come gradually you adjust to them like a hand in water that's getting hotter. If you sleep through the early stages and just wake up when its bad your conscious mind get hit with it like a sack of bricks even though its the same intensity as if you had stayed up. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.243.97.180 (talk) 21:05, 15 October 2011 (UTC)

Caffeine

"(It should be noted that caffeine is a diuretic, which would further dehydrate the body. This is generally not a recommended remedy. Thus, tea, especially green tea, is indicated.)" While it is generally understood that caffeine is a diuretic, studies show that a cup of normal coffee or tea is a net gain in fluid. http://www.ific.org/foodinsight/2002/ja/caffdehydnbfi402.cfm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5281046.stm

Copyright

If you have contributed significantly to this article before late 2004, I would appreciate it if you sent a DMCA takedown notice. A site called "Fitness pills" is violating Wikipedia's license (GFDL). More information is available at called Wikipedia:Mirrors and forks#Fitness pills. Please ask me if you have questions. Superm401 - Talk 03:12, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

Remedies

These were removed from the article. While I agree that this had developed severe listcruft, surely some citations exist for some of these. Moved to talk page so people have an idea what to search for.

Potentially beneficial remedies

• Aspirin: - acetylsalicylic acid, taken before turning in to bed (before, not after sleeping), might be effective.
• Consuming 3 grams of Butyl hydroxy toluen (BHT) prior to drinking is said to counter hangovers, by detoxifying acetaldehyde (presumably replacing gluthatione.) BHT in this case is supposed to also block alcohol metabolism, so the person will stay drunk longer.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
• Another possible remedy is the consumption of motion-sickness medicine or over the counter allergy medicine.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Specifially, consuming cetirizine prior to consuming alcohol is reported to counter the hangover.

-aspirin can irritate the stomach and paracetamol/ibuprofen can interfere with liver function. id go for aspirin for obvious reasons but within the recommended dosage of paracetamol/ibuprofen should cause no ill effects. Also certainly don't take before sleep

• • Someone suggested in the article itself that taking aspirin or paracetamol before going to sleep may be effective in "eliminating" a hangover. Yeah, it might just "eliminate" your life as well. Since this is a dangerous thing to suggest, I removed it without asking anyone first. It may very well have been put there as outright vandalism rather than just ignorance. Nejtan (talk) 00:32, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

Supposed remedies

{{inappropriate tone}} {{originalresearch}} Note: Most of these have not been scientifically tested or reviewed in the above articles.

• Water: this has been recommended scientifically. Hangovers are mainly dehydration; therefore drinking water before, during and after a drinking session will greatly decrease any hangover symptoms. A glass of water between each alcoholic drink is the best way to reduce hangover, as you won't easily become dehydrated; this also causes you to drink fewer alcoholic beverages. Drink as much water before sleeping as possible (within reason). It may not totally prevent a hangover but it will reduce headache. Continuing to drink water may help to alleviate symptoms more quickly.
• Nux vomica (homeopathic remedy)
• Milk Thistle
• Angostura bitters and soda water
• Defecation
• Vomiting
• Professional massage, reflexology (foot), and other detoxifying practices.
• A glass of buttermilk. Though many people dislike buttermilk, it will calm down your stomach and add liquid to the body.
• Having sex (or masturbation) may increase the release of endorphins, which in turn may help reduce the effect of a hangover.
• Drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages. Caffeine increases the effectiveness of analgesics, and therefore may reduce headache severity when used with aspirin or similar medicines. Coffee has also been shown in some studies to have a protective effect on the liver, effective in preventing alcoholic liver disease. (Caffeine is a diuretic, which would further dehydrate the body. This is generally not a recommended remedy. Thus, tea, especially green tea, is indicated.)
• Nicotine, once again much like caffeine, increases the effectiveness of analgesics and its stimulant effects diminishes many hangover symptoms.
• Cabbage leaves or tomato juice
• Bloody Mary
• Michelada (popular in Mexico; one part tomato juice, one part beer, a few drops of Worcestershire sauce and/or Maggi sauce or Soy sauce)
• Mixing in a tall glass two raw eggs with pepper, Tabasco sauce, and gin. Although the cysteine in the egg yolk may have a mild benefit, the pepper, Tabasco, and gin will have a negative impact. Colloquially known as a "Prairie Oyster".
• Drinking more alcohol is scientifically proven (see hair of the dog), a well-liked remedy. This will, however, only delay the hangover
• Eating seafood is a popular "remedy" in Chile.
• Coca Cola or Pepsi-Cola, otherwise known as "Black Aspirin" (popular in Australia), also "The Red Ambulance" (South African); the caffeine, bubbles and sugar can be easier to hold down than pure water. Moreover, the low pH helps the enzymes in the stomach and the sucrose partially compensates the inhibition of the gluconeogenesis.
• Taking a shower and oscillating between extreme cold and hot temperatures. This practice has no effect on the hangover and can be unhealthy. Seen in the movie The Princess Bride.
• Eating canned asparagus before going to bed, purportedly a good cure thanks to the diuretic effects of asparagus. Again, diuretics compound the problem.
• Ginseng tea is given to relieve the effects of alcohol. If useful, it may be for its antioxidant and-or vasodilatation / microcirculation properties.
• Drinking a couple of table spoons of olive oil is said to be of great help

Common folk medicine has a wide variety of supposed hangover cures. A good hangover cure should replace essential nutrients lost by the body while counteracting the influence of residual poisons; very few cures do both at once. Among the more common proposed cures are:

• Eating menudo, a very common remedy in Mexico; said to greatly alleviate almost any symptom.
• Drinking a sports drink such as PowerAde or Gatorade, to re-hydrate and replenish lost nutrients in the body. Gatorade offers a high level of re-hydration and - if consumed before and after high amounts of drinking - can limit the effects of a hangover. Consumption of Vitamin Water, which contains high amounts of B vitamins and electrolytes often proves effective also. Pedialyte contains more electrolytes than almost any over-the-counter drug. This will help you re-hydrate your body as quickly as possible.
• Eating as much food as you can hold down. Your pyloric valve will shrink in response to the large amount of food you consume thereby reducing any further absorption of alcohol. A large meal is likely to contain nutrients to replenish your body and may also cause drowsiness which will help you sleep while your body repairs.
• Eating mineral-rich foods, like pickles or canned fish
• Drinking pickle juice, the solution in which cucumbers were pickled, in the morning (a staple hangover remedy in Russia and Poland). It is sometimes suggested to add honey to the solution.
• Eating anything substantial, especially before going to bed, to "soak up" the alcohol in the stomach (e.g. a pizza, Doner Kebab or sandwich)
• Orange juice, which is rich in vitamin C. However, the acidic qualities of orange juice can also make hangovers worse.
• Taking a vitamin B1 (thiamin) supplement before going to bed
• (instant) chicken or vegetable soup provides salt, proteins and electrolytes which help attenuate hangover symptoms
• Drinking homemade Sauerkraut juice, the solution in which the cabbage was fermented in, in the morning (a staple hangover remedy in Serbia, called rasol)
• Irn Bru is commonly regarded as a remedy in Scotland. It is believed that the high amount of sugar is the reason for this.
• Cysteine, which is available as the over-the-counter supplement N-acetylcysteine (NAC), is known to assist in processing acetaldehyde, best taken while already drinking and/or before going to bed. (Egg yolk is also rich in cysteine, and it is notable that many hangover folk remedies or morning-after breakfasts incorporate eggs.)
• Consumption of a Full English Breakfast, an Ulster Fry (popular in Northern Ireland), an Irish Breakfast or a Breakfast Roll, a meal that is an all day breakfast.
• Day/night cold and flu tablets - Be wary of ones that contain acetaminophen (called paracetamol in the UK) as it should not be mixed with alcohol. Both alcohol and acetaminophen can affect the liver, but combined are worse.
• Taking a dose of ibuprofen before sleeping can supposedly reduce hangover effects dramatically; however, the truth is that long term (longer than two weeks) use of ibuprofen increases the risk of stomach ulcers. Mixing ibuprofen and alcohol can cause stomach irritation and bleeding, and is highly recommended against. The adverse effects of alcohol are amplified when ibuprofen, which also can cause trouble with the liver, is taken with it. In fact, most medicines should not be taken with alcohol, so it is best to consult a medical professional before using this supposed "remedy".
• Sleep. Some people argue that sleep only prolongs the negative effects of alcohol due to slower metabolism while asleep. However, others refute this by pointing out that one doesn't notice the negative effects of the hangover while asleep.
• Exercise. Exercise can be painful with a hangover, but is usually very effective. It increases blood flow to the entire body, especially the head, and induces sweating, although there is no evidence that sweating helps the body purge alcohol. Certain yoga practices (above all, those that do not cause dizziness) may help. The feeling of lethargy dissipates and there is a strong mental and emotional effect where mood will improve.
• Greasy food is an effective remedy. Full English provides much needed energy in the form of fat. Highly recommended
• Going for a swim in cold water feels painful, but often helps to manage the headache.
• Consuming cannabis often stimulates appetite and relieves the headache
• Many people feel as if they are overheating when they are experiencing a hangover, therefore cold air can be a very effective cure. For example, a walk on a chilly day will usually work to alleviate the symptoms.

I think that these should be reinstated, as it is clearly stated in some cases that these are not scientificaly. Some changes should be made to the wording- ather than listing as 'highly effective' ect. it should be said that the cure 'suposedly...'--Firbolag 23:42, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

actually, drinking more alcohol, if it has a low methyl alcohol content, will help to remove methyl alcohol from your system quicker and thus decrease the effects of a hangover. This should be added to the article. Also, saying that the hair of the dog 'courts addiction' is silly.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.224.219.162 (talk • contribs) 14:48, 3 April 2010

"Taking paracetamol before going to bed". The experiment that they ran on the show showed that this working. Dr Weisse believes that it probably helps to stop the inflammation before the symptoms start to occur.- http://www.helium . com/tm/830798/hangovers-caused-dehydration-seems —Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.203.99.61 (talk) 13:26, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Masturbating cures a hangover? If that get included so should clog dancing and seal clubbing. Phlippit (talk) 06:20, 18 June 2008 (UTC)

I can attest to the second last one. Smoking Marijuana is a very good hangover cure, IMO. Seems to reduce the symptoms of sensitivity to light, reduces headache and stimulates appatite. Totally cures my mild hangovers, somewhat effective on severe hangovers, but works none-the-less.204.174.35.221 (talk) 00:49, 18 December 2008 (UTC)

Failed "good article" nomination

This article failed good article nomination. This is how the article, as of February 18, 2007, compares against the six good article criteria:

1. Well written?: The causes section needs a lot of work. One problem is paragraphs like this, "There are various nervous effects: the removal of the depressive effects of alcohol in the brain probably account for the light and noise sensitivity." Overall I think that the section needs more structure so that is less of a laundry list of contrubiting factors. In addition, there may be some cases where the technical detail could be tamed a little or at least presented in a way that is more intelliglible to a reader not familiar with concepts such as gluconeogenesis or NADH.

2. Factually accurate?: There are not nearly enough verifiable references in the causes section.

3. Broad in coverage?: The current article does not cover all important aspects of the topic. I would expect to see a section on folk remedies. There might also be a need for sections on social effects of hangovers and hangovers in popular culture.

4. Neutral point of view?: Pass

5. Article stability? Pass

6. Images?: This could go either way. I personally think a good photo or two of hungover people would enhance the article, but I think this could pass GA without them.

When these issues are addressed, the article can be resubmitted for consideration. Thanks for your work so far. --ike9898 16:40, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

Re Assessment:

1. I don't mind the technical detail, even though I have no background in medicine, chemistry, or Biology. The "laundry list" is concise and fairly well written. Links to the technical terms would resolve the problem of esoteric terms, but elsewhere the language is simple.

3. The kind of sections you are proposing are what generally make medical articles annoying. Hangovers in popular culture, for instance, is totally unecessary; in fact, it would be a trivia section.

4. Photos of hungover people do not help the reader in any way. Leave the article free of photos. RedRabbit1983 19:33, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

The article includes unsupported factual claims of questionable merit, such as the claim that succinic acid is ineffective as a hangover remedy. The absence of clinical studies supporting advertising claims has no bearing on the question. --aminorex 17:45, 05 Aug 2009 (UTC)

Methanol cannot be a cause

The small amounts of methanol that some (not all) alcoholic beverages have cannot cause hangovers, as the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase has a stronger affinity for ethanol than methanol; this means that methanol, which by himself is quite harmless until it is metabolized (by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase) to the highly toxic formaldehyde and later (by the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase) to the even more toxic formic acid, is excreted without being transformed in the toxic metabolytes. As a matter of fact, the treatment for methanol intoxication is IV 5% ethanol until all the methanol is excreted by the kidneys.

Methanol is a factor

Notwithstanding the above, authoritative-sounding statement, the U.S. Government says that methanol is well established as a factor in hangovers. The notable absence in this article of methanol’s role in hangovers is improper. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (link to Web site), which is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, methanol is indeed a factor in hangovers. The metabolic details of methanol’s role is explained in an NIAAA paper by Robert Swift, M.D., Ph.D.; and Dena Davidson, Ph.D.: Alcohol Hangover, Mechanisms and Mediators (114 kB PDF, here), which tells—among many other things—of a study done with red wine (containing 100 mg of methanol per liter) and how spirits with more methanol tend to have a greater propensity for causing hangovers. Greg L (my talk) 20:28, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

Detox

I think a link to "Alcohol detoxification" should be included. After a long binge the "usual" hangover cures just don't work. Diazepam (or other benzodiazepines) may be required, as well as anticonvulsants. Intramuscular vitamin B injections might also be in order, especially if the patient cannot eat.

I happen to live in a country (Finland) where heavy binge drinking is quite common, and personally know people who have gone through detox. It is quite affordable, and the patients' diet and circadian rhythms are monitored until they are deemed fit to leave. The process may take up to a week in the worst cases.

My two cents... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.195.74.30 (talk) 23:00, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

Alcohol withdrawal

I've heard it suggested that hangovers are partly caused by very rapid additivity -- that a single night of heavy drinking can cause a sort of mini-addiction, and a hangover the next morning is a result of mini-withdrawal. Unfortunately I've forgotten the source of this info, and whether it was at all scholarly or reliable. I'll check my textbooks at some point, but has anyone else ever heard of this? --Xiaphias (talk) 07:37, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

Active Charcoal

I have hard from some people I know that taking Active charcoal prior to sleeping eliminates or at least milds the symtoms of a hangover. Can anyone verify this?

89.212.104.197 (talk) 01:42, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

Yes, but ideally it should be taken during the alcohol consumption. It works by absorbing congeners which contribute to the hangover, though it does not eliminate the effects of alcohol itself. In theory you might feel no worse than if had been drinking the equivalent amount of good vodka despite having drunk all sorts of more hangover-inducing crap. A number of over-the-counter hangover remedies like Chaser contain activated charcoal. Charcoal has no effect on alcohol absorption, but it should be kept in mind that it also absorbs acetaminophen (it is used to treat acetaminophen overdose). --Ericjs (talk) 00:49, 15 September 2008 (UTC)

(Not that you should be taking acetaminohpen with alcohol in the first place - it's a quick easy way to potentially severe liver damage) Serialnutritionist (talk) 01:34, 28 September 2008 (UTC)

John O Callaghan?

The case of John O Callaghan ("actually physically turned green and is reported to have suffered for 3 days. During those days he famously declared "I'm never drinking again" and he never did") is not referenced. Could be an urban legend? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.92.42.118 (talk) 21:30, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

Moved from the top. Please add new comments at the bottom of talk pages. As for the comment in question, I agree; it's not cited, it sounds fake, and it's probably just an urban legend. Removing it until someone can cite a reliable source.--71.220.27.10 (talk) 05:43, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

The Causes section needs work

My impression is that this section is lacking. References need to be added to the entire section (just about) and the last part about b12 seems to me like it's wrong. I can't find any support for the notion that cobalamine would be depleted in the metabolism of ethanol (although cronic consumption may interfere with the uptake of cobalamine from the gastrointestinal tract). --GustenNyberg (talk) 21:13, 30 March 2008 (UTC)

Hangover Prevention section should go

The BMJ article listed in the paragraph "Possible Remedies" is a system review of 8 random-controlled-trials. One of the trials it reviews is the article listed in the next section: Tex-OE from Prickly Pear lowers hangover symptoms. By having the systematic review listed as factual AND one of the trials that the review assessed as not conclusive as being factual, this page is presenting false or at least contradictory data. Can we please remove the section or at least list a warning? --Shokod (talk) 01:11, 8 May 2008 (UTC)

Makes sense to me. Bam! --ThisIsMyWikipediaName (talk) 15:00, 8 May 2008 (UTC)

AMA vs ACP

The study mentioned was allegedly peer-reviewed by the AMA and published in "their" (I changed to "the") Annals of Internal Medicine, which is published by the American College of Physicians (ACP). I imagine that should read ACP, not AMA? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Nstru (talk • contribs) 04:23, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

remedies revisited

I am removing some remedies from the list, for various reasons. A lot of what's there still there needs sources, like everything else on Wikipedia. They sound to me like folk wisdoms with some scientific words sprinkled over it to make them sound better.

• Magnesium: It is well studied that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a magnesium deficiency, or reduce levels of magnesium, as well as depleting zinc and other minerals. Individuals with lower magnesium levels may experience more severe hangovers. A healthy diet that contains an adequate intake of magnesium and other minerals may help in the long term to reduce the effects of hangovers. The hangover symptoms of headache, and light and sound sensitivity, are very similar to those of migraine. A common treatment for chronic migraine headaches is magnesium. Some scientists hypothesize that a hangover may be exhibiting at least some symptoms of an acute magnesium deficiency. Removed since {{fact}} has been sitting there for 5 months despite the suspicious opening phrase "it is well studied" and moreover even if that is true, that does not support the conclusion that a healthy diet prevents hangovers

• There is evidence that taurine taken before, during, or after alcohol consumption is able to reverse fatty liver deposits, liver disease. Despite the second (popular media) reference, this is not about hangovers, but rather about long-term damage due to alcohol.

• According to a recent article there is an FDA over-the-counter (OTC) approved hangover relief medicine by DINOCO International Corporation which has recently been granted FDA OTC approval to begin marketing and selling its patent pending multi-symptom/multi-dose reliever JACK'S Hangover Relief Formula No 49 and JACK'S Hangover Relief DECAF Formula No 67 to retailers and consumers globally. JACK'S Hangover Relief medicine consist of caffeine, acetaminophen and calcium carbonate caplets, which relieve symptoms of headache, fatigue, muscular aches, heartburn, sour stomach, upset stomach, pre-menstrual cramps, menstrual cramps and generalized aches and pains associated with a hangover. JACK'S Hangover Relief DECAF (non-caffeinated) medicine consists of acetaminophen and calcium carbonate caplets, which relieve symptoms of headache, muscular aches, heartburn, sour stomach, upset stomach, menstrual cramps and generalized aches and pains associated with a hangover. [1] This one was hidden inside a comment

Han-Kwang (t) 11:34, 23 December 2008 (UTC)

Five or Six Years??

In the introductory paragraph it says that hangover symptoms can last 5 or 6 years after alcohol was last consumed, surely this can't be right? Kronos o (talk) 13:39, 20 July 2009 (UTC)

Reference

You will want to add a link to the Congener article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congener Thanks, Rumjal --rumjal 06:55, 21 December 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Rumjal (talk • contribs)

list of remedies

If possible, the list of remedies should be converted into prose. I've found when you make a list like that everyone and their brother wants to add their own thing to it. If you make it into prose then it discourages random unencyclopedic additions. Gigs (talk) 02:55, 27 January 2010 (UTC)

Lucozade

Has no one noted the obvious advertisement for Lucozade in this article? I hope in fashion this will be quickly remedied. Even better is the source article for said treatment. Disgusting. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.75.17.87 (talk) 07:22, 1 June 2010 (UTC)

Good catch, although it was only added a couple of days ago. I'll remove it (it was being sourced to an Android app), but if you spot any other problems along these lines, be WP:BOLD and go ahead and remove them yourself. Thanks. --McGeddon (talk) 10:58, 1 June 2010 (UTC)

diphenhydramine "hangover"

Overuse (not overdose) of diphenhydramine is often associated with a next day "hangover"... This article focuses on an alcohol hangover, however other substances can induce a hangover. Should this be addressed in this article? --128.227.98.53 (talk) 15:21, 13 September 2011 (UTC)

No. Remember that "Hangover" is just a more socially acceptable term for "coming down" which happens with any chemical you put in your body. Its chemically different for different drugs (including alcohol) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.243.97.180 (talk) 21:07, 15 October 2011 (UTC)

Vertigo

Surprised that vertigo is not mentioned among the symptoms - it is certainly strongly associated with hangover in the popular mind (e.g. "my head is spinning") - as a layman I'm reluctant to edit the article but if anyone with more knowledge can confirm vertigo as a known symptom, it would be worth adding it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.113.176.191 (talk) 09:15, 22 June 2012 (UTC)

Synonyms

Would the article be enhanced by a suitably cited section on synonyms? Surely, as universal an experience as a hangover has generated quite a few. Big head, delirium tremens, DTs, katzenjammer, morning after, the shakes, under the weather, the willies, wracked, psychedelic blues and la caña come to mind, but there ought to be a fair number. The various terms could be classified and distinguished from each other. What do you all think? Or would this just be another place for editors to put trivia? --Bejnar (talk) 21:39, 22 September 2012 (UTC)

ADH inhibition interrupts the body's Kreb's cycle and swells the brain?

There's the following line in the article's beginning section:

"Dehydration is caused by alcohol's ability to inhibit the effect of anti-diuretic hormone on kidney tubules,[4] which leads to an interruption of the body's Krebs cycle[citation needed] and the swelling of the brain against the lining of the skull."

It just sounds absurd that the inhibition of ADH on kidney tubules would cause the brain to swell and the body's Krebs cycle to stop (effectively killing the individual). Vandalism? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ericobnn (talk • contribs) 03:35, 16 November 2012 (UTC)

Beta-carbolines and hangover

"1-Methyltetrahydro-beta-carboline (tetrahydroharman) is formed in the body as the acetaldehyde condensate after alcohol intake and its concentration is usually greatest at the time of hang-over."Beta-carbolines, psychoactive compounds in the mammalian body. Part I: Occurrence, origin and metabolism.--Custoo (talk) 19:27, 19 November 2014 (UTC)

From 1981? Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 21:08, 19 November 2014 (UTC)

Yes.--Custoo (talk) 13:44, 20 November 2014 (UTC)

Please see WP:MEDDATE. Ochiwar (talk) 20:08, 20 November 2014 (UTC)

I do agree that a more recent source would be preferrable. Then again this article cites medical sources from 1973, 1974, 1983 and 1988 and the guideline states that these instructions may need to be relaxed in areas where little progress is being made or few reviews are being published. I'm not well acquainted with development of beta-carboline or hangover studies so I can't make the evaluation.--Custoo (talk) 15:11, 23 November 2014 (UTC)

A 1996 paper with M. Airaksinen again as one of the author, states that Helicobacter pylori forms tetrahydroharman from ethanol and tryptamine but it's not in vivo.[2]--Custoo (talk) 16:19, 1 December 2014 (UTC)

the 1996 paper is WP:PRIMARY - not good for health-related content. Jytdog (talk) 17:09, 1 December 2014 (UTC)

Auto-Brewery syndrome

There is a very rare syndrome called auto-brewery syndrome, which as unbelievable as it sounds, it's a condition where the body itself turns the carbohydrates from consumed food into yeast, giving the sufferer hangover-like symptoms without actually consuming any alcohol. I thought this should be put in the article somewhere, but not sure where? Abcmaxx (talk) 22:08, 19 November 2014 (UTC)

Added to the see also section since an article on the topic already exists. Ochiwar (talk) 15:55, 20 November 2014 (UTC)

I was thinking more like mentioning somewhere in the article itself. I mean the very existence of the condition renders the very first sentence of the entire article untrue - "A hangover is the experience of various unpleasant physiological and psychological effects following consumption of alcoholic beverages", clearly that is no longer 100% correct. Abcmaxx (talk) 18:18, 20 November 2014 (UTC)

The first sentence of the article is sourced by a WP:MEDRS reference and though it may not be 100% true as regards the semantics of the word "consumption" it remains true based on what the source says until we provide a reliable source that contradicts it. While I see and understand your point, as you said yourself "it is a very rare syndrome" and as per WP:UNDUE I am not sure if this article is the right place to go into the details of this (disputed) syndrome. To the best of my knowledge there are no current WP:MEDRS reliable sources that treat the subject. The most current medical review I could find (from 2000) states: The notion that a motorist's state of intoxication was caused by endogenously produced ethanol lacks merit. Talk less of a hangover! And from the same source " reports of finding abnormally high concentrations of ethanol in body fluids from ostensibly healthy subjects suffer from deficiencies in study design and lack suitable control experiments or used non-specific analytical methods". From a medical point of view and given the available references, it would amount to undue weight imo to further highlight this (disputed) syndrome in this article beyond a "see also" link. Ochiwar (talk) 20:03, 20 November 2014 (UTC)

Yes I agree with all that you say, I was merely suggesting a brief mention. It might be worth changing that sentence to something without the word "consumption". It is a little known syndrome but to be honest if no-one will start talking about it it will never be researched in the first place surely? It has been documented and it is a real-known syndrome, just frequently misdiagnosed, and I assume there would be a lot of people trying to claim the syndrome after doing something stupid/illegal after a heavy boozing session, but I still think it's worth mentioning somewhere. Briefly, as an internal wikilink - people come to wikipedia for all sorts of "weird and wonderful" info I'm sure people would appreciate it Abcmaxx (talk) 20:33, 20 November 2014 (UTC)

Incomplete sentence? Or...

"An estimated 9.23% (11.6 million workers) of the U.S. labor force work with a hangover" Is this an incomplete statement or does 9.23% of the labor force go to work with a hangover? And is this every day? Someone please revise for clarity? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.220.122.111 (talk) 12:12, 13 March 2016 (UTC)