When to Seek Medical Help Immediately

A hangover is NOT the same as alcohol poisoning. Call 911 or seek emergency medical help if you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms:

  • Confusion or stupor - Unable to wake up or stay conscious
  • Vomiting while unconscious or semi-conscious - Risk of choking
  • Seizures or convulsions
  • Slow or irregular breathing - Fewer than 8 breaths per minute or gaps of 10+ seconds between breaths
  • Blue-tinged or pale skin - Especially lips and fingernails (cyanosis)
  • Low body temperature - Hypothermia (cold, clammy skin)
  • Unresponsiveness - Cannot be awakened or does not respond to stimuli
  • Severe abdominal pain - Could indicate internal bleeding or organ damage
  • Persistent vomiting with blood - Dark or bright red blood in vomit
What to Do While Waiting for Help:
  • Turn the person on their side to prevent choking if they vomit
  • Keep them warm with a blanket
  • Stay with them until help arrives
  • Do NOT give them food, drinks, or medications
  • Do NOT let them "sleep it off" - alcohol poisoning can be fatal
  • Do NOT give them coffee or cold showers - these do not help and can be dangerous
Remember: It's always better to be safe. If you're unsure whether symptoms are serious, seek medical attention immediately. The advice below is for typical hangovers only, not for alcohol poisoning or other serious conditions.

Introduction

The best thing you can do is work on preventing the hangover. There is no quick cure for a hangover, but there are effective ways to minimize symptoms and speed recovery. The best approach is to replenish the fluids and nutrients your body lost while processing alcohol. Two major causes of hangover symptoms are dehydration (caused by alcohol's diuretic effect) and the buildup of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism. Your goal should be to rehydrate and provide your body with the nutrients it needs to process remaining alcohol and repair damage.

Prevention Tips

The best cure is prevention. Here are key strategies to minimize hangovers before they start:

  • Drink water between alcoholic drinks - Alternate each alcoholic beverage with a glass of water to stay hydrated throughout the night.
  • Eat before and while drinking - Food slows alcohol absorption and provides nutrients your body needs to process alcohol.
  • Choose lighter colored drinks - Clear spirits (vodka, gin) contain fewer congeners than darker drinks (whiskey, red wine), which can worsen hangovers.
  • Pace yourself - Your liver metabolizes alcohol at a relatively fixed rate (approximately one standard drink per hour for most people, though this varies by individual). Drinking faster than your body can process leads to higher blood alcohol levels and worse hangovers.
  • Avoid carbonated mixers - Carbonation speeds up alcohol absorption into your bloodstream.
  • Take vitamins before bed - B-complex vitamins and vitamin C can help your body process alcohol more efficiently.

Myths vs Facts

Let's separate science from fiction. Here are common hangover myths debunked:

MYTH
Greasy food cures hangovers

While greasy food might help before drinking by slowing alcohol absorption, eating it after you're already hungover won't cure it. Your body has already processed the alcohol. Greasy food may actually upset your sensitive stomach further.

FACT
Nutrient-rich foods help recovery

Foods with specific nutrients (like cysteine in eggs or potassium in bananas) genuinely help your body process toxins and restore electrolyte balance. Focus on nutrition, not grease.

MYTH
Exercise helps "sweat out" toxins

Alcohol is processed by your liver, not eliminated through sweat. Exercising while dehydrated and hungover can be dangerous, potentially causing fainting, dehydration, or injury. Your body needs rest, not stress.

FACT
Rest aids natural recovery

Your liver does the work of metabolizing alcohol at a fixed rate. Rest, sleep, and gentle recovery give your body the time and energy it needs to heal naturally.

MYTH
Activated charcoal absorbs alcohol

Activated charcoal doesn't work once alcohol is already absorbed into your bloodstream. It might bind to substances in your digestive tract, but by the time you're hungover, the alcohol has already been processed.

FACT
Hydration and time are key

The most effective approach is rehydration with electrolytes, proper nutrition, and allowing your body time to metabolize the alcohol naturally. No shortcuts exist.

Science-Based Approach: The remedies on this page are based on addressing the actual causes of hangovers (dehydration, nutrient depletion, toxic byproducts) rather than myths and folklore.

Step 1 - Hydrate

Start before you go to sleep. Drinking water before bed is significantly more effective than waiting until morning because it helps prevent dehydration while your body processes alcohol overnight. Keeping your body hydrated is critical in processing the alcohol and preventing headaches caused by dehydration.

Drink This:

  • Gatorade, other sports drinks - Why? Because these drinks contain 3 important things to help fight a hangover, electrolytes (minerals), carbohydrates (in Gatorade mostly sugar) and water. You lose all this stuff in you urine and you also sweat it out. Sport drink companies spent millions researching the best way to rehydrate athletes, and drinking might as well be a sport, SO DRINK UP!
  • Don't have Gatorade? Try juice, but make sure it's not too acidic, as acidic drinks can irritate your already sensitive stomach lining. Make your own sports drink: mix juice (like orange juice) 50/50 with water and add a pinch of salt. Diluting it makes it gentler on your stomach, and the salt helps replace electrolytes lost through urination and sweating.
  • Flat softdrink/punch. I know it sounds strange but in reality if you were going to puke, would you rather have it taste like Dr Pepper or water and stomach acid? It's important that the drink is flat, otherwise your stomach can get upset and you'll start puking. I find ginger ale tasted the best, rootbeer, and dr pepper are also not so bad, they are a little bitter which helps neutralize any nasty taste of stomach acid.
  • Water is always a good choice. Plain water helps rehydrate without added sugar or ingredients. Drink whatever water is readily available - the most important thing is to stay hydrated.
  • Drink as much as you can of the drinks we mentioned above, if you can do 2 cups, that's great. Every little bit you can drink before sleeping will help way more than what you drink in the morning.
  • TIP: Keep some water or any drink close to your bed, when you get up in the middle of the night to take a leak or any time you wake up, drink some.

DON'T Drink This:

  • Coffee (with caution) - While coffee can help with headaches due to caffeine, it has a mild diuretic effect and may irritate your already sensitive stomach. If you do drink coffee, make sure to drink extra water alongside it. It's best to prioritize water and electrolytes first.
  • More Alcohol "Hair of the dog" - Drinking more alcohol may temporarily mask hangover symptoms, but it only delays and worsens the inevitable hangover while putting additional stress on your liver and digestive system. This can lead to a dangerous cycle of dependence and increase health risks.
  • TIP: Don't drink anything that tastes too strong or too sour, you don't want your body to do any extra work processing it or messing with your stomach. Don't drink highly carbonated drinks, they may upset your stomach and if you're nauseous, induce vomiting.

Step 2 - Feed

Eating helps slow down the absorption of any remaining alcohol in your stomach and provides your body with essential nutrients for recovery. A nutritious meal can also promote rest, allowing your body to heal and recover more effectively.

Eat This:

  • Eggs - Eggs contain cysteine, an amino acid that helps your body produce glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that assists in breaking down acetaldehyde (a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism). Eggs are also nutrient-dense and easy on the stomach, providing protein, B vitamins, and healthy fats that support recovery.
  • Bananas and Kiwis - These fruits are rich in potassium, which is lost during the diuretic effects of Alcohol. Any potassium rich food will do.
  • Chicken Soup - A nutrient-rich, easy-to-digest option that provides hydration, protein, vitamins, and minerals. The sodium helps with electrolyte balance, and the warm liquid is gentle on a sensitive stomach. It's widely available and simple to prepare.

DON'T Eat This:

  • Unfamiliar or experimental remedies - Avoid trying new foods or remedies you haven't consumed before. When your stomach is already sensitive, stick to familiar, gentle foods to minimize the risk of nausea or vomiting.
  • Heavy or greasy foods when nauseous - If you're feeling nauseous, start with liquids like broth or soup, then gradually progress to solid foods as your stomach settles. Liquid-based foods are easier to digest and less likely to trigger vomiting.

Step 3 - Rest

Ever heard of "Rest is the best medicine?" well, in this case it's probably true. It's remarkable how much better you can feel with even a couple of hours of rest. Some may argue that the metabolism slows down when you're sleeping. Would you rather be awake for hours waiting for the hangover to go away or sleep in your comfy bed? You can't argue with the results a good sleep provides.