From the Guidelines
The best treatment during alcohol intoxication to reduce hangover symptoms is hydration with water or electrolyte solutions, along with rest and easily digestible foods, as these approaches counter the dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and inflammation caused by alcohol consumption. When considering the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), it's crucial to differentiate between the treatment of AWS and hangover symptoms. The provided evidence primarily focuses on the management of AWS, which includes the use of benzodiazepines as the 'gold standard' treatment to reduce withdrawal symptoms and the risk of seizures and/or delirium tremens 1. However, for hangover symptoms, the approach is more centered around alleviating the direct effects of alcohol on the body, such as dehydration and inflammation.
Key strategies for reducing hangover symptoms include:
- Hydration with water or electrolyte solutions like Pedialyte or Gatorade, consumed both during drinking and before sleep.
- Taking 400-600mg of ibuprofen for headache and inflammation, avoiding acetaminophen/Tylenol due to its potential to stress the liver when combined with alcohol.
- Eating a light meal containing complex carbohydrates before drinking to slow alcohol absorption.
- During a hangover, continuing hydration, resting adequately, consuming easily digestible foods like toast or crackers, and considering B-complex vitamins or a supplement containing dihydromyricetin (DHM).
These methods are effective because they address the underlying causes of hangover symptoms: dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, inflammation, and vitamin depletion. Hydration helps counter fluid loss, anti-inflammatories reduce headache and body aches, food stabilizes blood sugar, and certain supplements may aid in metabolizing alcohol byproducts. Ultimately, time is the most effective remedy as the body needs to process and eliminate the alcohol completely. It's also worth noting that while benzodiazepines are crucial in the management of AWS, their use is not directly applicable to the treatment of hangover symptoms in non-dependent individuals 1.
From the Research
Treatment Options for Alcohol Hangover
The most effective treatments for reducing symptoms of a hangover are:
- Inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis 2
- Accelerating alcohol metabolism 2
- Rehydration 3, 4
- Prostaglandin inhibitors 4
- Vitamin B6 4
Effectiveness of Various Interventions
Some studies have found that certain interventions can improve specific hangover symptoms, including:
- Polysaccharide rich extract of Acanthopanax senticosus 5
- Red ginseng antihangover drink 5
- Korean pear juice 5
- KSS formula 5
- The After-Effect© 5 However, none of these methods were effective for all symptoms 5.
Dehydration and Hangover
Dehydration is often thought to be a primary cause of hangover, but research suggests that it is a co-occurring but independent consequence of alcohol consumption 3. Drinking water during or after alcohol consumption has only a modest effect in preventing next-day hangover 3.
Limitations of Current Research
Most remedies do not significantly reduce overall hangover severity, and scientific evidence for their effectiveness is generally lacking 2, 6. Further research is necessary to develop clinically effective hangover treatments 5.