Does Sprite Help with Hangovers?
No, Sprite does not help with hangovers—there is no scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness in reducing hangover symptoms, and currently no marketed hangover treatments have proven clinical efficacy. 1, 2
Current State of Evidence
The scientific literature is clear that despite widespread use of various hangover remedies, most treatments lack substantial evidence demonstrating efficacy and safety. 3 A systematic review of hangover interventions found that while some products showed improvement in specific symptoms like nausea or headache, none were effective for all hangover symptoms, and most remedies do not significantly reduce overall hangover severity. 1, 4
Why Sprite Specifically Doesn't Work
- No direct evidence exists for Sprite or similar carbonated soft drinks in treating hangover symptoms 1, 5
- The sugar content in regular Sprite could theoretically address low blood glucose (one hangover contributor), but this has not been studied or validated 5
- The carbonation might provide temporary relief for nausea through gastric effects, but this is not supported by clinical evidence 5
What Actually Contributes to Hangovers
Alcohol promotes hangover symptoms through multiple direct mechanisms: 5
- Increased urine production leading to dehydration
- Gastrointestinal tract irritation
- Blood sugar fluctuations
- Sleep pattern disruption
- Biological rhythm disturbances
Evidence-Based Approaches (Limited)
The only interventions showing any positive effects in research are those that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis or accelerate alcohol metabolism. 1 Specifically:
- A combination product (SJP-001) containing naproxen 220 mg and fexofenadine 60 mg showed significant improvement in overall hangover severity scores (0.8 vs 1.5 with placebo, p=0.042) in a small pilot study 3
- However, this was a very small study (n=5 completers) and requires validation in larger trials 3
Clinical Reality
The most effective "treatment" remains prevention: avoiding excessive alcohol consumption entirely. 1, 5 Until the pathology of alcohol hangover is better elucidated, it is unlikely that an effective hangover cure will be developed. 1
Important Caveats
- Hangover has only recently been recognized as a separate medical condition in ICD-11 2
- The heterogeneity of hangover symptoms (tiredness, nausea, headache, dizziness, thirst) makes a single effective treatment unlikely 4
- Products marketed for hangovers generally lack rigorous scientific validation 3, 1