Headache disorders are classified according to the third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) 4, 5 as either primary headaches, secondary headaches or neuropathies and facial pains 4, 6. Do you think you might react to certain alcoholic beverages more than others? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or start a discussion on MyMigraineTeam. Some people may feel that they can’t control their drinking, have negative feelings when they don’t drink, or generally feel that their alcohol consumption is negatively impacting their life. If you feel as though you can’t limit how much you drink or if you continue drinking even though it’s hurting you or those around you, it’s time to talk to your doctor.
- 2021 research also linked lifestyle factors with alcohol drinking and smoking to cluster headaches and their severity.
- This dilutes the effect of alcohol in your system and reduces the chance of an alcohol-induced headache or triggering a migraine attack.
- “It’s about having a healthy, regular eating pattern and not going long periods without food or drink,” Mellor adds.
- The HSS, which was used in this study, was developed to provide a useful hangover measure, assessing multiple symptom domains, which do not rely on respondents’ subjective definitions of hangover.
Alcohol: A Trigger for Headaches and Migraines
Alcohol-induced migraine is different than a hangover, which is caused by overconsuming alcohol. If you’ve had a tough day at work or a stressful interaction with someone, drinking alcohol might not be the best way of coping. In fact, drinking alcohol to calm yourself down can elevate your risk of triggering a migraine attack or an alcohol-induced headache.
Could changing your diet help to prevent migraines?
The late Friends star revealed in 2022 that he had spent about $9 million trying to get sober after getting hooked on alcohol and drugs at a young age. His addiction struggles began at age 14, when he started drinking Budweiser and Andrès Baby Duck, before he started dabbling in drugs like Vicodin, Xanax and OxyContin. Moore, who sought treatment in 2012, thanked two unnamed people she “barely knew” for delivering something of an ultimatum to her to turn her life around.
Is Alcohol Consumption a Trigger for Migraine?
Nevertheless, the tendency was higher to develop migraine-like symptoms of the hangover. As dehydration can cause headaches, staying hydrated when consuming alcohol is key. Aim to drink plenty of water before, after, and during alcohol consumption. A person may experience migraine after drinking if they are susceptible to it. Some people may experience an alcohol-related migraine between 30 minutes and 3 hours after drinking.
- But by inhibiting ADH, water is instead urinated out at a faster rate than you’re adding fluids back.
- Additionally, it’s possible to have migraine episodes and hangovers, Rosen said.
- While this drug is not available in the U.S., other related medications, including ibuprofen, naproxen, and prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be similarly helpful.
Diagnosing hangover headache
Track what you eat and drink, how much sleep you get, and other potential triggers (such as stress). You may find that alcohol triggers your migraine, or you may see that alcohol has no effect on your symptoms. Once you know what effect alcohol has on your body, you can make decisions about whether to drink at all — and, if so, how much to drink and when. People who rely on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to manage migraine pain should also be careful with alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking NSAIDs can increase the risk of serious side effects, like gastrointestinal bleeding.
Relationship between alcohol and migraine headaches
While this drug is not available in the U.S., other related medications, including migraine after drinking alcohol ibuprofen, naproxen, and prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be similarly helpful. However, when combined with alcohol they might increase the risk of stomach bleeding. Gatorade or other fitness drinks may be better than water alone, but there is no scientific proof.
People who do not get migraines tend to get a headache when consuming a large amount of alcohol. Ethanol is clear and colorless with a sweet flavor and a smell that some people find pleasant. When a person drinks an alcoholic beverage, the ethanol is quickly absorbed in the stomach.