So you overdid it a little at a party last night, and now you’re paying the price. What are the best hangover cures? Do any of them really work?
The search for hangover cures
There’s no solid scientific answer to the question of how to cure a hangover. Many sources agree that drinking lots of water is important. Some call sleep the best solution.
Some recommend drinking lots of juice with vitamin C. Traditional hangover cures include drinking coffee, but it’s now believed that just makes you seem more alert and functional even though you’re not.
Another hangover cure recommendation: drinking pickle juice. Seriously, you can buy it in shots.
Yet another hangover cure people suggest? Drink more! (No, that’s really not a hangover cure at all – it only delays the symptoms for a while.)
Reader Dave says he’s had great results from Hangover Secret, which is designed to replace electrolytes and boost liver function with milk thistle.
Some sources recommend Alka Seltzer, but tell you to avoid aspirin and ibuprofen, because they’re blood thinners like alcohol and can intensify hangover symptoms.
And I’ve heard some really bizarre sounding ideas, like drinking raw egg mixed with fruit juice (I guess it could give your body some good nutrients to fight off the alcohol poisoning, if it doesn’t give you salmonella first).
What are your favorite hangover cures? Or what are the most bizarre or hilarious supposed hangover cures you’ve ever heard of?
John says
i usually drink a tall glass of water before layin down an eatin a sandwich which rehydrates ya an soaks up some of the alcohol while u sleep .You might still feel alil groggy in the mornin but less of the effects of a hang over seem to happen for me anyways
Kristen says
In my opinion the best way to cure a hangover is to drink Vitamin Water REVIVE it has to be the REVIVE [if you read the label it pretty much says its for a hangover] and some kind of soup broth (not spicy broth though, it will not feel good) I personally like beef broth and regardless what they say about Ibuprofen, a 600 mg works wonders. Hope that helps 😊
TheFive says
My best friend and I discovered a remedy that we call “The Five”…
1. Coffee
2. An unholy amount of water
3. Tylenol migraine (3)
4. A banana
5. Vyvanse
Works like a charm.
Paul says
All about that 70 mg to get me right with the lord again!!!
rob says
drink loads of water before you go to bed whilst still drunk then a lumberjack breakfast like the massive one after youve stopped throwin up
Cath says
I absolutely agree with the water water thing.
But the secret I guess is drinking it before going to sleep. Personnally my hangover is less intesive when I do that.
Some says that it’s because your brain is “drying”. A bit drastic word especially if you image it :)
It really helps, if you do remember to do it. On the next day I guess it’s already to late.
Right! it needs to become a habit. At the beginning it really wasn’t the first thing I was thinking about while I was drunk ;)
bink says
As everyone says…water. drink at least 16oz before bedtime. A Gatorade also works. Then in morning:
** gatorade & water
** B-12 vitamin
** saltine crackers topped with honey (saltines help
soothe an upset tummy & honey has natural nutrients
that your body needs).
** if you are really sick (throw up), you can take an
Otc nausea medication (available any pharmacy)
lisa says
Before u fall asleep take 2 advil with large glass of water. in morning drink vitamin water, the purple one (dont kno flavor name) but it has the most b vitamin. Vitamin b and water is needed when dehydrated. Remember to drink liquids slow. When u feel good enough to eat try rice or crackers to start to soak up that poison.
Natalie says
I always take two children’s chewable vitamins before I drink. Alas, no hangover.
Martymo says
Some of us have to get up and go to work at 6 A.M. hangover or not. No naps allowed. My best cure is Rockstar Recovery (10 cal.) or Monster Rehab (20 cal.) You don’t want the full sugar versions of either one of these drinks. If you like Goody’s or BC powders, do one with the drink. Shoot it down. (I have a scrip for Vicoden to go with my drink.) Stop by McDonald’s on the way to work and get a steak egg and cheese bagel. You will feel fine by the time you get to work. Elapsed time 30 minutes.
AlkyBhoy says
Irn-Bru, its the only thing for it!!!!
JoeyMontreal says
I drink every day :/ sometimes 2 beers or a glass of wine.. sometimes a 26er and a bottle of wine with another 26er in one night of partying.. I know my hangovers.
#1 – Chug ice water till you think you’ll puke before going to bed.
#1.5 – Cocaine .. just one bump in the morning :P ..GHB too (What hangover?)
#2 – If you can get your hands on 100% coconut water, do it..chug at least 2-3 cups before bed (it’s high in calories, but i’ve had huge benders and woken up then next day all “I don’t really feel like dying” )
#3 – 2-3 EGGS in the morning! > Egg yolks contain large amounts of cysteine, which breaks down acetaldehyde, one of the culprits behind a hangover.
#4 – I juice (spinach,celery,cucumber,apple,carrots,kale ect..) 3-5 times a week.. chugging that in the morning really helps.
#5 – Hitting the treadmill for 45min while drinking water will kick your hangover in the ass, every-time! .. if you suck it up for at least a half hour of utter pain, you sweat out all that nasty sin of yesterday, and you really do feel A LOT better (My lazy ass never does this)
#6 – Sleeping pills.. take a bath, grab some pillows, nest.
#7 – Make a Vodka soda with a fresh squeeze of lemon and repeat. .. thats what i do anyways..
JoeyMontreal says
*SODA WATER* Don’t ever mix Vodka with sugary drinks.. perrier and a squirt of lemon will surprisingly blow you away taste wise ..I’ve converted so many people.. you can’t even taste the vodka, it just works.
patrick says
Best thing in the Caribbean is Apples any kind of apples
John says
I am a pro at this – to the point not to be proud of.
To summarize all of these comments, there are four main things you need to do in addition to lots of sleep.
1. Replace what you have lost: Water, electrolytes (potassium, sodium (these first three can be found in gatorade), but also good idea to get some magnesium), alll of the b vitamins (liquid form highly preferred), and vitamin D3.
2. Help your body metabolize any remaining alcohol and acetaldehyde (your liver converts alcy to acetaldehyde, which is even more toxic than the alcohol itself. You can do this by eating something high in cholesterol and a little bread to soak up toxins doesn’t hurt either.
3. (This is my personal innovation as far as I know) – Restore your pH balance. After a rough night, most of us wake up with acid stomach, sometimes to the point that the acid affects your entire body by entering your bloodstream. Most people like things like Tums or Prilosec, but those never worked for me. In laboratories, they use baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to slowly lower pH levels to normal. Baking soda has a pH of 8. However, I have severe acid problems. I mix the BS with hot water (100 degrees F), which turns it into a similar chemical called sodium carbonate. This chemical has a pH of 11 and is used to lower the pH of swimming pools. So as you might guess, it can be toxic. However there is a very simple way to avoid toxicity. Start with about a heaping teaspoon per 8 to 12 ounces of water, and if it tastes salty, pour some out and add more hot water. Otherwise, you pretty much get instant diarrhea if you drink too much of the salty stuff.
With my advice, you should be well on your way to becoming an alcoholic. Thank God alcohol can turn you into a fatass very quickly, otherwise I’d probably drink every night.
brittany says
You’re cure is the most effective.
John says
In the army as a grunt we have always given each other IV’s. I have stuck myself one night after a long night of beer pong in the barracks and had guard duty the next morning. With the IV there were not lingering effects of the night before.
Raphael says
With experience the best hangover cure i found that worked was 2-3 shots of jagermeister.
It has a ton of spices and herbs that actually help your stomach out. Eat a little bit of food befor you drink it or your bound to get ulcers in ur stomach and throw up. People say booze gets rid of it for a while but a hangover doesnt last all day, at least for me. Theres a reason why the bottle has a cross on it and its because it has some curative properties in it ;)
Margie says
Soda crackers help a lot for me
Kudos says
1. Alka Seltzer
2. Sex
3. Sleep
This hasn’t failed once
DPNY says
Fettucini alfredo seems to do the trick for me – the cheesy sauce seems to help stave off the queasiness!! Try it!
Dave says
Hangover Secret is one on the market that works very well for me. It was pretty close to the stack I was using and they are very science oriented.
A quick Amazon search will get you there or here is the Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078G9QWF4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mixthatdrink-20&linkId=8580c92d88d25ed123e89c81acf13205&language=en_US
Nick says
Thanks for the support Dave! We are definitely entrenched in science and in many ways consider ourselves a science forward company committed to provide the best product. The formula is literally hundreds if not thousands of hours in the making. It all started with scratching my own itch (similar to your stack). combined with heavy primary literature research. We have some exciting things in the pipeline so stay tuned.
Reach out anytime if there are any specific questions you have.
Much gratitude for the support.
Nick, PharmD, BCPS
Co-Founder of Hangover Secret