What to do if you have a headache from a hangover: what to drink and how to get rid of the pain

Hangover syndrome is a pathological condition that occurs after drinking alcohol, which includes headache, weakness, nausea, dry mouth, sweating, irritability. Oddly enough, even with the same quantity and quality of alcohol consumed, people feel differently the next morning: one is exhausted from a hangover, while the other easily goes to work.

In any case, no one wants to suffer from the unpleasant consequences of fun, so there are a lot of recommendations for getting rid of a hangover.

The quantity and quality of what you drink directly affect your hangover.

In order to figure out which remedies are of any value, we first need to find out what is happening in the body at this time and what can be influenced to improve the situation.

Sometimes a hangover is inevitable, but it can be overcome.

Still from the film “The Hangover 2 From Vegas to Bangkok”

Drank too much last night and don't know what to do if you have a headache from a hangover? Try not to make sudden movements, sit down, calm down and carefully read our recommendations on how to avoid unpleasant consequences after a violent drinking session.

Believe me, this is exactly what you need now.

Why does a hangover give you a headache?

Severe morning headaches after alcoholic parties are usually associated with dehydration. Due to lack of moisture, blood pressure rises, causing blood flow to the brain to decrease. After this, the brain shrinks a little, and the head itself splits and does not allow you to stand straight on your feet.

You've probably noticed that after two or three glasses of beer you definitely go to the toilet several times. This happens because the body tries to remove alcohol breakdown products from your body as quickly as possible. This is precisely what leads to dehydration, and with it the loss of beneficial vitamins, minerals and electrolytes.

Effective drugs to relieve unpleasant symptoms

Popular pharmaceutical remedies for reducing the signs of a hangover have different effects on the body - they reduce migraines, restore heart rate and blood pressure, and cleanse toxic compounds.

What pills help with a hangover:

activated carbon;
aspirin;
No-Shpa;
Coficil-plus;
Askofen;
Ketorol;
Linux.

Most often, activated carbon from a home medicine cabinet is used to neutralize the effects of a feast. The number of tablets is calculated individually, based on body weight - one tablet is taken per ten kg.

Charcoal can be taken in combination with other medications, this significantly increases their effectiveness . If you feel unwell, you can take 7-9 tablets of activated carbon with an aspirin capsule and two No-Shpas. Coal removes toxic substances, No-Shpa improves the functioning of hepatocytes (liver cells), and aspirin normalizes blood pressure and relieves spasms.

Coficil-plus and Askofen are used to neutralize the symptoms of hangover. Medicines must be taken in the evening, before bedtime. If waking up in the morning after libations is accompanied by swelling, it is recommended to take a tablet of Furasemide or another diuretic pharmaceutical.

To eliminate the unpleasant odor of fumes and increase overall tone, liquid vitamin B6 is used, which is available in the form of ampoules. One ampoule should be diluted in water (2-4 tablespoons) and drunk in one sip.

This component has a detoxifying, immunomodulatory and tonic effect. Vitamin B6 stimulates the functioning of liver cells and metabolic processes, due to which the toxic components of ethyl alcohol are removed from the cavity of the gastrointestinal system much faster.

Effervescent remedies - Alka-Seltzer, Zorex, Aspirin - are good for relieving hangovers. They dissolve in a cup of water and begin to act immediately after consumption, without irritating the inflamed surface of the digestive organs. Effervescent tablets act faster than regular tablets, since carbon dioxide provides intense saturation of cells with oxygen molecules.

Restore your water balance

Everything here is quite obvious and simple. If alcohol causes dehydration, then water prevents this dehydration. Of course, it is best to drink clean water while drinking so as not to subject your body to stress later. For example, half a liter of water after half a liter of beer.

However, if it’s too late to talk about this, get out of bed and try to start reviving yourself with plenty of water. Just don’t overdo it and pour a five-liter bottle into yourself, otherwise you might drink too much and only worsen your already fragile condition.

More details about the symptoms of a hangover - how do they manifest themselves and what causes them?

Everything that a person experiences with a hangover is a subjective unpleasant sensation. The most common symptoms of a hangover include:

Throbbing, pounding, severe headache.
Tachycardia and arrhythmias.
Tremors of the hands and whole body. Patients often complain that they are shaking after drinking.
Heartburn, dry mouth and severe thirst, the so-called dry mouth.
A sharp reaction to extraneous stimuli - increased sensitivity to any loud sound, noise and light, causing a surge in severe headaches
Redness of the sclera of the eyes.
“Adrenaline melancholy” is a complex of depressive phenomena associated with a feeling of guilt for past drinking and one’s behavior.

All these manifestations, as I said earlier, are associated with acetaldehyde poisoning. The kinetics of its effect on the body is quite complex and not fully understood. It is believed that acetaldehyde, when interacting with the hormones dopamine and norepinephrine, forms tetrahydroisocholines, and carbonyls with the amino acid tryptophan. All these metabolic products of acetaldehyde have a psychotropic effect with an effect on motor activity and convulsive readiness of the body. This is why convulsions after alcohol and even epileptic seizures are possible.

The development of hangover symptoms is not influenced by the type of alcohol, although some experts believe that strong alcohol is less likely to lead to a hangover than low-alcohol drinks, cocktails, and sweet alcohol. Basically, the occurrence of a hangover in a healthy person is observed when the risk dose is exceeded - 1 g of pure ethanol per 1 kg of body weight.

In addition, the diuretic effect of ethanol leads to increased urination and disturbances in the electrolyte composition of the blood. It also causes and increases inflammation of the intestines, pancreas, stomach, liver and kidneys. Nausea and vomiting during a hangover are associated with the inflammatory reaction in the gastrointestinal tract.

Eat something

Despite the fact that very often after a hangover you want to eat something fatty and harmful, it is advisable not to do so. It is best to find some light products and start recovery with them.

The thing is that when fighting a hangover, your body works hard, so overloading your digestive system with fries, nuggets and burgers is not a good idea.

Take some fruit, drink some broth, eat porridge, light yogurt, vegetable salad and stuff like that. This way you will start the digestive processes without much fanaticism and with benefit for the body.

Mechanism of pain

Painful sensations also appear as a response of the body to some pathogenic factor. Cephalgia appears against the background:

Spasm of the arteries
, leading to high blood pressure.
General intoxication
and direct toxic effect on the brain of alcohol, metabolites. Especially when it comes to drinking low-quality types of alcoholic beverages.
Losses due to
alcohol poisoning in intra- or extracellular
fluid.
Disruption of the functions of the endocrine system
, leading to imbalance of metabolic processes.
Pathological malfunctions of the autonomic nervous system.
Overeating that accompanies drinking alcohol , or vice versa
– taking alcohol-containing products on a lean stomach.

Each of these factors can be the cause of cephalgic problems, either independently or in combination with others.

Go for a walk

One of the important components of recovery from drinking is fresh air and some moderate exercise. This healing combination will help speed up your blood, which will lead to a more effective fight against the toxic breakdown products of ethanol.

It is important to remember that physical activity with a hangover should not be particularly intense. In this state, you shouldn’t run to the gym and lift barbells and dumbbells. In addition, there is no need to go to the bathhouse and actively warm up at high temperatures.

As we have already mentioned, the body works under such conditions, including the cardiovascular system. It’s better to just go outside, take a quiet walk in the park and listen to some calming music or a humorous podcast on your headphones.

Review of herbal preparations

To reduce the symptoms of a hangover and improve the general condition, pharmaceuticals based on natural ingredients of organic origin are often used. They have a soft, gentle effect on weakened organs.

Effective anti-hangover drugs of plant origin:

Korrda;
Stand up;
Alco-Buffer;
DrinkOFF;
Good morning.

Corrda is an effective remedy for combating unpleasant hangover symptoms based on white grape berries. Normalizes the functioning of hepatocytes and cleanses its cells from toxic substances. This remedy is intended for long-term use and is not used for immediate anti-hangover relief.

Get up - a pharmaceutical preparation that contains organic extracts of St. John's wort, thyme and ginseng extract. Effectively improves metabolic processes, strengthens sleep, the functioning of the nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Used for long-term therapy.

Alko-Buffer is based on an extract from milk thistle, which is considered one of the most effective herbal hepatoprotectors. Milk thistle normalizes the functioning of hepatocytes, cleanses cells of toxic components and activates their regeneration processes.

DrinkOFF is a popular herbal remedy that is effective and has a quick effect on hangover symptoms. The tablets contain succinic and citric acids, eleutherococcal extract, and ginger root extract. The product reduces headaches and neutralizes other signs of a hangover, increases tone and activity.

Guten Morgen is a pharmaceutical preparation containing succinic and ascorbic acid, dry cucumber brine, as well as an extract from grape berries. Prevents dehydration of the body, maintaining the necessary level of moisture, improves overall well-being.

Medichronal

Medichronal refers to pharmacological agents based on the active component sodium formate. After administration, it enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body, neutralizing the aggressive effects of ethanol components.

Medichronal effectively accelerates metabolic processes, cleanses the blood of poisons, and stimulates tissue renewal. The manufacturer emphasizes that this drug is intended to combat severe post-alcohol syndrome. With a small dosage of ethyl alcohol in the blood, Medichronal can provoke intoxication of the body.

Buffalo

The anti-hangover remedy Bison contains two active ingredients - amber acid and soda. The pharmaceutical drug acts directly on redox processes, providing an antioxidant effect and cleansing hepatocytes of toxic compounds and ethanol residues. After taking it in the morning, Bison quickly relieves migraines and improves tone.

Zenalk

Zenalk is anti-hangover drug based on plant extracts and extracts. Its composition is dominated by organic extracts from Terminalia hebula, chicory extract, emblica and date palm. Zenalk effectively improves metabolic processes, accelerates the cleansing of body tissues from toxic elements of alcohol.

The pharmaceutical product has an antioxidant effect, protecting cells of the brain, kidneys, liver and other internal organs from ethanol.

Antipohmelin

One of the most common pharmaceuticals for relieving hangover syndrome is Antipohmelin. According to the instructions, the tablets should be taken before drinking an alcoholic drink.

Antipohmelin contains active components that minimize the aggressive effects of alcohol. These are ascorbic acid, as well as succinic acid, glucose and sodium glutamate. The medication relieves signs of alcohol intoxication.

Zorex

Zorex is an anti-hangover pill based on the active ingredient utinol. This component penetrates the liver, improves its functioning, accelerates the toxic breakdown products of ethyl alcohol and protects hepatocytes from their destructive effects.

Zorex tablets are well tolerated by the body, but in some cases they can cause an allergic reaction or hypersensitivity to utinol. In such cases, the use of the drug must be abandoned and replaced with another anti-hangover drug.

Alka-prim

Alka-prim is a medicine based on aspirin, glycine and soda, which eliminates the consequences of alcohol consumption. It prevents the loss of moisture in the body, relieves headaches, and normalizes the functioning of the nervous system. Alka-prip reduces the toxic effects of acetaldehyde on the human body.

Alka-Seltzer

Alka-Seltzer is an effective hangover pill that dissolves in water and quickly eliminates the unpleasant symptoms of a hangover. The drug contains aspirin, citric acid and soda, which are quickly absorbed by the body.

The medicine improves the acid-alkaline balance and maintains it at an optimal level, eliminates headaches and dizziness.

Take a painkiller

If you feel like your head is pounding too much from the effects of a stormy night, you can take a painkiller. However, remember that in this way you expose your liver and stomach to additional stress. Therefore, if you can be patient, it is better to do so.

In addition, there is no need to increase the dosage of pain medication. Just drink as much as you would normally drink in similar situations.

It is also worth warning you that doctors do not recommend taking paracetamol as a pain reliever after a hangover, because it can cause irreversible changes in the liver.

What is a hangover and how is it classified?

The hangover of a healthy person and an alcoholic are two completely different conditions. Without understanding the fundamental difference between them, it is impossible to prescribe adequate treatment for a hangover.

The basis of a hangover in a healthy person, the so-called veisalgia, is poisoning by the products of the breakdown of ethanol by liver cells. Acetaldehyde plays a major role in the formation of hangover symptoms. At the same time, the influence of alcohol itself and fusel oils contained in alcohol should not be excluded. A hangover manifests itself as a severe headache, nausea, vomiting, thirst (in common parlance, dried fruit) and other unpleasant sensations.

In a patient with chronic alcoholism, a hangover is a withdrawal syndrome and is called a hangover or withdrawal syndrome. It occurs due to the cessation of ethanol intake, which has already been integrated into the metabolic processes of the body and has become a physiological need. In fact, alcohol, as a more accessible and easily digestible energy material, replaces glucose and becomes vital. Alcohol withdrawal can provoke such severe conditions as delirium tremens and other alcoholic psychoses. A hangover, the treatment of which in this case requires the mandatory assistance of an experienced narcologist, has to be relieved with the help of a dropper. Its composition is determined by the doctor depending on the severity of the patient’s condition and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Treating alcoholism with acupuncture is an effective way to deal with addiction in the early stages.

Better not get a hangover

Despite the fact that many people are accustomed to treating a hangover with more doses of alcohol, it is advisable never to do this.

After a morning drink or a bottle of beer, the symptoms of a stormy night can really disappear overnight, but in this way you only postpone the upcoming hangover, which may turn out to be much worse than what you are experiencing now.

Plus, new portions of alcohol after epic drinking sessions can lead you to binge drinking, and then it’s not far from alcoholism.

Fun without consequences

Of course, we are all aware of the harm alcohol can cause to the body. But sometimes everyone wants to relax in a fun company. After this, it is important to alleviate as much as possible the possible consequences of intoxication and dehydration. It’s better to prevent them with proper prevention and moderate alcohol consumption.

Buy Polysorb in the online pharmacy of your city.

Why does a hangover get worse with age?

Surely you noticed that at the age of 20, alcohol was less harmful to health, and a hangover seemed like some kind of incomprehensible and greatly exaggerated phenomenon. However, over time, you began to realize that you can no longer drink without consequences for your body, and this is most likely due to the fact that you are getting old.

Unfortunately, that's the way it is. After 30 years, the concentration of enzymes responsible for the breakdown of ethanol breakdown products in our body decreases, metabolism slows down, and the amount of fluid in the body decreases.

Moreover, our cells are no longer restored as quickly, and the immune system becomes weaker. Therefore, the hangover becomes more severe and painful.

Not long ago, a group of British researchers from the Redemption organization managed to identify the age at which a hangover is most severe. It turned out that it was 29 years old.

Moreover, this does not mean that after 29 years the hangover will go away much easier. The whole point is that at this age many people still have the habit of partying and getting drunk the way they used to do in their youth. However, their body is simply no longer capable of this.

In the future, they simply understand that a hangover is a merciless thing and try to drink more moderately, controlling themselves at parties. However, of course, this does not apply to everyone.

The best way to recover from a hangover

Detoxification with the participation of a drug addiction specialist will help you quickly get rid of hangover symptoms. The specialist determines the current drug and selects the dosage based on the patient’s medical history.

Home detoxification involves:

Use of droppers (saline solutions, hepatoprotectors, mineral complexes, etc.);
Use of medications (sorbents, antispasmodics, antihypertensive drugs, etc.);
Administration of injections as prescribed by a doctor.

Inpatient conditions provide a greater choice of detoxification methods (hardware methods of UBOR, ozone therapy, etc.).

Article prepared by an expert

Terekhova Anna Vladimirovna

psychologist-consultant on socio-psychological work with addicted clients and their families. More than 9 years of experience.

4 comments on “Hangover: the most effective remedies”

Vasya:
August 8, 2021 at 15:25
Hello colleagues. Nothing helps, I’ll die soon, what should I do??
Answer
Konstantin:
August 8, 2021 at 03:34 pm
Hello colleagues! Based on the information presented above, you claim that you can cure my alcoholism or hangover due to alcoholism. From many years of experience, I can say that nothing helps. I would like to clarify whether this text, written by a specialist, is true? I expect a response as soon as possible. Thank you! (c) Konstantin
Answer

How should I drink without getting a hangover?

If you don’t want to give up drinking completely, but suffering in the morning is also not your option, you can try to approach your drinking more wisely next time.

To do this, be sure to watch what kind of alcohol you drink. It should not be bought in dubious places, bottled in a five-liter plastic canister and cost suspiciously cheap. Otherwise, you have every chance of getting poisoned by this swill and waking up in the morning in an extremely sad state.

In addition, try to have a snack while drinking, drink a lot of water, take significant breaks between shots or glasses, do not mix drinks and simply get drunk less.

Then you have every chance of waking up in the morning with a clear head and the most unobtrusive reminder that you drank alcohol yesterday.

Author: Dmitry Petrosyants

Treating headaches from alcohol in occasional drinkers

The choice of method for relieving headaches from alcohol largely depends on:

whether the person has an alcohol addiction;
what exactly and how much he drank the day before;
how long the drinking sessions lasted.

In the case of people who drink only on holidays, intoxication therapy is not difficult. The poisoned person must:

Take an Aspirin tablet, an analgesic for which there are no contraindications.
Drink plenty of clean drinking water without carbon throughout the day. Freshly squeezed juices and herbal decoctions are also suitable.
Take a contrast shower.
Ventilate the room more often.
Give yourself enough time to rest.
Eat only light food, do not burden your stomach.

Typically, people who do not abuse alcohol do not need drug treatment help - they can cope with intoxication on their own. But they can get it if they want. So, if you feel very sick, your blood pressure constantly “jumps”, and you are bothered by frequent vomiting, it makes sense to call a private narcologist to your home. He will put on a drip, after which your health will quickly stabilize.