Alcohol and migraine: Drinks to avoid, remedies, and more
Last night I went to a poker game at a friends house and drank about 4-5 light beers. Felt fine went home a few hours later and sort of felt the migraine coming on slowly. Its clear that its the Alcohol is causing the migraines to trigger because this is not the first time this happened to me. I am really at the point where I dont think I can enjoy a drink ever again. Certain foods or drinks like coffee are thought to trigger episodes of migraine, but the true cause is not known. Quantity is definitely a factor in whether drinking alcohol will trigger a headache, and the quality of alcohol probably plays a role as well.
- The relationship between soda and migraines is complex and varies from person to person.
- Each person’s experience with this phase of a migraine is different, and the length of time can vary from one migraine to the next.
- Hydration and electrolyte replacement is one of the best things you can do to help recover from an alcohol-induced headache.
- A 2022 study in people with migraine, however, found that drinking alcohol didn’t affect the probability of a migraine attack 24 hours after drinking.
- Do your best to avoid common headache triggers like processed foods.
Does Alcohol Withdrawal Cause Headaches?
I’ll wake up in the morning with a small headache and it starts to gradually get worse and peak around 5 or 6 pm and always only on the left side of my head. I used to drink all the time in college and never had this issue, now I am in my late 20s and it started about a year and a half ago. Has anyone else experienced this and have any ideas of things that are preventative for migraines in the morning when drinking? The easy answer would be to stop drinking but I would like to be able to enjoy 1 or 2 glasses of wine without having a debilitating headache the next day.
- Many of the same tips for preventing a headache after drinking also work for treating one.
- Sulfites are also found in foods, and are believed to trigger asthma attacks more than migraines.
- Gin might be a good alcohol choice for some people with migraine, but it could be a migraine trigger for others.
- A person should try keeping a migraine diary for a few weeks or months to observe trends in their headache patterns.
- But if you’re prone to migraine headaches, you’ll need to be careful about how much you drink.
Caffeine in soda may help migraines by constricting blood vessels

Dehydration, especially when coupled with the loss of electrolytes that happens while drinking, can lead to severe headaches. While some people try to prevent headaches by taking over-the-counter pain medications before drinking, this can be dangerous. When you take a drug such as Tylenol while drinking, there is a potential migraine after drinking for severe side effects, including liver damage. And many people are surprised to find out that it doesn’t take much alcohol to trigger them. Headaches and migraines can be extremely uncomfortable, and even debilitating at times. Learning more about exactly what causes alcohol-induced headaches can provide motivation for building healthier habits and feeling better.
Alcohol and Migraines: Can Drinking Trigger A Headache?
Figure 2 shows data on two individuals selected at random among those who tracked more than 600 days. Neither the interaction term nor the presence of migraine on day‐2 were significant and they were removed (one at a time) from the final model (Model 2). No convergence issues were identified in Model 3 (neither in the full nor in the simplified, final model). When enjoying a night out on the town, there are several triggers you may expose yourself to including bright https://phucan.edu.vn/sober-living/alcohol-and-dry-eyes-is-there-a-connection flashing lights, loud music, food and alcohol.
Alcohol can interact with migraine medications, potentially reducing their effectiveness or causing adverse reactions. Always consult your healthcare provider to understand these risks. These often occur shortly after consuming alcohol and are marked by the typical migraine symptoms like throbbing pain, sensitivity to light, and nausea. Any relief experienced from red wine likely comes from resveratrol, a potentially health-boosting plant compound.
In summary, maintaining a migraine diary is a powerful tool for identifying soda as a potential trigger and gaining self-awareness. It enables individuals to make informed choices, seek professional advice, and optimize their migraine management strategies to improve their overall quality of life. Migraines are a major cause of global ill health, affecting an estimated 14 to 15% of the world’s population. While there are pharmaceutical treatments available, many migraine sufferers have their own home remedies that they swear by. One such remedy is drinking caffeinated soda, such as Coca-Cola.

The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge. Mixing alcohol and Excedrin increases the risk of stomach bleeding, ulcers, liver damage, and more. Are other painkillers like Advil or Tylenol safer to take with alcohol? No painkiller is completely safe to mix with alcohol, but they carry different risks.
- More than half of those who experience cluster headaches say that alcohol is a trigger.
- Visit a healthcare provider if you have frequent migraines or headaches that get worse or more painful.
- It’s important to talk to a doctor or get support to help you through this tough time and make sure your recovery is safe and easier.
However, it is important to note that caffeine withdrawal can also trigger migraine attacks. As such, individuals should be aware of their caffeine intake and not exceed 200 mg daily. This was an observational prospective cohort study among individuals with migraine who registered to use a digital health platform for headache. Eligible individuals were aged ≥18 years with EM who consumed alcohol and had tracked their headache symptoms and alcohol intake for ≥90 days. A total of 7877 people with migraine registered to use the headache app from October 2014 to March 2018. Among these, 787 were ≥18 years old who tracked ≥90 days with ≥75% adherence.
Most of the more serious symptoms of alcohol withdrawal will go away after detoxing in a rehab center or under the supervision of a doctor, which takes about a week. However, some symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, and insomnia, can persist for several weeks or longer. It is estimated that 10 million what is alcoholism people in the United States are living with alcohol dependency. Of that 10 million, it is predicted that about 40% will experience serious symptoms of alcohol withdrawal if they choose to quit drinking. Self-medicating with alcohol only creates an unhealthy cycle that can be hard to break, and leads to even more health issues in the long-term.
