At the National Headache Institute, we investigate to find the underlying causes of migraine and headaches. We have created customized plans than have helped more than 12,000 people live the pain-free lives they deserve. If you know a migraine is likely to come on and plan to drink anyway, triptans can help. Of course, like all medications, they have their own side effects. Also, follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding alcohol consumption.
- The research found that 21% of people with migraine say that alcohol is a tension headache trigger, compared with just 2% of people without migraine.
- This dilutes the effect of alcohol in your system and reduces the chance of an alcohol-induced headache or triggering a migraine attack.
- Let’s look at why alcohol makes your head hurt, what you can do to remedy it, and how to avoid headaches down the road.
- However, a headache after drinking will usually resolve itself over time.
- Andrew Charles, MD, director of the Goldberg Migraine Program at the University of California, Los Angeles, says the focus on migraine triggers is a double-edged sword for some patients.
- People with migraine who treat their attacks with certain drugs should avoid drinking alcohol because it may interact poorly or dangerously with their medications.
Prolonged Alcohol Withdrawal
- Many of the same tips for preventing a headache after drinking also work for treating one.
- Scientists are still trying to understand how or why alcohol acts as a trigger for some people who suffer from migraines.
- Dr. Green cautions, however, that stopping drinking may not resolve the entire problem.
The American Migraine Foundation (AMF) suggests that what is alcoholism alcohol as a trigger is more of a personal reaction — common in certain types of headaches — than a general effect. This dilutes the effect of alcohol in your system and reduces the chance of an alcohol-induced headache or triggering a migraine attack. Some people drink water in between glasses of wine, for example. Drinking even a small amount of alcohol can trigger headache symptoms in certain individuals. These symptoms may begin within minutes or hours of drinking and vary widely in severity.
Whether Alcohol Is a Migraine Trigger
Without a consistent cause-and-effect situation, though, a number of factors — not just alcohol — could be triggering your migraine headache. Alcohol has different effects on your body depending on when you drink it. These are called immediate and delayed alcohol-induced headaches. The number of drinks you have, what you’re drinking, and what’s going on in your life may be the primary culprits rather than alcohol itself. While headache is generally recognized as a side effect of alcohol in many people, migraine after drinking alcohol its reputation as a migraine headache trigger may be overestimated.
Types of alcohol-related headaches
Migraine Again follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions. Avoiding drinking is the best way to prevent an alcohol-related headache. Males should aim to drink two or fewer drinks daily, and females should aim to drink one or fewer. Migraines typically begins slowly and may increase in severity if left untreated.
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As a researcher, he uses data from an international clinical quality registry to explore burn injuries in Australia and New Zealand. As a freelance writer, he turns basic, translational, and clinical research into high-quality news, features, interviews, meeting reports, and podcasts. As a person, he is one half of one of two sets of twins in his family. I also find hard liquor gives me more of hangover than when I was younger but doesn’t give as much of a headache. Additionally, it’s possible to have migraine episodes and hangovers, Rosen said.
North American Pain School (NAPS)
Once it gets into your system, it is converted into a chemical that triggers migraine. If you’ve received a migraine diagnosis, you might be wondering if gin is less likely to trigger a migraine than other alcohols. As long as you don’t eat meals containing other triggers, this is one of the best things you can do. Try to stick to just a glass or two and eat enough for the food to soak up some of that alcohol. MWP and BB was involved in the conception and visualization of the study. MWP, MW, MS2 and SB revised the final version of the manuscript.
Assessment of risk bias
Dr. Green cautions, however, that stopping drinking may not resolve the entire problem. That’s likely because there are other underlying migraine triggers, such as certain foods, caffeine, fluctuating hormones, and stress. A migraine hangover (postdrome) is the last stage of a migraine. You’ll feel symptoms after a severe headache and right before you feel like yourself again. The brain adapts to chronic alcohol exposure by adjusting the function of alcohol in the brain. Those who drink a lot can drink more without feeling the immediate effects of drunkenness.