Although alcohol has long been suspected to be a common migraine trigger, studies have been inconclusive in proving this association. Any relief experienced from red wine likely comes from resveratrol, a potentially health-boosting plant compound. “Someone may feel a slight relief from a migraine attack after drinking due to the sedative effects alcohol has, but this is only for a short amount of time and will not last,” said neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez, PhD.
Consider medical devices
For pain relief, consider a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as Advil, Motrin (ibuprofen), or Aleve (naproxen). Be cautious, as combining them with alcohol can lead to stomach bleeding. Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology.
The Role of Medication in Easing Alcohol Withdrawal Headaches
Talk with alcohol and migraines a doctor about ways to identify your migraine triggers and what to do if you develop these headaches. Research shows that people with migraine may also experience related symptoms during a hangover. Reducing or eliminating alcohol may reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.
- These often occur shortly after consuming alcohol and are marked by the typical migraine symptoms like throbbing pain, sensitivity to light, and nausea.
- Additionally, it would be useful to check whether migraine patients enjoy the advantages or disadvantages of less drinking.
- It’s important to see your healthcare provider if you are concerned about your alcohol use.
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- The best alcohols for migraine sufferers generally include clear spirits like vodka and gin.
- If you get a cocktail headache, stop drinking alcohol and rest in a comfortable place.
- This means ethanol increases your urine production and may lead to dehydration.
- Studies also show that alcohol abuse disorders are less common among people who experience headaches, indicating that a predisposition to alcohol-induced headaches may offer individuals some degree of protection from alcohol overuse.
- Many studies show that ADs are a trigger of migraine without aura (MO), migraine with aura (MA), cluster headache (CH), and tension-type headache (TH).
If none of the preventative measures above work or you didn’t know alcohol triggered migraines until after the fact, there are still options available to you. However, if you already have a headache, it is a good idea to stop drinking. For some people that also includes alcohol, maybe just certain kinds.
Reducing alcohol intake and keeping a migraine diary can help
Many medications interact with alcohol, and drug addiction furthermore, because of the tenant “First, do no harm,” it is hard to justify using medications so that people can consume alcohol when most medications have adverse effects. While the mechanism for alcohol-triggered migraines is uncertain, it is likely related to the way alcohol affects brain cells. Ethanol, a natural diuretic present in alcohol, causes the kidneys to excrete more fluid, leading to excessive urination and dehydration, which are common triggers for migraine headaches. Additionally, alcohol contains chemicals called congeners and tannins, which may also trigger migraines in certain people. Some alcoholic drinks are more likely to trigger migraines than others. Drinks containing more congeners, such as darker liquors like brandy, dark rum, and whisky, may worsen the chance of developing a migraine.
Migraine with aura
Curiously, in some countries, the percentages of alcohol or wine as migraine triggers were negligible, 6.1 25 and 1.4% 26, perhaps depending on the degree of alcohol habits. Alcohol is a common trigger for migraines, and it only takes a small amount to cause a migraine headache. Alcoholic drinks contain chemicals called congeners and histamines, which can trigger migraines in certain people. Additionally, alcohol is a natural diuretic, which can lead to dehydration, another common trigger for migraines. Roughly a third of migraine sufferers say that alcoholic beverages can trigger their migraine attacks.