Alcohol’s exact role in triggering a migraine isn’t fully known. For instance, alcohol byproducts called congeners have been linked to headaches. Dark-colored alcohols like red wine, brandy, and whiskey may contain more of them. Always drink responsibly—which includes minimizing the chances that alcohol https://ecosoberhouse.com/ will affect your migraine. Current medical opinions on alcohol consumption are evolving with research, so it’s important to educate yourself on the effects of alcohol on your health. If you are struggling with alcohol abuse or other dependency issues, there are many resources that are ready to help.
- In people assigned female at birth, alcohol use can interfere with regular ovulation and menstrual cycles and make it difficult to get pregnant.
- It’s not clear why some people suddenly start experiencing these intolerances or allergies later in life.
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- After using the above key terms, 1,892 articles were identified in the three databases.
- They typically built up over several minutes and they can last for up to an hour.
- Even people who are not prone to headaches will get a headache after a night of heavy alcohol consumption.
Science hasn’t been able to prove the exact cause of red wine-induced migraine, but alcohol in general and certain compounds in red wine are linked to causing migraine attacks and headaches. There is some evidence that vitamin B6 taken before drinking can be mildly helpful. An anti-inflammatory drug called tolfenamic acid has been shown to be somewhat helpful when taken during alcohol consumption. While this drug is not available in the U.S., other related medications, including ibuprofen, naproxen, and prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be similarly helpful.
How to Get Rid of a Cocktail Headache
Alcohol consumption irritates the lining of the stomach and intestines. A night of drinking can cause uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Chronic and excessive alcohol use disrupts the balance of bacteria in the gut microbiome (dysbiosis).
How Do You Know When Alcohol Triggers Your Migraines?
- To summarize, for people with migraine, the best alcoholic choices are clear liquors like vodka, gin, or dry white wine.
- We have created customized plans than have helped more than 12,000 people live the pain-free lives they deserve.
- Seven articles used International Headache Society (IHS) criteria from 1988 [46, 47, 50, 51, 56, 59, 60].
- Reviewed for accuracy by the American Migraine Foundation’s subject matter experts, headache specialists and medical advisers with deep knowledge and training in headache medicine.
- If you do drink alcohol, it’s important to be mindful of your consumption and to experiment to see what works best for you.
In addition to this, people are sometimes more likely to drink more when they are feeling stressed and a little reckless. As a physician, my best advice for decreasing or avoiding alcohol-related headaches is to take steps to change your why does alcohol cause migraines relationship with alcohol. Monument is an online alcohol treatment platform that can help provide support every step of the way. You can get peer support, and explore treatment options like therapy and medication to stop drinking.
Alcohol as a Migraine Trigger
- What you drink is far less important than how much, but there’s some evidence that darker beverages — whiskey, brandy, red wine, tequila — cause more problems than clear drinks such as gin and vodka.
- 2021 research also linked lifestyle factors with alcohol drinking and smoking to cluster headaches and their severity.
- Drinking while you feel like this may make you feel worse and prolong your attack, so it’s best not to drink until you feel completely back to normal.
- Often, people consume a drug like alcohol because of the rewarding and positive feelings it creates, such as enjoying drinks with friends or celebrating a milestone with a loved one.
Stay hydrated by continuing to sip on water throughout the night. This helps keep your throat moist and also helps reduce the chances that you’ll become dehydrated. Green tea and ginger tea are examples of herbal teas that also have an anti-inflammatory effect that may help reduce irritation. Try to choose teas that do not contain caffeine, as it can have dehydrative effects. Look for white wine that is not too sweet and a little on the dry side. Pinot Grigio, chardonnay or sauvignon blanc would be a good place to start and are generally easy to find.
Bourbon, whiskey or red wine
Headache causes: Sulfites in wine – Medical News Today
Headache causes: Sulfites in wine.
Posted: Fri, 19 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]