Hangover Medicine: Common Medications Plus Home Remedies

Hangover medicine, such as antacids, anti-inflammatory drugs, or pain relievers, can help relieve symptoms like headache, heartburn, fatigue, nausea, and general discomfort.

Besides over-the-counter and prescription options, there are also natural hangover remedies like white willow bark tea and natural fruit juices. These can help reduce symptoms while rehydrating the body and replenishing electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals that support recovery.

It’s important to remember that hangover medicine should only be used under medical guidance. Because alcohol and its byproducts may still be present in the body, using certain medications could increase the risk of liver damage.

Common medications

Hangover medicines a healthcare provider may recommend include:

1. Sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, citric acid, or aluminum hydroxide are antacids that help relieve heartburn, indigestion, and general discomfort caused by a hangover.

Products like Alka Seltzer (sodium bicarbonate + citric acid) are available over the counter and can help ease stomach discomfort.

2. Aluminum hydroxide

Aluminum hydroxide is another antacid that can help relieve hangover symptoms, especially heartburn and a burning sensation in the stomach.

It’s available as part of combination antacids like Maalox and Gaviscon.

3. Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can help relieve headaches and muscle pain caused by a hangover. However, it should be used cautiously by people who experience stomach irritation or nausea.

NSAIDs should not be used if you suspect or have been diagnosed with dengue fever.

4. Metoclopramide

Metoclopramide is a prescription antiemetic that helps reduce nausea and indigestion associated with a hangover.

It’s available in tablets or an oral solution and should be used only as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Metoclopramide should not be used by people with gastrointestinal bleeding, mechanical obstruction, or perforation, as well as those with epilepsy, pheochromocytoma, Parkinson’s disease, or movement disorders.

5. Choline citrate, betaine, and methionine

These substances are typically used to support liver health but may also help relieve hangover symptoms by aiding liver function and promoting toxin elimination.

Choline citrate, betaine, and methionine are available over the counter as separate dietary supplements.

6. Silymarin

Silymarin is the main group of active compounds extracted from the seeds of the milk thistle plant. These compounds are thought to help protect the liver and may also reduce hangover symptoms.

It is available in the US as a dietary supplement.

7. Oral rehydration solutions

Solutions containing glucose, electrolytes, and caffeine can help rehydrate the body, restore minerals, and promote hangover recovery.

FDA-approved oral rehydration solutions (ORS) like Pedialyte are good options to replace fluids and electrolytes lost after drinking alcohol.

Important precautions

Before taking any hangover medicine, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider. Alcohol can interfere with how some medications are processed, increasing the risk of liver damage.

Some people experience multiple symptoms, and using pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs without caution can worsen stomach irritation and nausea.

Avoid taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) to treat hangovers, as combining it with alcohol can lead to serious liver damage.

Home remedies

A simple home remedy for a hangover is drinking one cup of black coffee after waking up. Throughout the day, eat light and easy-to-digest foods such as gelatin, fruits, cooked vegetables, or soups.

Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, natural fruit juices, or electrolyte drinks is also very important.

Read more about how to get rid of a hangover at home.

Natural teas

A good natural hangover remedy is white willow bark tea, which contains salicin, a compound with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects similar to aspirin. This tea may help relieve headaches and overall discomfort caused by a hangover.

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp of white willow bark;

• 2 cups of water.

How to prepare:
Boil the water, add the willow bark, and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and drink up to two cups per day.

This tea should not be consumed by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people with an allergy to aspirin, or those taking anticoagulant medications. It’s also not recommended for people with gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers, gastritis, acid reflux, colitis, or diverticulitis.

These remedies help rehydrate and detoxify the body, reducing the duration of hangover symptoms.

Prevention tips

The best way to prevent a hangover is to drink alcohol in moderation, avoid drinking on an empty stomach, and alternate alcoholic beverages with glasses of water.

Water helps prevent dehydration and supports alcohol metabolism, which can reduce hangover symptoms the next day.