The correlation between alcohol and migraines, though, might not be as strong as once reported. A cohort study published in 2022 found that among those with episodic migraines who identified as light drinkers, there was no increased probability of a migraine attack within 24 hours of alcohol consumption. Furthermore, this study found that there was a decreased likelihood of an attack 24 to 48 hours after consumption. If you have chronic headaches, identifying and avoiding your triggers can substantially improve your quality of life.

The 13 hangover symptoms were divided by the researches into migraine-like and other nonmigraine-like symptoms. If both stress and alcohol are migraine triggers for you, combining them won’t do you any favors. In addition to this, people are sometimes more likely to drink more when they are feeling stressed and a little reckless. Studies show that more than 80% of people who experience migraine attack have migraine hangovers. Migraine episodes triggered by alcohol consumption typically happen within about an hour. Delayed alcohol headaches or hangovers generally take hours to start, such as the following day after a night of drinking too much.

Migraine-Friendly Alcohol Options

  • If they trigger migraines look for an alternative without alcohol.
  • Whether you have lived with migraine for a few months or a few decades, you know migraine can be a challenging experience.
  • Bars and restaurants are also good these days about having mocktails on their menu or being willing to make you one even if it’s not on the menu.
  • Alcohol can interact with migraine medications, potentially reducing their effectiveness or causing adverse reactions.

The quality of the alcohol consumed may be a factor in whether it triggers a headache. Lower-quality wines contain molecules known as phenolic flavonoid radicals, which may interfere with serotonin, a signaling molecule in the brain involved in migraine attacks. Scientists are still trying to understand how or why alcohol acts as a trigger for some people who suffer from migraines. At present, most studies seem to link to headaches after alcohol to congeners, a byproduct of alcohol, most commonly found in darker drinks, such as whiskey, brandy and red wine. Remaining hydrated is one way to reduce migraine attacks, but the type of beverage you choose matters.

  • Certain additives can increase the chance of developing a headache after drinking.
  • But whether this causes or relieves headache symptoms depends largely on the type of headache.
  • But many patients, if they have an attack, it turns into some sort of blame.
  • In the same study indicating red wine as a frequently cited migraine trigger, vodka (which is primarily comprised of ethanol and water) was least likely to be cited.
  • People who get hangovers that trigger a migraine may also wish to avoid alcohol with high levels of congeners.

Alcohol & Migraine: What You Need To Know

To determine if drinking (which may have a weaker correlation with migraines than previously thought) is one of yours, it’s helpful to learn the signs of alcohol-induced headaches. Around 30% of people who experience recurrent migraines report alcohol as a trigger, and 10% of patients cite it as a frequent or consistent trigger. People with migraine who treat their attacks with certain drugs should avoid drinking alcohol because it may interact poorly or dangerously with their medications. When mixed with alcohol, the common migraine medication Topamax (topiramate) can cause dizziness, problems with memory, sleepiness, and even depression.

Alcohol and Migraine: Your Guide

These are called immediate and delayed alcohol-induced headaches. Another thing that remains unclear is if the quantity and type of alcohol you drink determines whether you will get a migraine headache. Hot, humid temperatures, changes in air quality, and extreme weather events might trigger these headaches in some people.

PATIENTS

It’s important to observe your own triggers and to try to adapt so that you can avoid migraine attacks when the weather takes a turn. The questionnaires were filled without the presence of an interviewer, and did not include any recognizable data to assure full anonymity of the collected data. The questionnaires included demographics, headache history and characteristics, health-related habits (smoking and alcohol consumption), and hangover symptoms. The similarity between the symptomatology of these two common disorders, migraine and hangover, has led us to compare alcohol hangover symptoms in migraine sufferers and nonsufferers. We hypothesized that migraine sufferers are more susceptible to specific aspects of the hangover symptomatology complex, namely those that are similar to the migraine attack.

The symptoms can temporarily prevent you from engaging in activities with your loved ones and being fully present in the moment. He also recommends speaking with a doctor before mixing triptans with alcohol or other drugs. Resveratrol is a plant compound that may have some health benefits, like lowering blood pressure, though more research is needed.

Even a small amount of alcohol can sometimes spur on a migraine attack. One member of MyMigraineTeam shared how many drinks they could have without triggering an episode. “I can usually handle one or two, but that is it,” they wrote.

The American Migraine Foundation Resource Library provides a wealth of articles designed to assist you in understanding your symptoms and treatment options. If your support system is lacking, consider joining a support group. Finding a community of people who understand exactly what you’re going through is like being welcomed home after a long, tiring day.

So, if you’re going to drink beer or other alcoholic drinks, try not to drink too much and avoid your other triggers where possible. Also, if you notice a pattern where sleeping in the next morning pushes back a regular coffee habit and you end up with head pain, a caffeine headache could be at play. The entire body can be affected during a migraine attack, not just the head. From abdominal issues to cognitive impairment to sensitivity to touch, the malfunctioning of several bodily functions can wreak havoc on your entire system. The medical term for a migraine hangover is postdrome, which is the fourth and final phase of a migraine attack. It can take days or even weeks to transition through all four phases.

Any wine, beer, rum, tequila, vodka, etc. makes me very sick 😫 🤕🤮🤢. Brandy, red wine, and rum have the highest levels of congeners, while gin and vodka contain fewer of these chemicals. Keep reading to learn more about the connection between migraine and alcohol. Learn more about the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol. However, the research suggests that alcohol may not be the only trigger and may also depend on other factors.

The short answer is that while it’s possible for alcohol to cause a migraine attack, it’s often a bit more complicated. In some studies, about one-third of people living with migraine reported alcohol as a migraine trigger (at least occasionally). In these retrospective studies, only 10% reported a frequent link.

If you feel as though you can’t limit how much you drink or if you continue drinking even though it’s hurting you or those around you, it’s time to talk to your doctor. If you really want to drink, you may want to find out if any types of alcohol are unlikely to cause symptoms. You can try sips (or other small amounts) of different types of alcohol to see how your migraine reacts. Keep in mind that you may have to deal with several migraine attacks before you can determine what kind of alcohol causes your symptoms. Given that, this may not be the best approach if you’re unwilling to trade discomfort for a personal “safe” list of beverages. Alcohol-related headaches can be a frustrating experience, especially for those who live with migraine.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

It may help to keep a migraine journal or diary so you can find patterns or triggers that bring on migraines, how you felt and what you did to ease your symptoms. The solutions that might work to reduce your symptoms can vary from others who experience migraines. A migraine hangover happens after a migraine, so your provider migraine after drinking may ask you to explain how you feel once your head pain stops and how long those symptoms last before you feel better.