How to Treat a Hangover Fast

You might be thinking "Never again!" but in the meantime you need relief.

The best way to treat a hangover -- as your grandmother or any public health official will tell you -- is not to drink alcohol to excess. If you routinely drink enough alcohol to need a hangover cure, consider talking to your doctor, because abusing alcohol can put your health at risk. That being said, many people find that they occasionally overindulge and want to feel better fast. If you wake up with a hangover, it's fairly easy to get some relief.

Things You'll Need

• Saltine crackers or dry toast
• Water or ginger ale
• Ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin
• Salty or spicy soup

Instructions

1. Eat something bland and easy to digest, such as saltine crackers, dry toast or another simple carb. You need something in your stomach in order to take over-the-counter pain relievers.

2. Drink plenty of water, ginger ale or other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages. The symptoms of a hangover arise partly due to dehydration. Although some people swear by coffee when they have a hangover, the caffeine will tend to dehydrate you more. So will alcohol.

3. Take an NSAID over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin. Not only will this relieve headache or other aches and pains, but it will also reduce inflammation throughout your body. Often, hangover symptoms are related to your body's all-over inflammation response to excess alcohol. Tylenol or acetaminophen will not give you this anti-inflammatory effect.

4. Try a salty or spicy soup, if that appeals to you, once you feel ready for a meal. This can be as simple as a can of chicken noodle soup or as elaborate as your uncle's homemade menudo. Soup both rehydrates you and replaces electrolytes. Although there's no research behind the "spiciness" part of this step, many people claim it helps ease hangover symptoms, and others find it also relieves the bad taste in their mouth.

Tips & Warnings

• Although many people recommend "the hair of the dog that bit you" as a home remedy, but drinking more alcohol dehydrates you, contributes to your body's inflammatory response and is simply not a healthy choice.

• If you have frequent hangovers or need help to stop drinking, consult your doctor.

References

• MayoClinic.com; Hangovers; December 17, 2009
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Alcohol Hangover; Dr. Robert Swift, et al.; 1998

Resources

• Alcoholics Anonymous