If you suffer from migraines, you may find that drinking alcohol can trigger an episode. Find out why alcoholic drinks can cause problems for migraine sufferers and what you can do to prevent alcohol-related migraines. A 2019 study recognized alcoholic beverages, especially red wine, as a migraine trigger factor for people with migraine.
- Plan to discuss the FDA’s safety guide for medication use during pregnancy.
- One or two drinks with food and water over time might be safe for you, but three or more will produce a hangover headache for many people.
- In these retrospective studies, only 10% reported a frequent link.
- While there is some research on each possible reason why alcohol causes headaches, study authors have not definitively proven the link between the two.
This helps them find the best way to help you manage your migraine. Drinking more than these amounts can increase the chance of getting a migraine. Drinking alcohol can lead to a headache that comes later, even after the alcohol is gone. Oxidative stress refers to the build-up of a particular family of reactive molecules in the body called reactive oxygen species (ROS). The most important one is probably its effect on oxidative stress. Alcohol consumption causes a range of different physical symptoms.
Brandy, red wine, and rum have the highest levels of congeners, while gin and vodka contain fewer of these chemicals. However, these individuals were not more vulnerable to other hangover symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about the connection between migraine and alcohol. Learn more about the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol. If a headache persists or worsens, visit a doctor for an examination and treatment recommendations. For example, on average, females tend to weigh less than males.
Did you know that 20% of women say they avoid pregnancy because of migraine? While migraine thankfully does not affect fertility, it can complicate conversations about family planning and infertility treatments. Learn more about the relationship between migraine and family planning. Find out why, and what you can do to avoid alcohol-related migraines. Tannins are naturally occurring compounds (called polyphenols) found in grapes, certain fruit juices, and beer. People who suffer with cluster headaches are particularly sensitive to dark beers, according to Dr. Aurora.
When mixed with alcohol, the common migraine medication Topamax (topiramate) can cause dizziness, problems with memory, sleepiness, and even depression. As studies keep finding out more about migraine, it’s key to know how different triggers and this includes alcoholic drinks can affect you. While a hangover headache can happen to anyone (usually the morning after drinking too much alcohol), people who experience migraines are more susceptible. If you have chronic headaches, identifying and avoiding your triggers can substantially improve your quality of life.
Does alcohol trigger a headache?
Knowing your own limit on alcohol can help reduce migraine symptoms. Keeping track of your reactions can help you avoid triggers. This way, you can enjoy social events without worrying about headaches. But alcohol also makes you lose water and electrolytes with it, which is another migraine trigger.
- But if you’re prone to migraine headaches, you’ll need to be careful about how much you drink.
- For example, wine may be a trigger for some but whiskey may not have an influence.
- For instance, alcohol byproducts called congeners have been linked to headaches.
- Moore says that there may not be a safe amount to drink, and this corresponds with the latest advice from the World Health Organization.
Those diagnosed with a specific type of headache may be more prone to develop a specific type of headache after consuming alcohol. Light sensitivity is a common symptom of migraine (as is sensitivity to sounds or smells), but not everyone who has the disease will experience it. Identify other symptoms of migraine and find answers to Frequently Asked Questions to help you start the conversation about migraine with your primary care provider. It may be worth considering some treatment options to help you manage your symptoms. This Diagnosis & Treatment page walks you through next steps after a diagnosis.
What is the commonest type of alcohol-induced headache, and how does it differ from a migraine?
A well-hydrated person is the least likely to experience headaches or to have the least intensity of headache,” Moore says. You can also consider drinking a hydration supplement like Cove’s Oasis to boost that effect. According to Dr. Kevin Moore, PsyD, an addiction specialist, alcohol fools your body into thinking that you’re drinking water, but in reality, alcohol actually poisons the brain cells. Unfortunately, this may lead to inflammation throughout the body, which can trigger migraines in some people. Understanding your triggers, including how alcohol impacts your symptoms, is key to better management and fewer attacks.
Most studies point to red wine as a common headache culprit, particularly in people with migraine. These individuals commonly cite wine, especially red wine, as a migraine trigger. As dehydration can cause headaches, staying hydrated when consuming alcohol is key. Aim to drink plenty of water before, after, and during alcohol consumption. Alcohol’s exact role in triggering a migraine isn’t fully known. For instance, alcohol byproducts called congeners have been linked to headaches.
Is alcohol or another component of the drink the trigger?
This disruption can be a potential trigger for migraine, as poor sleep quality is a known risk factor for migraine attacks. Darker drinks like red wine and whiskey tend to have more congeners. These can make symptoms worse and increase migraine risk in sensitive individuals. It’s important to identify these triggers to manage migraine better. And you might be able to have a glass of wine, if it is not paired with other additional migraine trigger factors.
People who cannot stop drinking should talk with a doctor about treatment for alcohol use disorder, which is a serious but treatable condition. A tendency toward migraine may also play a role in hangovers, especially hangovers that cause migraine-like headaches. A 2014 survey of 692 students, 95 of whom had migraine, found that those with migraine were more likely to experience migraine-like symptoms during a hangover. Although genetic factors influence the risk of having migraine, environmental triggers can cause episodes or increase their frequency. 2020 research shows that females are more likely to experience hangovers, memory problems, and liver disease from consuming alcohol.
Reduce your risk of an alcohol-related migraine
This includes being careful about the amount of alcohol you consume and paying attention to how and when your migraine symptoms flare up in relation to drinking. They found limited importance of nutrition, including alcohol intake, in the triggering of migraine. Trying to avoid migraine triggers is one of the only surefire ways to avoid migraine symptoms.
Yawning and fatigue are typical symptoms of prodrome, the first phase of a migraine attack. Other symptoms can include food cravings and difficulty concentrating. If you think you may have migraine, these answers to common questions can help you further investigate this possibility with a doctor. Mounting evidence suggests there may be a connection between migraine and mental health.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to consume alcoholic drinks is up to migraine from drinking you. However, knowing the effects alcohol may have on your body and migraine attacks could help you make up your mind. In a 2018 study involving 2,197 people with migraine, 25% of the participants who stopped or always avoided drinking did so because alcohol triggered migraine attacks. More than a third of the participants said that alcohol had this effect, with about 78% naming red wine as the most common alcohol trigger.
The same is true if you find that some types of alcohol trigger your migraine headaches more than others. Among people who find alcohol can trigger a migraine, most find that any alcoholic drink can trigger one, but others may find that particular drinks are more of a problem. There are also the side effects of drinking that might be to blame. If you know a migraine is likely to come on and plan to drink anyway, triptans can help. Of course, like all medications, they have their own side effects. Also, follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding alcohol consumption.
This article will explore the relationship between alcohol and headache and consider why some people develop an alcohol headache after one drink. It will be crucial to have access to reliable resources on migraine as you work to manage this disease. The American Migraine Foundation offers extensive resources to help you explore your symptoms and treatment options. We recommend exploring complementary treatments such as biofeedback, green light therapy and aerobic exercise. Learn how these common therapies can help you manage migraine. As you work with your doctor on next steps, it will be important to maintain access to reliable resources on migraine.
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. It may also help eliminate triggers that tend to co-occur with drinking, such as dehydration and sleep deprivation. Drinking alcohol is a trigger for some people with migraine.