We also examine the types of headache alcohol can trigger and the types of alcohol likely to cause more headaches. Mounting evidence suggests there may be a connection between migraine and mental health. Anxiety disorders and depression are two of the most commonly reported mental illnesses among people who are diagnosed with migraine. By learning how migraine and mental health impact one another and ways to manage both, you can improve your quality of life. Learn more about the relationship between migraine and mental health in this AMF webinar. While some research shows that the correlation between migraines and and headaches might be weaker than once stated, roughly 30% of people who experience migraines report alcohol as a trigger.
Hangover symptoms among migraine and non-migraine sufferers
Much like food triggers for migraine, people may have a higher sensitivity to certain organic components commonly found in alcoholic drinks. Studies show that many people with migraine choose not to drink alcohol for fear that it may trigger a migraine attack. However, researchers aren’t clear on exactly how or why alcohol can impact migraine. There is even some debate about whether alcohol itself or another chemical component in alcoholic drinks acts as the trigger. This uncertainty makes it difficult for many people who want to responsibly enjoy alcohol during the holidays or on special occasions to effectively manage their migraine symptoms. Research suggests that experiencing an unpleasant effect from drinking alcohol may alter alcohol consumption.
Most of the females had regular menstrual cycles (247/419, 58.9%). Individuals reported a mean (SD) of 6.1 (3.3) migraine days per month and 3.7 (1.7) migraine attacks per month. However, the type of alcoholic beverage that triggers these headaches is not clear.
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- Pontinen said triptans are commonly used to treat migraine once symptoms start.
- However, a French study showed that 54 percent of the alcohol-induced migraine attacks came after drinking white wine.
- Finding a community of people who understand exactly what you’re going through is like being welcomed home after a long, tiring day.
It can help you identify patterns over time and help your doctor identify if you are experiencing migraine. Treatment options vary, from acute treatment to relieve symptoms to preventive treatment to reduce the number of attacks you experience. There are also behavioral treatment options and lifestyle changes that can help. Alternative migraine therapies can work alongside traditional treatments to reduce migraine attack frequency and lessen the impact of symptoms. You could get a headache within 30 minutes to 3 hours of drinking. Some people only sip a glass or two of wine before their head starts to throb.
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They can guide you in identifying triggers, suggest appropriate dietary modifications, and ensure balanced nutrition. I also find hard liquor gives me more of alcohol triggers migraines hangover than when I was younger but doesn’t give as much of a headache. Read on for answers to common questions about alcohol and migraine. He also recommends speaking with a doctor before mixing triptans with alcohol or other drugs. If you’re a chronic migraineur who has decided to have a drink or two, a safe bet is leaving it at that. The only alcohol I can have is a wee bit of Irish whiskey in decaf ☕️.
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.
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Finding a community of people who understand exactly what you’re going through is like being welcomed home after a long, tiring day. Our Move Against Migraine support group is a place for you to connect with others (via Facebook) who live with migraine to exchange stories and find community and support. Pregnancy can add another complicated layer to your migraine journey, but having a strong support system will make it easier to navigate the ups and downs. You can find additional support from people in your position and those who have already experienced pregnancy with migraine in our Move Against Migraine Facebook group. If you have persistent vomiting, lightheadedness, confusion, seizures, trouble breathing, and dulled responses (among other symptoms), seek immediate medical attention — as these may be signs of alcohol poisoning. There have been several proposed explanations for how alcohol causes headaches.
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It also depends on whether or not you’re likely to develop headaches. “Some patients with migraine are particularly susceptible to dehydration,” she says. These clear liquors are less likely to trigger migraines than their darker counterparts. If you do drink vodka or gin, be sure to avoid any sugary mixers as they can also trigger headaches. Things like stress, lack of sleep (too much sleep as well), hormones and weather can play a huge part of triggering an attack.
- There were a total of 2990 embedded missing days (2990/46,820, 6.4%) resulting in 43,830 days (90 for each individual) eligible for analysis.
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- In addition to red wine, other alcoholic beverages, including beer, white wine, and liqueur, have also been reported as headache triggers.
- Other supplements like riboflavin (Vitamin B2) and coenzyme Q10 have shown promise in reducing the frequency of migraines as well.
- Migraine typically begins slowly and may increase in severity if left untreated.
Many people may also develop headaches due to the dehydrating effects of alcohol. While there is no magical alcohol that doesn’t cause headaches when consumed in excess, alcohol does vary tremendously from manufacturer to manufacturer. Top-shelf brands not only taste better but may also be less likely to prove a migraine trigger. I caution patients to order a specific brand of alcohol when ordering a cocktail rather than relying on well drinks or lower-quality brands. Participants were 18 years of age or older who consumed alcohol.
Individuals should first identify their specific food triggers through a comprehensive food diary and then slowly eliminate these items from their daily meals. This allows for a clearer understanding of how different foods affect migraine patterns and contributes to better symptom management. Here’s what to know about preventing migraine attacks when also drinking alcohol, plus how to treat one if it’s too late. “Alcohol consumption is one of the most common dietary triggers for migraine sufferers,” says Dr. Sara Crystal, Cove Medical Director, noting that alcohol causes two specific types of headaches. A change in sleep pattern can contribute to triggering migraine attacks.
In fact, many headache sufferers abstain from alcohol or consume less than the general population. Food triggers are believed to contribute to migraines through various mechanisms, including changes in blood flow and alterations in neurotransmitter levels. Many of the foods that trigger migraines contain compounds like tyramine or histamine, which can lead to increased vascular dilation and influence pain pathways in the brain. This biological response may provoke a migraine attack in susceptible individuals.
In retrospective studies, about one-third of the migraine patients reported alcohol as a migraine trigger, at least occasionally, but only 10% of the migraine patients reported alcohol as a migraine trigger frequently. Regional differences were reported, perhaps depending in part on alcohol habits. No differences were found between migraine and tension headache and different genders. However, prospective studies limit considerably the importance of alcohol as a trigger.
Some people experience anxiety or panic attacks along with their hangovers the day after consuming too much alcohol. This hangover anxiety, or “hangxiety,” can arise for many reasons, including mild withdrawal from alcohol, interrupted sleep, poor dietary choices, and shame or regret. This tendency attenuated through the years, and during the last year they have a similar tendency as compared with nonmigraine sufferers. Nevertheless, the tendency was higher to develop migraine-like symptoms of the hangover. In this cross-sectional study, university students were asked to fill structured questionnaires assessing headache history, alcoholic consumption, and hangover symptoms (using the Hangover Symptom Scale (HSS)).