Migraine sufferers may also experience nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound among other symptoms. To understand more about the symptoms experienced with migraine attacks, read our articles on vestibular migraine or different types of headaches. After using the above key terms, 1,892 articles were identified in the three databases. 511 papers were found in PubMed, 773 in Embase and 608 in Web of Science. Subsequently, 38 non-English articles, 30 animal studies, seven studies concentrating on molecular pathways to alcohol intake and 562 papers not related to our topic were removed from the remaining records. Then, 142 conference abstracts, 100 reviews, four book chapters and 42 unretrieved studies were not taken into further consideration.

Cluster headaches

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. So it’s best to make alcohol the single, isolated factor and journal what triggers each migraine.

Alcohol withdrawal can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening symptoms. When people have anxiety, drinking alcohol might seem like an effective way to cope. And though the immediate effects might lessen some of the worry or dread you feel, this change is short-term, and the long-term consequences can make matters worse. Multivariate analysis by linear regression tested independent predictors for hangover symptoms (total HSS at last year and its sub-scales). For each test, P values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant unless stated otherwise.

• In addition to red wine, other alcoholic beverages, including beer, white wine, and liqueur, have also been reported as headache triggers.
• Early effects of alcohol may dull sensations and have an analgesic (pain-relieving) effect.
• Of the studies included in our analysis, 19 were based only on questionnaires while five included interviews with patients.

The fact that few headache patients cannot tolerate some alcoholic drinks does not justify the consideration that alcohol is a major trigger and the suggestion of abstinence. In fact, low doses of alcohol can have a beneficial effect on patients such as migraineurs, who were reported to have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In this study we focused on the role of alcohol as a potential trigger of migraine attacks within 24–48 h after consumption. This delayed effect of alcohol on migraine attack onset may be more difficult to ascertain by an individual compared to an immediate effect. Consumption varies greatly between cultures, regions, and between individuals, a fact which may explain why different studies have found opposing results.

Her work has been published in Parents, Shape, and Inside Lacrosse. She is a co-founder of digital content agency Lemonseed Creative and is a graduate of Syracuse University. I also find hard liquor gives me more of hangover than when I was younger but doesn’t give as much of a headache.

Associated Data

• The steps for case–control assessment are presented in Table 5.
• In Europe, alcohol consumption is higher than in Asian countries, but in Europe alcohol as a trigger is reported more frequently than it is in Asia 87.
• 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.

In Europe, does alcohol make migraines worse alcohol consumption is higher than in Asian countries, but in Europe alcohol as a trigger is reported more frequently than it is in Asia 87. Therefore, this hypothesis seems a less likely explanation for our results. Red wine is the type of alcohol most often reported as a headache trigger.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Staying hydrated and keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum can decrease the chance of experiencing a headache. Individuals who experience severe headaches after drinking alcohol may also avoid alcohol altogether. However, a 2019 study found higher rates of vodka consumption among drinkers with frequent migraine attacks. The response to alcohol varies from person to person, and there is no alcohol that absolutely will not cause a migraine or other headache. People who experience a headache after drinking should not assume that it is a migraine attack, especially if they have symptoms consistent with other types of headaches.

General Health

Find out why, and what you can do to avoid alcohol-related migraines. Substances such as sulfites, histamine, and tyramines are found in alcohol and may contribute to headaches as well. It has also been proposed that alcohol triggers an inflammatory response that can lead to a headache.

Alcohol and headaches

Beer, especially those with lots of yeast, and spirits like whiskey and rum, are often culprits. This all sounds terrible, but low or moderate alcohol consumption that doesn’t overwhelm your antioxidant system and detox capacity is usually acceptable. But alcohol also makes you lose water and electrolytes with it, which is another migraine trigger. In turn, especially if we are not eating, this can lead to hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, which can also trigger migraine, which is the third mechanism. Whether you’re a seasoned migraine sufferer or just starting to identify patterns in your headaches, this guide will help clarify the connection between alcohol and migraine and empower you to make informed decisions. 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.

Many migraine sufferers find that keeping a diary helps them identify their own personal triggers and understand their patterns of migraines better. Drinking plenty of water will help to prevent a hangover and will also help to keep your migraine attacks at bay. 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. As dehydration can cause headaches, staying hydrated when consuming alcohol is key. Aim to drink plenty of water before, after, and during alcohol consumption.

Some people may be able to drink red wine or whiskey without any problems, while others may find that even clear liquors are problematic. The informal poll of our Migraine Strong community members indicated that 53% are triggered by alcohol. This percentage is very similar to the amount reported in a study on migraine and triggers. Clear liquors (gin, vodka and clear tequila) were found to be tolerated best. Understanding certain food components of some alcoholic beverages will help you understand your choices when it comes to selecting the best alcohol to avoid migraine.

It also depends on whether or not you’re likely to develop headaches. “Some patients with migraine are particularly susceptible to dehydration,” she says. A 2023 review indicated that the risk of migraine in people who drink alcohol is about 1.5 times lower than in those who don’t, though the studies reviewed had a high amount of bias. Rosen was a co-author of a small 2022 study of 487 people who mostly drank alcohol in low amounts.

Alcohol is often reported as a trigger among individuals with migraine or other kinds of headaches. However, findings on the association between alcohol intake and migraine are inconclusive for a number of reasons, including cultural, regional, and individual differences in the consumption of alcohol. Histamine, tannins, tyramine, flavonoid phenols, sulfites, and phenylethylamine are all found within alcoholic beverages and this also includes beer. One of the reasons certain types of alcohol may be more likely to trigger migraine attacks is the presence of congeners.