Hangover cure?

September 29, 2006 12:16 PM

Wow, not one "cure" question under the "hangover" tag. Anyhow my wife has a bit of a hangover from wine last night and I'd like to help her out. What do you suggest for a remedy? Anything that you swear by? She's got mostly a splitting headache and a little nausea. I know water prevents it, but it's already happened.
posted by zek to health & fitness (55 answers total)

Turn shower as hot as you can stand. Bask. Then quickly turn all the way to cold. Jump out and towel dry. (learned that from someone at Metachat).

I also reccommend lots of Taco Bell/other greasy food and Gatorade. When she's feeling better, go for a run, swim, or bike ride to make up for it.
posted by muddgirl at 12:20 PM on September 29, 2006

This will sound gross - eat a pile of greasy food + some carbs + water (cheeseburger, fries, water). You (she) will want to throw up, go ahead and do it. The gross acid feeling will be gone from the tummy, proceed to eat something and drink more water.
posted by KAS at 12:23 PM on September 29, 2006

Start with something carb-y that will absorb the excess stomach acid - toast with butter or noodles will work. Follow up with some protein and mild juice like apple or grape. Add coffee or tea - the caffiene will ease the headache.

Or, just have a little of the hair of the dog that bit ya and go back to bed.
posted by joseph_elmhurst at 12:25 PM on September 29, 2006

Coke slurpee.
posted by penchant at 12:30 PM on September 29, 2006

Wow, not one "cure" question under the "hangover" tag.

That's because the previous hangover cure questions (1, 2) were from the pre-tag days.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:32 PM on September 29, 2006

Saurkraut juice. Try it before all that disgusting crap suggested above.
posted by bingo at 12:32 PM on September 29, 2006

Spaghetti! It always does the trick for me.
posted by sian at 12:33 PM on September 29, 2006

500mg naproxen, 12oz. Coca-Cola Classic (*not* Diet Coke), 1 bowl of matzo ball soup, 64oz. Gatorade (red), darkness, rest.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:35 PM on September 29, 2006

tacos are fantastic, they work extra wonders if you wake up early, eat a few, and then go back to sleep, but given the situation, i'd say two excedrin migraine, two tacos, and two shots of vodka
posted by bonesy at 12:37 PM on September 29, 2006

As well as the questions that DevilsAdvocate linked, there was also a discussion in the blue.

I still swear by Alka-Seltzer, even though the "Morning Relief" product that I advocated in that thread seems to have disappeared from local drug stores.
posted by flipper at 12:37 PM on September 29, 2006

I'm a big fan of the tylenol + double dose of nyquil = sleep till no more hangover solution. Then you are just stuck with grogginess and the loss of ten hours. And ravenous hunger.
posted by UESMark at 12:37 PM on September 29, 2006

Excedrin, beer.
posted by exit at 12:38 PM on September 29, 2006

Emergen-C + Excedrin Quicktabs, greasy food and a long nap. She has my sympathy.
posted by Space Kitty at 12:40 PM on September 29, 2006

I have a friend who swears by Dramamine. treats the symptoms of nausea and buffers the headache he said. You'll still want to replace the water and vitamine B though.
posted by JeremiahBritt at 12:41 PM on September 29, 2006

One more, and this does wonders and gets you ready for any of others if you want to try them all.

Take a large, squeeze some limes in it (fill about 25% of the glass), add about two spoonfuls of salt, and then fill the rest of the glass with bubbly water (schweppes or any of that sort of flavorless water with bubbles). This will be easy to drink, rehidrate her pretty fast, take the headache away and get her ready for the greasy food (which I would recommend, too).

Good luck.
posted by micayetoca at 12:42 PM on September 29, 2006

Sorry, I will post the comment again, it had too many mistakes:

This one does wonders and gets you ready for any of the others if you want to try them.

Take a large glass, squeeze some limes in it (fill about 25% of the glass), add about two spoonfuls of salt, and then fill the rest of the glass with bubbly water (schweppes or anything of that sort of flavorless water with bubbles). This will be easy to drink, rehidrate her pretty fast, take the headache away and get her ready for the greasy food (which I would recommend, too).

Good luck.
posted by micayetoca at 12:46 PM on September 29, 2006

You might not want to take tylenol after binge drinking. Tylenol and alcohol are both bad for the liver.
posted by malp at 12:51 PM on September 29, 2006

Over ice: Clamato and a hefty dash of Tabasco. Follow up with a nap on the couch.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 12:51 PM on September 29, 2006

Wine, especially red wine, is more dehydrating than a lot of other beverages for me. The water is going to help even after the fact. Greasy food is going to also be nice.

My personal hangover prevention (cure?) relies on the fact that if I've been drinking a lot, I will almost always wake up two hours before my actual "wake up time." At that point I'll likely need to go to the bathroom but feel so wretched I don't want to leave bed. Fight it. Force two full glasses of water down your throat and two aspirin, then sleep another two hours once it starts to settle in. It's my personal "rule of twos" and works most of the time.
posted by mikeh at 1:03 PM on September 29, 2006

fishfucker hangover cure:

1. Naproxen (Advil) or Excedrin (acetaminophen + caffeine) depending which works better for you. I prefer the former, because it has no caffiene in case I need to sleep it off, and supposedly it's gentler on the liver as well. If you're a coffee drinker the latter might be more appropriate for you.

2. Vitamin Water ("Revive" with the B vitamins) OR Emergen-C OR Gatorade (if you can't find the first two).

3. Sun + as much Exercise as you can stand. Get OUTSIDE.

4. Consume as much water as you can stand after the initial vitamin watering.

If you're nauseous, then, boy, you're in trouble. Try a hot bath and as much as the above you can do without puking.
posted by fishfucker at 1:03 PM on September 29, 2006

...and as much as the above you can do without puking.

By all means, puke. The stomach will feel better afterwards.
posted by muddgirl at 1:09 PM on September 29, 2006

Churros. During my last big hangover I was lucky enough to stumble upon a free all-you-can-eat churro buffet. My headache started to lift around churro #15, and by churro #28, it was all but gone.
posted by Iridic at 1:12 PM on September 29, 2006 [1 favorite]

Dramamine and Sprite. Then once her stomach settles enough that she's sure she can keep something down: eggs, toast, and a multivitamin. YWMMV.
posted by slenderloris at 1:13 PM on September 29, 2006

If you have the time, this one knocks out about 85% of the hangovers we encounter.

-- upon waking, eat 800mg of ibuprofen, with a whole pint of water
-- go back to sleep for an hour

Also, fishfucker's item 2 are stellar options, and I'd add: if you can afford it, get a bottle of Pedialite or other "Oral Electrolyte Maintenance Solution" for wee people. It's a fantastic way to replace all what booze takes away.

And AlkaSeltzer MR, if you *have* to be awake, is available through online drugstores.
posted by quacky at 1:14 PM on September 29, 2006

Naproxen (Advil)

Naproxen is sold as Aleve; Advil is ibuprofen. Not that it makes much difference, although the dosage is different (you'll probably want 600 or even 800mg of ibuprofen if you can stomach it).
posted by uncleozzy at 1:15 PM on September 29, 2006

Alka seltzer. The "Morning Relief" variety that flipper mentions has been renamed "Extra Strength" - it's the one that talks about "over-indulgence of food and drink" or something on the box. The stuff is amazing.
posted by rachelv at 1:20 PM on September 29, 2006

cheeseburger happy meal w/coke
posted by maloon at 1:22 PM on September 29, 2006

Naproxen is sold as Aleve;
sorry -- you are correct. I meant aleve/naproxen. I haven't had as good as luck with ibuprofen.
posted by fishfucker at 1:24 PM on September 29, 2006

Advilrade : Advil liqui-gels + gatorade a take as much of both as you feel necessary.
posted by grex at 1:27 PM on September 29, 2006

McDonald's Orange Drink. NOT carbonated, the flat Hi-C stuff. I use some other methods, but they've all already been mentioned here. The Orange Drink is magic.
posted by peep at 1:29 PM on September 29, 2006

However, do not attempt to squeeze the liqui-gels into the gatorade. I've tried this, it does NOT taste good!
posted by grex at 1:29 PM on September 29, 2006

Alka Seltzer Extra Strength is a gift of the gods.
posted by fshgrl at 1:31 PM on September 29, 2006

The only thing that ever works for me is sugar, lots of sugar, and caffeine. Try feeding yer poor wife a pot of tea and 6 or 7 cookies.
posted by ParsonWreck at 2:10 PM on September 29, 2006

Water, water, water. That is my cure-all for hangovers. For every 2-3 bottles of water, I usually throw in a bottle of Vitamin Water / Gatorade / one of those types of drinks for good measure.
posted by Diskeater at 2:13 PM on September 29, 2006

My only hangover advice (and I'm a pro).

If you have to throw up there's a good reason for it. Face the fact that you're going to have to get rid of the stuff that your system can't process. The worst thing is dry retching when your stomach is empty of everything but that thick, frothy, radioactive-yellow bile, which it must get rid of.

Force down large glasses of water and let yourself throw it straight back up. Rinse and repeat. Try to make a fountain. Then try to beat your last attempt. Whee! Much easier on your throat and stomach muscles and faster in the long run.
You can sleep when you have cleared the poison.

For some reason, almonds are a wonderful post-hangover food. Tasty, nibble-sized, and nutritious.

Your lovely wife probably isn't this bad - I (used to) drink a LOT of Tequila.
If she isn't throwing up hugely, DON'T overload on water. The suggestions above for electrolyte-replacing drinks are good, rehydration isn't just about h2o.

Please pass on my sympathy : )

Oh, and sympathy is great too! Kudos for wanting to help her. But hovering gets a bit much. *cranky thought: "If he insists on hanging around to watch me throw up I'll throw up on him and it will Serve Him Right!*
posted by Catch at 2:16 PM on September 29, 2006

I'm a big fan of the tylenol + double dose of nyquil = sleep till no more hangover solution. Then you are just stuck with grogginess and the loss of ten hours. And ravenous hunger.

That's basically a double extra strength dose of tylenol plus whatever dose size you take of the regular tylenol. I.E., don't do it.

If you really have to vomit, vomit.

Then, for the headache and generally nasty feeling, hair of the dog. It really works.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 2:55 PM on September 29, 2006

The very first answer was correct--hot shower, cold shower. Shocks like hell when the ice water hits you, but when you step out your heart is racing and you are clear and alert. Now take some tylenol and eat a meal so it doesn't come back.
posted by LarryC at 3:12 PM on September 29, 2006

Ginger has been evaluated to be better than a placebo as an antiemetic (prevents vomiting.) I find that the carbonation of ginger ale is an added benefit for treating hangovers.
posted by ijoshua at 3:24 PM on September 29, 2006

So she has a headache and nausea...heres a remedy from my frat days:

Frat cure #1:
Eat, eat, and eat some more. She won't want to but it'll be worth it. Let the food sit for a bit and 'pull the trigger', have her puke. The nausea will be gone and the headache will seem like small beans then. Pop some Aleve, drink a ton of water, shut the blinds, let her sleep and have a dinner waiting for her when she wakes up.

Frat cure #2:
Have a couple beers.

Hope this helped!
posted by ASM at 3:28 PM on September 29, 2006

Then, for the headache and generally nasty feeling, hair of the dog. It really works.

This "works" for the most part because you are alleviating the withdrawal symptoms by, uh, well, ceasing to withdraw.

Depending on what kind of a drinker you are, this can be very problematic. Nothing like turning a hangover into a two-day binge and an even worse hangover the next day.
posted by fishfucker at 3:28 PM on September 29, 2006

In college, I lived off of red gatorade and macaroni and cheese the morning after.

Then lots and lots of water and pretzels for the rest of the day.
posted by sperose at 3:44 PM on September 29, 2006

ICE COLD coke (classic) or slurpee as suggested above. But it has to be cold!
posted by vronsky at 3:49 PM on September 29, 2006

"... For some reason, almonds are a wonderful post-hangover food. Tasty, nibble-sized, and nutritious. ..."
posted by Catch at 5:16 PM EST on September 29

Almonds contain oxalic acid so they should be restricted by individuals with calcium-oxalate stones. Some individuals may be allergic to almonds. Side effects include: hives and headache. If you are allergic to aspirin, you may experience a reaction to the natural salicylates contained in almonds. There are enough salicylates in almonds, that since the time of Hippocrates, 10 medium almonds, chewed well and slowly = 1 adult aspirin.
posted by paulsc at 4:00 PM on September 29, 2006

Don't take tylenol--you don't want to dogpile your liver any more than necessary.

I've had some real winners, and my regimen for a post-apocalyptic hangover is as follows:

1. Wake up. Regret this decision.
2. Get up, and take a dump. Sin-butt is not fun, but you earned up. Best to get it over with quickly.
3. Send one of your minions to the corner store for the following:
   • Pepto Bismol
   • A huge bag of Original Fritos
   • A huge bottle of Gatorade
   If you are out of minions, put on some pants and hit up the bodega yourself. Sunglasses help quite a bit, so put your stunter shades on. Mumble as needed.


4. Drink as much of the Pepto Bismol as you can handle. Wash down with a mouthful of Gatorade.


5. Watch movies you've already seen before for a couple of hours. Finish off the Fritos and Gatorade.


6. Once your stomach has calmed down a bit, put your pants back on and go out to a restaurant. Eat something with a lot of saturated fat. Avoid sugar.


7. Go back home and watch some more TV--cartoons are best. Alternate between self-loathing and mindlessness. Consider going back to school.


8. As the sun begins to set, you should feel stable, if a bit hollow. Take a shower, put some nice clothes on, drink a cup of coffee or two, and call up some friends.


9. Rinse. Repeat.

posted by Coda at 4:29 PM on September 29, 2006 [5 favorites]

Don't take Alleve or Tylenol, it will fry your liver. It says not to take with alcohol right there on the bottle, stick with ibuprofen.(I knew this lady who drank everynight, and took Tylenol in the morning, and came back with a bad liver test. She stopped the tylenol and a couple months later the test came back okay, oven though she kept on drinking.)
posted by highgene at 4:29 PM on September 29, 2006

All of the above.
posted by Robot Johnny at 4:40 PM on September 29, 2006

I'm nthing alka seltzer. Sip it, don't gulp it. It works wonders!
posted by ramix at 5:30 PM on September 29, 2006

White Castle.
posted by neda at 5:47 PM on September 29, 2006

Altoids and ibuprofen. Or, anything with natural peppermint oil in it and ibuprofen. and lots and lots of water
posted by jengineer at 6:52 PM on September 29, 2006

The cure for the hangover is have another glass of wine. Hair of the dog. Get right back in the saddle. If there is no more wine, or beer or tequila, then a good greasy meal as mentioned above. Neda had it right with the sliders. In school, I used to get a Gus burger and fries at the White Spot. There is nothing like a bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg on it to settle the SPLITTING why did someone bash my skull with a hammer headache. Then, watch TV for 4 hours and order Dominos. Pepperoni.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:30 PM on September 29, 2006

Basically what everyone else said, but in this order with a special added step:

1) Some water.

2) Aspirin or Ibuprofin and a vitamin water. (Sugared red bull works for me if I have to work, lotsa b vitamins)

3) Go back to sleep

4) if if is a merciless nazi bastard of a hangover then get up again, more water or electrolytes and some greasy food, try to keep it down but you'll feel better if you puke in the end.

5) Get laid. this is the secret step, nothing kills a hangover like busting a nut.

6) only take the hair of the dog if it is a dire emergency as you'll just start the whole thing over. If you haven't slept at all and have the dreaded waking hangover and you don't have to drive or work then actually getting drunk again usually causes me to "drink myself sober", not for the faint of heart.

7) Watch cartoons or charles in charge or nature shows all day and smoke cigarettes (unless you don't smoke.)
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:50 PM on September 29, 2006 [1 favorite]

Fried egg and bacon sandwhich with extra bacon and plenty of Worcestershire sauce on thick toast that's been buttered, with sides of fried tomato, sausages, mushrooms and parsley garnish. Eat everything, including garnish, and drink a big glass of OJ and then a strong coffee with plenty of sugar but not too much milk (ice-coffee is particularly good).

Couple this with a few asprin and plenty of water and she should be fine.

One day I'd like to try the mighty pepto-bismol icecream idea...
posted by ninazer0 at 11:54 PM on September 29, 2006

Interesting stuff so far.

As far as I know, the basic ingredient of a hangover is dehydration, so as other people have said, water, or things like Gatorade which supposedly rehydrate better than water, are the key.

But here's something left-field.

I have very little time for alternate remedies but the naturopathic cure for a hangover is a thing called Swedish Bitters. It's some random compound of herbs and what-all with a very bitter taste.

But forget that particular remedy -- the theory is quite sound. A bitter taste in the mouth stimulates the liver, which is what you need to get all the poisons in your system processed.

So what I always used is those mega-sour lemon candy things kids eat. Incredibly bitter, sour taste, for the first couple of minutes, but if you can bear to eat it, it works.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 3:05 AM on September 30, 2006

Double dose of Alka-Seltzer MR/Extra Strength in a giant bottle of fruit punch flavored Powerade (instead of water), alongside a greasy breakfast, usually a Grill Muffin (The Grill is the 24 hour diner down the street from my apartment, a Grill Muffin is bacon, canadian bacon, cheese and egg on an english muffin. The American Heart Disease Breakfast).
posted by Famous at 3:16 AM on October 1, 2006

Take a strong headache pill and go back to sleep. When you wake up, eat hard pretzels and drink (non diet) Dr Pepper.
posted by crabintheocean at 7:57 PM on October 2, 2006