Hangovers: Treatments and causes

There is no absolute cure for a hangover. However, people can take steps to relieve many of the symptoms.

A hangover refers to symptoms that result from drinking alcohol, usually the next day. Drinking alcohol causes a hangover for a number of reasons, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, poor sleep, and inflammation.

The severity of a hangover is closely linked to how much alcohol the person has consumed and how much sleep they have had.

It is not possible to make a general prediction about how much alcohol leads to a hangover. The association depends on individual and situational factors, including sleep, hydration, and the pacing of alcoholic drinks.

In this article, we explore the causes of hangovers and how to reduce the symptoms. We also look at factors that influence their severity.

Share on PinterestIt is important to drink plenty of water when hungover.

While there is no absolute cure for a hangover, people can reduce the symptoms by getting plenty of sleep, drinking water, eating nutritious foods, and restoring electrolytes.

Taking over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help relieve inflammation. This may help with headaches, digestive discomfort, and body aches.

A hangover has to run its course. This involves the body regulating itself as the alcohol leaves the bloodstream.

In the vast majority of cases, hangover symptoms resolve after about 24 hours.

The following may help reduce the symptoms:

• Drinking water: Alcohol makes a person urinate more frequently, often leading to dehydration, in which case it is crucial to rehydrate the body.
• Eating nutritious foods: Healthful foods give the body fuel, nutrients, and antioxidants, which can aid recovery.
• Eating bland foods: When a hangover involves stomach trouble, try bland foods that raise blood sugar levels, such as bread.
• Eating fruit: The fructose in fruit may help the body break down alcohol.
• Resting: Sleep can help speed up recovery.
• Taking medication: NSAIDs, antacids, and some pain relief medications can relieve hangover symptoms.

A person with a hangover should not take pain relief medications or any other drugs that contain acetaminophen. This ingredient can strain the liver — like alcohol — so it is important to avoid combining the two.

Many so-called hangover cures are ineffective. Among these are the “hair of the dog” approach, which involves drinking more alcohol to relieve a hangover. Healthcare professionals do not recommend this method, which may only prolong the symptoms.

Read more about foods to eat and avoid when hungover and effective home remedies for a hangover.

The symptoms of a hangover generally start when blood alcohol levels drops considerably. This usually happens the morning after drinking.

Symptoms of a hangover include:

• bloodshot eyes
• excessive thirst
• a headache
• body aches
• sensitivity to light and sound
• bad breath, known as halitosis
• excess saliva, known as hypersalivation
• trouble concentrating
• fatigue
• anxiety
• low mood
• a fast heartbeat
• dizziness
• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• trembling or shaking

If hangover symptoms are severe — during or after a bout of drinking — the person may have alcohol poisoning. This is a medical emergency.

If anyone has the following symptoms of alcohol poisoning, seek medical aid as soon as possible:

• irregular breathing
• slow breathing, or fewer than 8 inhalations per minute
• a low body temperature
• very pale or blue-tinged skin
• continuous vomiting
• confusion
• fits or seizures
• unconsciousness

The symptoms of alcohol poisoning can vary in severity. Some people experience certain symptoms more severely than others.

Drinking alcohol causes a hangover for the following reasons:

• Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic — it makes a person urinate more, which can lead to thirst, lightheadedness, and other symptoms of dehydration.

• Immune system response: Alcohol can trigger an inflammatory response from the immune system, and this can affect appetite, concentration, and memory.

• Stomach irritation: Alcohol increases the production of stomach acids and slows the rate at which the stomach empties — a combination that can cause nausea, vomiting, and other digestive issues.

• A drop in blood sugar: When a person drinks alcohol, their blood sugar levels can plummet, resulting in shakiness, moodiness, fatigue, general weakness, and even seizures, in some cases.

• Dilated blood vessels: Alcohol consumption can cause the blood vessels to dilate, which can cause headaches.

• Poor quality sleep: Alcohol can cause sleep to be broken or shallow, which can intensify hangover symptoms and contribute to fatigue, brain fog, and low mood.

• Congeners: These byproducts of fermentation are responsible for most of the taste and aroma in distilled drinks such as whiskey and gin, and they contribute to hangover symptoms.

• Toxic byproducts: When the body breaks down alcohol, this produces toxins that can cause or exacerbate many hangover symptoms.

The body needs time to process alcohol. Drinking more alcohol before the body has been able to process the alcohol already present increases the likelihood of a hangover.

The only way to prevent a hangover is to avoid alcohol entirely or drink in moderation, giving the body plenty of time to process the alcohol before consuming more.

Each person’s tolerance level is different, so “moderation” likely varies somewhat from person to person. Tolerance is based on genetics, body type, sex, and other factors.

In addition, a person can limit the risk of a hangover by drinking plenty of water alongside any alcoholic beverages or eating a meal after drinking alcohol.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn against drinking more than:

• one drink per day for females
• two drinks per day for males

What qualifies as one drink may be:

• a 12-ounce (oz) bottle of beer
• a 5-oz glass of wine
• 8 oz of malt liquor
• 1.5 oz of spirits or liquor

While there is no cure for a hangover, there are many ways to reduce or relieve the symptoms.

It is important to stay hydrated, eat nutritious food, and get plenty of rest. Most hangovers pass within 24 hours.

How to Ease Your Hangover in 7 Simple Steps

Last Updated on March 24, 2023 by jofitzsimons

You opened a bottle of Prosecco last night with the intention of drinking just a glass over dinner. Next thing you know, the sophisticated at home wine tasting has morphed into cocktails, drinking games and ended up with you dancing on the table in a bar with friends. And was there a Pornstar martini in there somewhere?

We’ve all done it. But waking up the following morning isn’t quite as fun as the night before. Your mouth is dry with a lingering taste of Negroni and kebab, your head is pounding, and your stomach is doing somersaults. Prying yourself out of bed, you start to regret that final glass (or three).

In a desperate attempt to feel human again, you research ‘how to get rid of a hangover fast’. And that’s how you ended up here.

Don’t worry. We’ve managed a hangover or two in our time, so we’re expert in everything you need to know about hangovers, including what causes a hangover, how to avoid a hangover to start with, and – most importantly – what helps a hangover once it’s already hit.

Table of Contents

What is a Hangover?

A hangover is a set of unpleasant physical symptoms that occur as a result of drinking excessive quantities of alcohol.

What Does a Hangover Feel Like?

In short, not great.

A pounding headache, churning gut, and crippling hanxiety (hangover anxiety) about what you got up to the night before are just some of the symptoms that will have you proclaiming those fateful words; ‘I’m never drinking again’.

What are the symptoms of a hangover?

Symptoms of a hangover vary from person to person. The type and severity of the symptoms will depend on what you drank, how much you drank, and your personal alcohol tolerance.

The most common hangover symptoms include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache or migraine
• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Shaking hands
• Sweating
• Rapid heartbeat
• Muscle aches
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Anxiety or irritability
• Decreased concentration

What Causes a Hangover?

Many of the above hangover symptoms occur due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning that it flushes fluids from the body – hence all of those extra trips to the toilet on a night out (and the famous phrase – ‘drink a pink, pee a gallon’). When too much fluid leaves your body, you’ll inevitably wake up the following day extremely dehydrated. And this dehydration is what causes hangover symptoms such as a pounding headache, dizziness, and dry mouth.

Drinking too much alcohol also dilutes the electrolytes in your blood. These electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, are essential in regulating fluids in the body and for many basic bodily functions. Therefore, low electrolyte levels are a major contributor to hangover symptoms such as nausea, the shakes, and fatigue. 

Other effects of alcohol that cause a hangover include:

• Increased blood pressure
• Cellular inflammation
• Irritated stomach lining
• Low blood sugar levels
• Decreased REM sleep

Find our more about hangover symptoms on MayoClinic.

How To Prevent a Hangover

How can you avoid a hangover to begin with?

Other than not drinking alcohol in the first place, there’s no way to guarantee a hangover-free morning after a night on the booze.

However, there are some things you can do to help reduce the chances of a hangover. These include:

• Eat a big meal before you drink to slow down alcohol absorption
• Drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you consume to stay hydrated
• Drink clear spirits like vodka and gin rather than dark spirits as they contain fewer congeners
• Don’t mix different types of alcoholic drinks
• Drink plenty of water before you go to bed at the end of the night

Can You Cure a Hangover?

If you’re reading this, the chances are that you’ve already come down with a case of the brown-bottle flu.

Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for a hangover once it’s already hit.

However, there are a few things you can do to help get over a hangover quicker. Enter – our 7 step plan.

How to Reduce a Hangover – 7 Step Plan

If you had a few too many last night and are struggling to take on the day ahead, below is our ultimate 7 step guide for how to get rid of a hangover fast.

1. Re-Hydrate

Let’s start with the king of hangover cures – h3O i.e. water.

Water should be the first thing you reach for in the morning before anything else. Even if your nausea is making it feel impossible to keep anything down, try starting with just a few sips of water.

As we discussed above, alcohol is a diuretic and can cause severe dehydration. This dehydration contributes to many horrible hangover symptoms, such as a headache, dizziness, dry mouth, and fatigue.

By drinking plenty of water, both the night before and throughout the following day, you’ll rehydrate your body and hopefully alleviate the worst of these symptoms.

2. Restore Your Electrolytes

Low electrolyte levels are another after effect of drinking and one of the biggest contributors to many hangover symptoms. This is why it’s so important to replenish your electrolytes after a big night on the booze.

Many people reach for energy drinks such as Lucozade, Gatorade, or Pedialyte to help them feel better after drinking. And while these are certainly good sources of electrolytes, coconut water would be our hangover drink of choice.

Coconut water has become available in many supermarkets in recent years. It has the same rehydrating and replenishing effects that most energy drinks do, but with less artificial sugar and more antioxidants.

Coconut water will have you feeling better in no time, without the sudden energy spike and crash that sugary energy drinks may cause.

3. Ginseng

Research into the use of supplements to cure a hangover is still limited. However, some studies have found that certain supplements are more effective than others at relieving hangover symptoms.

One of the most popular supplements for curing hangovers is red ginseng, a plant root that’s commonly used in Chinese and Korean traditional medicines.

A small-scale study found that red ginseng reduced blood alcohol levels and helped lessen hangover severity. Although more research into this is needed, studies have shown that red ginseng has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. This helps boost the immune system – which is weakened by excessive alcohol consumption.

It can’t hurt to give it a try, right?

Other supplements that you could also add to your hangover kit include:

• Vitamin B
• Vitamin C
• Zinc

4. Eat Hangover Friendly Food

Another of the best hangover cures is to get some much-needed sustenance into your body.

Many people crave salty and greasy fast foods when hungover, like a fry-up, burger, sugary pastries or pizza. But while tasty at the time, eating these types of food will just leave you feeling groggy and tired. Greasy and unhealthy foods can even make many hangover symptoms worse in the long run.

The best hangover foods are actually the more simple and nutritious ones that are easy on your stomach and body. Eating the right foods can help ease your headache, settle your nausea, and boost your energy levels to conquer the day ahead.

Some of the best things to include in your hungover breakfast are simple blood-sugar boosting carbs such as toast or crackers, amino acid loaded proteins such as eggs, potassium packed veggies like avocado, and plenty of fresh fruit for some nutrients. And if you really need something salty to satisfy your cravings, try some soothing chicken soup.

Our top recommendations for hangover cure foods are:

• Toast and Honey
• Avocado and Egg Bagel
• Veggie Stuffed Omelet
• Mixed Fruit Smoothie
• Protein-Packed Salad

We’ve written a full guide for you here: 15 Best Hangover Foods (and Foods to Avoid).

5. Get More Sleep

If you wake up after a night of drinking feeling exhausted, despite having slept for a full 8 hours, it’s probably because you didn’t get enough quality sleep.

Excessive amounts of alcohol can prevent you from falling into the deeper REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep. It can also cause regular sleep disturbances throughout the night. This is why you wake up feeling so drained the following day.

As well as the fatigue, a lack of quality sleep also contributes to other hangover symptoms such as a headache, decreased concentration, and irritability.

So – if possible – listen to your body, cancel your plans, and curl back up in bed for a much-needed nap. Sleeping for a little longer will give your body some extra time to recover and reset. You never know, the hangover symptoms may be gone completely by the time you wake up again.

Want to get better sleep? My absolute favourite book is Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. It includes a section on the impact of alcohol on sleep and has tips on how to get better sleep.

6. Take a Pain Killer

Taking over-the-counter pain medication can also help get rid of hangover symptoms fast if the above cures aren’t working or are taking too long to kick in.

Taking an anti-inflammatory pain reliever (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or aspirin will help to relieve a headache and muscle aches. Although, NSAIDs can also irritate the stomach, so it’s best not to take them if you’re also experiencing nausea or stomach pain.

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is another option for relieving hangover symptoms. But if you’re a regular drinker, try not to make this a routine occurrence. Frequent paracetamol use is known to contribute to liver damage, much like alcohol does. So the two are not the best combination.

Also pay close attention to any medicine use when you’re hungover. We’re often not at our smartest so it might be good to keep a written note of what you’ve taken and when. Don’t ever be tempted to go over the recommended quantity of pain pills. Get some sleep instead.

7. Walk Your Dog (Not Hair of the Dog)

Once you’re feeling revived enough to leave the house, try treating your dog – and yourself – to a nice walk. While it may be tempting to spend the entire day wallowing in bed or on the sofa, getting some fresh air and gentle exercise can do wonders for a hangover.

Or if you’re feeling a little more energetic, restorative yoga, stretching, and swimming are other forms of light exercise that are ideal for a hungover day.

But, try not to do any exercise that will have you sweating too much. Despite the misconception that you can ‘sweat out the alcohol’, sweating will actually increase dehydration and can make many hangover symptoms worse.

And while we’re talking about misconceptions, skip the ‘hair of the dog’ too. Someone might suggest a Mimosa or Bellini for breakfast but don’t do it. Drinking more alcohol when you wake up may delay your hangover in the short term, but more alcohol will only worsen the hangover symptoms when they finally do hit.

Did you know Italy’s Prosecco wine region is only 1hr from Venice? Find out more about the Prosecco Region and check out our Prosecco Wine Tours here.

How Long Does a Hangover Last?

Hangovers typically go away within 24 hours. A more mild hangover may disappear within a few hours. While a more severe hangover can last anywhere up to 72 hours. The duration of a hangover will largely depend on how much you drank. And, I hate to break it to you, really does seem to get worse as you get older.

If you follow the above hangover cures when you first wake up, your symptoms should ease within a few hours. But even when you start to feel better, you should continue to rest, hydrate regularly, and eat well for the rest of the day.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

They’re our suggestions for easing your hangover. Have you got any other suggestions to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Related Articles:

• 15 Best Hangover Foods (and Foods to Avoid)
• 12 Easy Prosecco Cocktails To Make At Home
• Classic Negroni Recipe & 5 Twists on the Original
• Classic Aperol Spritz Recipe & 5 Twists on the Original
• How to Make A Mimosa & 5 Fruity Alternatives
• Easy Classic Peach Bellini Recipe & 5 Fun Alternatives
• Prosecco vs Champagne: What’s The Difference?
• 15 Fun Drinking Games for Couples

How to get rid of a hangover effectively and safely?

What is a hangover and why is it experienced?

Hangover, or withdrawal syndrome , is a condition of the body that develops after taking alcoholic beverages, which is characterized by headache, nausea, weakness, palpitations and other unpleasant symptoms. All these symptoms are the result of poisoning with alcohol and its decay products. The main mechanism of its development is a violation of the normal functioning of brain cells, and, in particular, their ability to produce dopamine. Precisely because taking another dose of alcohol restores the production of dopamine, it helps to relieve bad health. Unfortunately, the vicious circle closes and it ends with the continuation of drinking and is the cause of binges, and, as a result, the aggravation of alcohol addiction.

How dangerous is a hangover?

Another mechanism for the occurrence of a hangover is a change in water and electrolyte metabolism, leading to dehydration. Normal cell function is damaged due to disturbances in energy delivery and water and electrolyte balance.

A prolonged hangover lasting more than 3-4 days is fraught with the occurrence of a dangerous complication – alcoholic delirium or, in the common people, “delirious tremens”. Accompanied by a mental disorder, the occurrence of hallucinations, disorientation in time and space. A patient in a state of delirium is dangerous and treatment is carried out exclusively at a neuropsychiatric dispensary. After suffering a delirium, immunity drops sharply, the body’s resistance to infections decreases, various organs and systems are affected. Alcoholic delirium – life-threatening condition ! To prevent its development, and urgently cure a hangover, contact a specialist in a drug treatment clinic.

How to get rid of a hangover?

There are homemade and medicinal ways to relieve a hangover.

In addition to the large amount of water that is needed to remove all toxins, first of all, it is necessary to restore the balance of water in the body. This requires abundant:

• Cucumber or cabbage pickle;

• water or tea with lemon;

• Medical mineral water.

Try to eat light fortified foods: scrambled eggs, chicken broth, vegetables and fruits. It helps to get out of a hangover with a contrast shower or taking a hot bath and walking in the fresh air.

The main task in the treatment of hangover is to rid the body of toxins and relieve the main symptoms. To remove intoxication, sorbents are used, for example, Enterosgel, Polyphepan, Activated carbon. Painkillers, antiemetics, anticonvulsants and sedatives are also used.

Why should qualified medical care be preferred for a severe hangover?

If you or your loved ones suffer from alcohol addiction, you should contact a drug addiction clinic as soon as possible, where experienced doctors will definitely help you cope with the problem and avoid serious consequences. It is very difficult to cure a severe hangover on your own, and sometimes it is too late …

For more than 20 years, the VRACH clinic in Novosibirsk has been specializing in helping patients suffering from alcoholism. Our experienced highly qualified specialists have saved more than a thousand lives! We have the opportunity to treat patients in a hospital, which allows us to carry out therapy much more efficiently.

We provide the following types of services:

1. Interruption of binges (in the clinic, outpatient or at home).

2. Coding from alcoholism.

3. Consultations of a psychiatrist-narcologist on problems of alcoholism.

Even after the patient has been treated for alcohol addiction and returned to a full life, it is necessary to support his desire for a healthy lifestyle, motivate him to be better, develop spiritually and physically. All this will help to make our psychiatrists!

medicines and folk methods – Apteki.ua

What is a hangover and why does it occur?

Hangover or hangover syndrome is a complex of psychophysiological disorders that develop after an alcoholic excess (drinking a large amount of alcohol) (Wiese J.G., 2000).

The main symptoms of a hangover, or hangover syndrome

The classic form of a hangover syndrome is manifested by a number of symptoms: deterioration in general well-being, headache – cephalalgia, fatigue, nausea, a feeling of dryness in the mouth, thirst, lack of appetite and bad mood. Since a hangover is associated with the use of a large amount of alcoholic beverages, it is believed that hangover is a sign of their excessive consumption (Swift S., Davidson D., 1998). Symptoms of a hangover syndrome, when a person becomes ill from alcohol, can vary significantly from case to case.

The severity of symptoms may also depend on the type of alcohol consumed. Some alcoholic beverages may contain a large amount of toxic impurities (methanol, fusel oils, higher alcohols, aldehydes) that can increase the severity of a hangover. It has been established that the use of alcohol with a high content of impurities, such as moonshine, is accompanied by a more severe hangover than alcohol with a smaller amount of them (Rohsenow D.J., Howland J., 2010).

Additional pathogenetic mechanisms of hangover syndrome are: dehydration (alcohol increases the volume of urine excreted), impaired mineral metabolism (decrease in the level of calcium and magnesium in the blood plasma) and the development of alcoholic lactic acidosis and alcoholic ketoacidosis (Verster J. C. et al., 2019).

It should be noted that the symptoms of a hangover, when a person feels unwell after drinking alcohol, may resemble the clinical picture of a mild withdrawal syndrome, which is one of the key diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence.

However, unlike a hangover, the withdrawal syndrome is manifested by more pronounced and diverse symptoms, including neurological ones, against the background of a person’s craving for alcohol (Prat G. et al., 2009).

Hangover syndrome is characterized by the absence of addiction to the use of alcoholic beverages. In addition, there may be an aversion to the smell of alcohol, which allows us to consider a hangover syndrome as a state after alcohol intoxication.

At the same time, it should be noted that some narcologists consider a hangover syndrome as a harbinger of an abstinence syndrome.

How to get rid of a hangover: 3 basic steps

Frequently asked questions: “How to get rid of a hangover quickly?”, “How to eliminate a hangover?” or “How to quickly recover from alcohol?”. Next, 3 approaches will be described on how to get rid of a hangover quickly at home.

Too much liquid or water. The main goal of therapy for a hangover is to eliminate dehydration and restore the water-salt balance caused by a pronounced excretion of sodium in the urine. To do this, it is recommended to drink as much water as possible, especially if the patient is vomiting. Consequently, the symptoms of dehydration disappear and the kidneys are stimulated to accelerate the excretion of alcohol degradation products from the body.

Foods and drinks containing a significant amount of enzymes have a positive effect on hangovers. These are various pickles (cucumber, cabbage), various fermented milk products, bread kvass, as well as juices with a high content of citric acid.

Sleep . If a hangover is accompanied by increased fatigue and weakness, it is recommended to rest in a lying position or sleep until the symptoms disappear completely. Sometimes, to speed up the metabolism, physical activity in the fresh air is shown. However, it should be noted that with tachycardia (pulse over 90-100 beats / min) or high blood pressure (above 139/89 mm Hg), it is better to refrain from this.

Medicines . What to take with a hangover? In case of an extremely pronounced hangover, it is recommended to provoke vomiting and flush the stomach with plenty of water and table salt. To reduce the effects of intoxication, activated black charcoal, white charcoal or other sorbents that adsorb alcohol, its degradation products and harmful impurities of alcoholic beverages in the stomach and intestines should be taken. They should be taken no later than 1 hour before the intended meal or any medication.

Acetylsalicylic acid (the so-called “hangover pills”) is one of the most common medicines for relieving hangover headaches.

Take acetylsalicylic acid after meals, 1 tablet no more than 3 times a day, with plenty of water. People with bronchial asthma, gastritis and duodenitis (erosive and non-erosive), gastric or duodenal ulcers, kidney disease, as well as patients taking drugs that help thin the blood, taking acetylsalicylic acid is contraindicated!

Often people have a question: “How to get rid of nausea after alcohol?”. It should be noted here that in order to eliminate one of the most common symptoms of a hangover syndrome – nausea – pharmacotherapeutic preparations containing prokinetics (for example, domperidone, itopride, metoclopramide) or mint tablets should be used.

For example, domperidone or metoclopramide is taken 1 to 2 tablets 30 minutes before meals, but not more than 3 times a day.

Patients with liver and kidney disease, gastric or duodenal ulcers, epilepsy, glaucoma, and hypersensitivity to prokinetics should be very careful or stop taking prokinetics altogether, replacing them with mints (Martindale. The Complete Drug Reference, 2014).

The amino acid glycine, found in small amounts in foods, is also used in hangovers to reduce arousal.

Glycine is taken 2 tablets 1 time per hour for no more than 5 hours. A contraindication to the use of glycine is hypersensitivity to this amino acid.

Why can’t you drink alcohol when you have a hangover?

When stopping a hangover syndrome with alcoholic beverages, there is a fairly high probability of binge occurrence (long-term continuous use of strong alcoholic beverages for several days or even a week).

When a person who has been drinking alcohol for such a long time comes out of a binge, alcoholic delirium may occur (in the common people this condition is called “delirious tremens”).

It should also be noted that the constant relief of a hangover syndrome with alcoholic beverages can provoke the development of alcoholism.

In the case of the use of alcoholic beverages with a hangover syndrome, blood pressure first decreases, and then it rises significantly.

Stopping a hangover with cocktails containing a small amount of alcohol and stimulants (energy) often causes tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).

How to drink alcohol so that there is no hangover?

• A few days before the proposed feast, you should eat foods containing iodine (seaweed, seafood).
• Before the holiday, you should get a good night’s sleep, and you should also take ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and B vitamins, especially thiamine (vitamin B ₁ ).
• A few hours before the expected use of alcoholic beverages, several capsules of hepatoprotectors should be taken orally – medicines containing either essential phospholipids, or silymarin, or the amino acid ademetionine. These drugs improve liver function, thereby accelerating the process of alcohol metabolism.
• 2 hours before the proposed feast, it is necessary to take a cholagogue. This measure is contraindicated in persons with cholelithiasis or chronic pancreatitis.
• 1 hour before a feast, you should drink preparations containing pancreatic enzymes.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach, as alcohol is very rapidly absorbed in the stomach and upper duodenum, causing extremely rapid intoxication. In this case, a severe hangover is guaranteed.
• Drink as little alcohol as possible. Give preference to high-quality alcoholic beverages containing a minimum amount of toxic impurities (fusel oils, non-ethyl alcohols, aldehydes) and artificial colors.
• Alcoholic beverages should be consumed in a calm environment, slowly. The human body, on average, is able to metabolize 10–50 ml of an alcoholic beverage containing 40 volume percent ethyl alcohol (a glass of vodka, cognac, whiskey or a glass of wine, a glass of beer). The break between taking these doses of alcohol should be at least 20 minutes.
• Eat plenty of snacks when drinking alcoholic beverages. Preference should be given to oily, non-spicy foods, vegetables. Foods high in fat slow down the absorption of alcohol in the digestive tract, so only a fraction of the alcohol that enters the body is absorbed. However, it should be noted that you do not need to overeat, as well as consume a large amount of starchy foods and sweets, as this affects the functioning of the liver.
• Do not mix two or more different alcoholic beverages as they may increase their toxic effects. The most unfavorable combinations are: vodka with port wine, vodka with beer, etc.
• Alcoholic cocktails should be consumed in minimal quantities.
• Do not smoke after drinking alcohol.
• It is necessary to move more, go out into fresh air more often, due to this, the metabolism and excretion of ethanol and its degradation products from the body are enhanced and accelerated.