Why Does Alcohol Make Me Sleepy? Exploring the Science

Triptans work best when you take them at the early signs of a migraine. There’s no proof that drinking raw eggs or downing hot sauce will get rid of your morning-after migraine faster. Downing more alcohol (the “hair of the dog” theory) https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/rappers-that-struggle-with-addiction/ won’t help either. Though questions remain, experts agree people may want to rethink ordering their favorite alcoholic beverage while they’re in the air. This is true even if a person is using it to calm flight-related nerves.

Why Does Alcohol Give Me a Headache? A Doctor’s Tips for Imbibing

Many people experience a wave of sleepiness after consuming alcohol. As a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, alcohol has a sedative effect that may cause you to fall asleep more quickly than usual. However, the initial drowsiness alcohol causes can be deceiving.

Other primary headaches

The carbon dioxide gas bubbles in Champagne help your body to absorb the alcohol faster. The bubbles increase the pressure in your stomach, which forces alcohol out through your stomach’s lining and into your bloodstream for faster absorption. Look for white wine that is not too sweet and a little on the dry side. Pinot Grigio, chardonnay or sauvignon blanc would be a good place to start and are generally easy to find. According to Beyond Celiac, distilled gin and vodka are gluten free.

What alcohol to drink to avoid migraine attacks

Many people have experienced a headache after drinking alcohol — especially after drinking too much. While headaches are generally recognized as a side effect of alcohol in many people, its reputation as a migraine headache trigger may be overestimated. Dr. Green cautions, however, that stopping drinking may not resolve the entire problem. That’s likely because there are other underlying migraine triggers, such as certain foods, caffeine, fluctuating hormones, and stress. We asked these experts what a person who struggles with migraine would expect if they stopped drinking, and the answers were varied. Overall, physicians state that stopping drinking certain types of alcohol, like those with tannins, may lead to fewer migraine headaches.

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. You could also search our Resources Library to learn more about symptoms, triggers and treatments. 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.

Note that to qualify as a cocktail (or delayed alcohol-induced) headache, the pain must start within three hours of drinking. A headache that sets in the next day is a symptom of a hangover. Migraine is complex, and other neurological conditions may cause migraine-like symptoms. For this reason, it is important to see a doctor about migraine symptoms or chronic headaches, with or without drinking.

Health care should improve your health, right?

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 why does alcohol give me a migraine 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.

A word of advice if you’re struggling to stop drinking

The migraines tend to start within three hours of consuming alcohol. Sometimes, migraines don’t plague patients until the next morning, just as their blood-alcohol content level is back to normal. Many people confuse this with a regular hangover until the intensity of the migraine sets in. If alcohol is a trigger for you, it may be best to not drink at all.

• More than half of those who experience cluster headaches say that alcohol is a trigger.
• This article will explore the relationship between alcohol and headache and consider why some people develop an alcohol headache after one drink.
• Interestingly, the link was observed regardless of whether the study subject believed that caffeine triggered their headaches.
• Reviewed for accuracy by the American Migraine Foundation’s subject matter experts, headache specialists and medical advisers with deep knowledge and training in headache medicine.