The new year might be a time for making resolutions to improve one's health, but for many people it dawns with the nausea, headache and anxiety of a hangover. But in recent years, products promising to prevent hangovers have been proliferating.
"Wake up happy, not hungover!" touts advertising for DripDrop, claiming the drink will "set your body up for success" before a night of drinking by "saturating cells with electrolytes needed to delay alcohol’s dehydrating effects."
ZBiotics's advertises its Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink as a way to break down "an unwanted alcohol byproduct" and Capsulyte says its PREGAME product will "prevent feeling awful the day after drinking."
Because alcohol causes dehydration, taking electrolyte supplements before or after drinking, or both, may help with rehydration. But so will water and salty crackers, which are cheaper, said Dr. Caroline McWilliams, medical director at Recovery Centers of America at Devon, which offers inpatient and outpatient treatment for alcohol and other substance use disorders.
Ultimately, McWilliams said, products marketed hangover preventions or cures "do more hard than good."
The problems with 'hangover' products
Because hangover prevention and remedy supplements do not require Food and Drug Administration approval, "we don't really know exactly what's in them, and they possibly can give people false hope that they're going to protect their liver," McWilliams said.
In 2020, the FDA issued a warning to seven companies illegally pedaling products to mitigate hangovers – including one called "Hangover Heaven" – saying "consumers may get the false impression that using these products can prevent or mitigate health problems caused by excessive drinking." The FDA added that "dietary supplements are not a substitute for responsibly limiting one's alcohol consumption."
These products also may give people "permission to binge drink," which can cause health complications, including alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal, McWilliams said.
Plus, there's little research to support their efficacy, she said. A 2022 review of 21 studies of interventions to reduce or prevent hangovers found "only very low quality of evidence" that any of the "cures" worked.
The best way to avoid a hangover is to eat a full meal before drinking and to hydrate before, during and after drinking, McWilliams said. Also, avoid binge drinking.
What causes hangovers?
There are several reasons people get hangovers, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center:
• Dehydration: Because alcohol is a diuretic, people lose more fluids than they take in.
• Electrolyte imbalance: When people consume too much alcohol, electrolytes become unbalanced.
• Congeners: Darker liquors like bourbon and tequila have more congeners – chemicals created during fermentation – and can make hangovers feel worse.
• Toxic byproducts: The liver creates a toxic byproduct called acetaldehyde when it breaks down alcohol. Acetaldehyde is more harmful than alcohol and can cause nausea and headaches.
How to prevent a hangover
To prevent a hangover, take the following steps, according to URMC:
• Do not consume more than one drink per hour
• Remain hydrated
• Don't consume alcohol on an empty stomach
• Drink clear alcohols like vodka, gin, rum, tequila and sake.
• Get a good night's sleep
How alcohol impacts your health
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol content to 0.08% – approximately five drinks for men and four drinks for women over the course of two hours.
Previous research linked light to moderate drinking to some health benefits. In particular, a 1997 study that found that one drink a day offered about 30% to 40% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to no alcohol. But later research pointed to limitations of the study, and the World Health Organization stated in 2022 that no level of alcohol consumption is safe, noting it causes at least seven types of cancer, including breast cancer and bowel cancer.
People seeking drug or alcohol treatment for themselves or a loved one can call the toll-free PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-4357. A live chat option is also available online or via text message at (717) 216-0905. Call the 988 Lifeline for help with substance use and mental health issues or if you are in crisis.
