Brain & Nervous System Headaches Causes & Risk Factors Could It Be a Hangover Headache? Symptoms and Potential Causes of This Dreaded Headache By Colleen Doherty, MD Colleen Doherty, MD, is a board-certified internist living with multiple sclerosis. Learn about our editorial process Colleen Doherty, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD on September 29, 2019 Claudia Chaves, MD, is board-certified in cerebrovascular disease and neurology with a subspecialty certification in vascular neurology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Claudia Chaves, MD Updated on October 29, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Overview Symptoms Causes Treatment A lovely, cozy holiday party with friends, cocktails, laughter, and music can be a memorable experience, as long as a hangover headache does not develop the next day. Martin Dimitrov / Getty Images Overview A headache that occurs the next morning, approximately five to twelve hours after alcohol consumption, is common and is called a delayed-alcohol induced headache (or a hangover headache). A hangover headache usually occurs on both sides of the head and is located on the forehead and/or the temples. It is pulsating, like a drum beating on your brain, and is generally worsened by physical activity, which is why most people want to lie on a couch when enduring one. Besides a hangover headache, alcohol consumption can trigger someone's underlying primary headache disorder. So if you already suffer from migraines, cluster headaches, or tension-type headaches, drinking alcohol may precipitate your usual headache attack. This may explain why people who experience one of the above primary headache disorders tend to drink less alcohol or avoid alcohol altogether. Symptoms A hangover, which may last up to 72 hours, is an individualized experience, varying in severity and symptoms from person to person and episode to episode. In addition to a headache, other common symptoms of a hangover include: Poor sense of overall well-being Diarrhea Loss of appetite Fatigue Nausea Dizziness Fast heart rate Sweating Reduced attention and concentration Low or anxious mood Causes Scientists are not certain as to what causes hangovers, and there are several theories. Some potential causes include dehydration, the direct effect of alcohol on the brain, the withdrawal of alcohol, alcohol additives, alterations in the body's hormones, and an increased level of acetaldehyde, which is a product of alcohol metabolism. Regarding additives, individuals who drink dark liquors, which contain by-products called congeners, tend to have more frequent and more severe hangovers, although some research suggests that congener content does not influence next-day performance (sustained attention and reaction time), sleep, or perceived impairment. Many experts suspect dehydration plays a role. Dehydration occurs because alcohol inhibits the effect of a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Normally ADH stimulates the kidneys to absorb water to avoid a dehydrated state. But by inhibiting ADH, water is not reabsorbed into our bodies. Instead, water is urinated out, at a rate that is greater than the amount of fluid being ingested. While hydration can help ease a hangover, it does not completely alleviate the symptoms. Treatment There is really no good way to treat a hangover other than to avoid or limit alcohol in the first place. That said, for a hangover headache, apart from drinking fluids, eating, and resting, taking an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) like ibuprofen can usually ease the pain. Although, be sure take an NSAID with food, as it may upset your stomach. Also, some people cannot take NSAIDs due to underlying medical problems, so be sure it is safe for you. Keep in mind that it is important to minimize the use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) when drinking alcohol, as the combination can lead to serious liver problems. Lastly, there are factors felt to increase the severity of a hangover, so minimizing them may reduce the severity of your headache. These factors include: Poor physical health Smoking Sleep deprivation Congeners Lack of food consumption and fluid intake Increased physical activity while intoxicated Your DNA (some people may be born with a predisposition to developing worse hangovers than others) A Word From Verywell If you want to avoid a hangover headache, the best thing you can do is think before you drink. Is consuming alcohol worth the hangover and the headache the next day? It may be that avoiding alcohol is the best decision for you, or simply alcohol moderation. It is understandable that for some people alcohol may play an important role in their culture or family life. In these instances, knowing your limits may be your best strategy. Additionally, if you and/or others are concerned about your alcohol intake, please consult your healthcare provider, as alcohol intake can have serious health and social consequences. While this article does not focus on alcohol use disorder, if you would like more information, please talk with your doctor and consider visiting the website www.niaaa.nih.gov from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Zlotnik Y, Plakht Y, Aven A, Engel Y, Am NB, Ifergane G. Alcohol consumption and hangover patterns among migraine sufferers. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2014;5(2):128-134. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.131652 Mackus M, Adams S, Barzilay A, et al. Proceeding of the 8th Alcohol Hangover Research Group Meeting. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2016;9(2):106-112. doi:10.2174/1874473709666161229121527 Verster JC, Stephens R, Penning R, et al. The Alcohol Hangover Research Group Consensus Statement on Best Practice in Alcohol Hangover Research. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2010;3(2):116-126. Wiese JG, Shlipak MG, Browner WS. The Alcohol Hangover. Ann Intern Med. 2000;132(11):897-902. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-132-11-200006060-00008 Yoon E, Babar A, Choudhary M, Kutner M, Pyrsopoulos N. Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity: A Comprehensive Update. J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2016;4(2):131-142. doi:10.14218/JCTH.2015.00052 Additional Reading Dueland AN. Headache and alcohol. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain. 2015;55(7):1045–1049. Penning R, Nuland van, Fliervoet L, Olivier B, Verster J. The pathology of alcohol hangover. Current drug abuse reviews. 2010;3(2):68–75. Tipple C, Benson SM, Scholey A. A review of the physiological factors associated with alcohol hangover. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2017;9(2):93-8. Verster J, Penning R. Treatment and prevention of alcohol hangover. Current drug abuse reviews. 2010;3(2):103–9.