Do Hangover Cures Actually Work? What Helps and What Doesn’t

Why Hangover “Cures” Get So Much Attention

Every holiday season, the same promises pop up: special drinks, supplements, greasy breakfasts, or quick fixes that claim to cure a hangover instantly. But hangovers are not caused by just one thing—and there’s no single magic solution.

A hangover is your body responding to dehydration, inflammation, disrupted sleep, and metabolic stress. Understanding that helps separate what truly helps from what’s mostly myth.

What Actually Helps a Hangover

Hydration (But Timing Matters)

Alcohol is dehydrating, so fluids are important—but chugging water the morning after won’t instantly fix symptoms.

What helps most:

• Drinking water before, during, and after alcohol
• Electrolytes to help rebalance fluids
• Small, frequent sips if you feel nauseated

Hydration supports recovery, but it doesn’t reverse everything alcohol does to the body.

Rest and Sleep

Alcohol disrupts sleep quality, even if you slept for several hours. Feeling foggy or exhausted the next day is common.

Allowing your body extra rest helps:

• Reduce fatigue
• Improve concentration
• Support recovery from inflammation

Light, Balanced Food

Eating can help stabilize blood sugar, which may ease symptoms like shakiness or weakness.

Helpful options include:

• Simple carbohydrates
• Protein
• Foods that are easy on the stomach

Heavy, greasy meals may temporarily feel comforting but don’t cure a hangover.

Time

This may not be what people want to hear, but time is the most reliable remedy. Most hangover symptoms improve as your body processes alcohol and restores balance.

Common Hangover Cures That Don’t Work (or Only Help a Little)

Greasy Breakfasts

There’s little evidence that greasy food cures a hangover. It may satisfy cravings but doesn’t undo dehydration or inflammation.

“Hair of the Dog”

Drinking more alcohol may temporarily dull symptoms, but it delays recovery and can make symptoms worse later.

Supplements and Detox Drinks

Many hangover products lack strong scientific evidence. Some may help hydration, but none eliminate a hangover entirely.

Pain Relievers

Over-the-counter medications may reduce headache or body aches, but they don’t address the root causes. Some should be used cautiously after drinking.

McDonalds Sprite

You may have heard that Sprite can cure a hangover. This idea comes from a laboratory study that tested how different drinks affected alcohol-processing enzymes in test tubes, not in people. In that study, Sprite and soda water appeared to increase activity of an enzyme involved in breaking down acetaldehyde, a compound linked to hangover symptoms. However, the research was in vitro, meaning it did not measure hangover relief or recovery in real people.

Why Hangovers Feel Worse as You Get Older

Many adults notice hangovers become more intense with age. This can be related to:

• Slower metabolism
• Changes in hydration
• Reduced sleep quality
• Increased sensitivity to inflammation

This is a normal experience—not a sign something is wrong.

When a Hangover Might Be More Than a Hangover

While most hangovers resolve on their own, consider checking in with a healthcare provider if symptoms:

• Last longer than expected
• Include severe vomiting or dehydration
• Feel unusual or concerning
• Interfere with daily activities

Primary care providers can help determine whether symptoms are alcohol-related or something else.

A Healthier Perspective on Hangovers

Rather than focusing on quick cures, many people find it helpful to:

• Drink mindfully
• Pace alcohol intake
• Prioritize hydration and sleep
• Take recovery time seriously

Listening to your body is often the best guide.