Atlas Obscura has a list of reader-submitted hangover cures

[conuly]

Of course, the best hangover cure is not to get a hangover in the first place. Which means you drink in moderation, with food, and when you get home you brush your teeth and take an ibuprofen with a big glass of water.

This is not really that hard, and it pays off when you don't feel bad in the morning.

Comments

[nanslice]

I'm going to be spending my New Year's hanging out at home drawing haha.

[glinda]

I prefer a cup of tea and slice of toast when I get home for hangover prevention, but I do usually alternate glasses of water with my alcoholic beverages - especially when dancing - so it probably all works out.

[conuly]

Yes, alternating water with alcohol is even better than just having the water when you get home. (Though honestly, any non-alcoholic beverage is probably good to have with your advil.)

[notasupervillain]

I raise counterpoint, worrying about the future is for suckers.

[conuly]

If you add in a little water and food to your drinking, you don't have to worry in the first place.

[notasupervillain]

Young me would have agreed. Young me could do anything that wasn't obnoxiously stupid and would be fine the next day.

Now, I always suffer. Even when I'm mostly responsible. It hardly seems fair.

[marahmarie]

Young me couldn't do anything obnoxiously stupid and be fine the next day. Breathe, yes. Drag myself around like 3 ton weights were attached to each foot, yes. Everyone looking at me going, "Wth just happened to you?" yes. My hangovers were so bad I basically had to stop having them.

Back then *drags out dinosaur; hops on* we didn't know about things like drinking water before/during/after and popping B vitamins to help diminish the effects (nor any of the other cures listed there). But I might be a heavier drinker to this day if we did, so that might not be a bad thing.

Incidentally, there are people who can drink themselves to oblivion and not get hangovers or feel tired or all that much different the next day; I've lived with them so can attest to this, and have felt pure envy of the highest order.

[alasse_irena]

I am one of those feel nothing people... But I'm still pretty sure healthier drink habits are a good idea. I did not know about the B vitamins. Perhaps I should have vegemite with my alcohol

[marahmarie]

Yeah, perhaps you should. *seethes*

[notasupervillain]

I knew someone who had a theory that a hangover was your body's way to protect you from long term liver damage.

[sabotabby]

Eh, with me anything I drink is going to cause a hangover. But the alternative is not drinking at all.

[notasupervillain]

Same. But what fun is there in temperance?

[spikethemuffin]

I applaud the icon choice for this.

[low_delta]

I used to say that the secret to not getting a hangover is to never go to bed drunk. I'd always stay up until the alcohol wore off. But after some time I realized I just don't get hungover.

[tielan]

I get the hangover while drinking. Possibly my body does not process alcohol well (Asian physiology). But yes, a big glass of water midway through the night, a big glass of water before you leave your last destination, and a big glass of water before you go to bed.

Twenty years ago, I woke hungry rather than hungover (which meant that I was usually the one calling the "Macca's run" - McDonalds breakfast drive-thru).

These days, I mostly wake with a horrendously dry mouth when I haven't drunk enough water before going to bed. Which is never fun, so I try to drink as much water as possible through the night, and I don't drink more than three or four standard drinks.

[siderea]

Best remedy for a hangover is, obvs, having an extra copy of the gene for acetaldehyde dehydrogenase.

[conuly]

We should definitely edit all new babies towards that end.

[gale_storm]

Ah, yes, and it pays off all the more in not getting oneself stuck in a pile of sh!t to start. :-D

[greghousesgf]

I have a superpower, I can get smashed and not get hangovers. :D

[gatheringrivers]

My go-to remedy that I've passed on to others has been basically "clear a path to the bathroom before you go out, prep a pitcher of water for when you get home. When you get home, drink the contents of that pitcher and go to bed."

First youngun' I gave that to was a 20-something who was routinely a couple hours late on the weekend. I didn't mind the OT, but I minded being up late enough it was dangerous to drive home again because I'd been up ALL NIGHT. (I worked 3rd shift.)

It apparently worked, because he was never late again. I always tell people "clear a path..." because eventually they have to "give" the pitcher of water back.... :)