Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so bad that it interferes with your daily activities. Whiskey and red wine are two of the most common migraine triggers. If you’re going to drink either of these, be sure to do so in moderation and stay well hydrated. How do you know if beer is one of the types of alcohol that can trigger an attack for you?

Staying hydrated and keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum can decrease the chance of experiencing a headache. Individuals who experience severe headaches after drinking alcohol may also avoid alcohol altogether. A second explanation for the results presented in our meta-analysis might encompass a certain protective role of alcohol with regards to migraine. However, according to this idea, populations with higher migraine prevalence should have lower alcohol consumption. For example, due to religious requirements, people in Iran consume considerably less alcohol than Europeans 22, 84; nevertheless, migraine prevalence in Iran is 15.1% 85 while in Europe it is 35% 86.

Then again, in some groups, alcohol appears to have protective effects against headaches. The number of drinks you have, what you are drinking, and what’s going on in your life may be the primary culprits, rather than alcohol itself. A 2015 study suggests that the inactivity of alcohol dehydrogenase 2, an enzyme that helps break down alcohol, might contribute to hangover headaches. However, the study author also cautions that no single factor causes all hangover headaches.

How can you prevent getting a migraine headache from alcohol?

To avoid a reaction, avoid alcohol or the particular substance that causes your reaction. Rarely, severe pain after drinking alcohol is a sign of a more serious disorder, such as Difference Between Alcohol Use and Alcoholism Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Any relief experienced from red wine likely comes from resveratrol, a potentially health-boosting plant compound. Pontinen said triptans are commonly used to treat migraine once symptoms start.

Availability of data and materials

Since the research on alcohol as a migraine trigger is limited, and everyone’s body metabolizes foods and drinks differently, it can be helpful to tune into what yours is telling you. Regardless of the percentage of people affected, it is clear that the effects of alcohol can result in migraine episodes for some people. A person may experience migraine after drinking if they are susceptible to it. Some people may experience an alcohol-related migraine between 30 minutes and 3 hours after drinking.

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Many people believe that alcohol (particularly red wine) is a major trigger of migraine-related headaches — but the effect may not be quite as strong as most people think. Drinking even a small amount of alcohol can trigger headache symptoms in certain individuals. These symptoms may begin within minutes or hours of drinking and vary widely in severity. As dehydration can cause headaches, staying hydrated when consuming alcohol is key.

Together you and your doctor can manage the disease of migraine. If you’d like to learn more about migraine, watch or other related videos or visit mayoclinic.org. The most common symptom of migraine is the intense throbbing head pain.

Some people may get prodrome symptoms, the beginning of a migraine attack. These can be subtle warnings such as constipation, mood changes, food cravings, neck stiffness, increased urination, or even frequent yawning. Sometimes people may not even realize that these are warning signs of a migraine attack. In about a third of people living with migraine, aura might occur before or even during a migraine attack. Aura is the term that we use for these temporary reversible neurologic symptoms. They’re usually visual, but they can include other neurologic symptoms as well.

1. When enjoying a night out on the town, there are several triggers you may expose yourself to including bright flashing lights, loud music, food and alcohol.
2. A 2016 review notes that alcohol may trigger a tension headache, especially if a person also has migraine.
3. Studies show that many people with migraine choose not to drink alcohol for fear that it may trigger a migraine attack.
4. I began having migraine attacks when I was a teenager, but was never properly diagnosed until I was an adult.
5. While data on MO and CH are well delineated, those in MA and TH are discordant.

Cluster headaches

Migraine episodes can be a periodic inconvenience, or they can be debilitating. The most severe migraine attacks may last up to 3 days or longer and make it impossible to do anything. One hypothesis is that red wine causes migraine due to high levels of certain compounds called flavonols, particularly quercetin.

Additionally, it is important to communicate with your doctor if you experience any adverse effects or if the medication does not seem to be working as expected. This includes being careful about the amount of alcohol you consume and paying attention to how and when your migraine symptoms flare up in relation to drinking. You could get a headache within 30 minutes to 3 hours of drinking. Some people only sip a glass or two of wine before their head starts to throb. Alcohol-induced headaches generally resolve within 72 hours of onset, although they can and many do last for a shorter time period. While these headaches eventually do subside, it is important to talk to a medical provider about headache triggers and develop a plan to minimize them.

Some studies have reported that alcohol can trigger a migraine headache in people who are sensitive to it in as little as 30 minutes — or it could take 3 hours. In addition to red wine, other alcoholic beverages, including beer, white wine, and liqueur, have also been reported as headache triggers. If you’re prone to migraine attacks, it’s wise to avoid alcoholic beverages altogether.