Alcohol & Migraines: Can Drinking Cause a Migraine Headache?

Opt for nutritious foods high in protein and complex carbohydrates that can help maintain stable blood sugar levels. Withdrawal symptoms from booze can also contribute to headaches and other discomforts. When you consume it regularly, your body compensates by producing more of certain chemicals to keep your brain alert. When the alcohol wears off, you’re left with an excess of these chemicals, which can trigger withdrawal symptoms like headaches. Even if you feel like you’ve slept well after a night of drinking, the quality of that sleep is likely poor.

Anxiety disorders and depression are two of the most commonly reported mental illnesses among people who are diagnosed with migraine. By learning how migraine and mental health impact one another and ways to manage both, you can improve your quality of life. Learn more about the relationship between migraine and mental health in this AMF webinar. Reducing or eliminating alcohol intake reduces the risk and occurrence of these types of headaches.

Alcohol as a Migraine Trigger

Migraine is a disabling disease that no one should have to go through alone. It’s essential to build a support network of understanding people who can not only check in on you during an attack but also empathize with your experience. Then consider joining the Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine.

Less pain can improve your quality of life and daily functionality. A lot of people wonder whether they should drink a steaming cup of joe when they have a headache. The answer is not as cut and dried as one would think—caffeine presents a paradoxical dilemma in headache management. A classic alcohol-induced headache is often located on both sides of the head and has a throbbing quality like that of a migraine. Relaxation techniques may help ease stress-related migraines, and they may make migraine episodes feel less severe when they happen.

Sleep, Insomnia and Migraine

Moreover, research has shown a decreased prevalence of headache with increasing number of alcohol units consumed. The classification criteria of alcohol-related headaches remain problematic. We discuss the role and mechanism of action of alcohol or other components of alcoholic drinks in relation to alcohol-induced headache. In accordance with data from a recent prospective study, we believe that reports overestimate the role of alcohol, as well as other foods, in the triggering of migraine. If a relationship between the intake of alcohol and the migraine attack is not clear, a small dose of alcohol is not contraindicated either for enjoyment or its protective effect on cardiovascular disease. Migraines are intense headaches that can be debilitating for those who experience them.

If drinking alcohol appears to be a potent headache trigger for you, then, by all means, abstain from it. But if a cocktail with friends once in a while or a glass of wine with your dinner on Saturday night does not seem to trigger a bad headache, then it’s probably OK. Talk to your doctor about any concerns and about whether it is safe to drink alcohol with any medications you are taking. Additionally, people with a history of migraines may experience longer-lasting headaches after drinking alcohol.

What to know about headaches after alcohol

While red wine has been described as a dominant trigger of migraines and cluster headaches, white wine, champagne, sparkling wines, and beer have also been linked to headaches. Studies have shown that alcoholic drinks act as a trigger for migraines in up to one-third of patients. Alcohol is a diuretic that increases urine production and can lead to dehydration. Drinking too much can trigger migraines, and possibly other types of headaches—such as cluster headaches and tension headaches—in people who are already susceptible to these issues.

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. Congeners are more prominent in dark coloured alcoholic drinks such as red wine, rum, whisky and brandy, and less in clear drinks such a vodka and gin. One study showed that 300ml of red wine provoked headaches can alcohol cause migraines in red wine-sensitive individuals, while a drink of vodka with an equivalent alcohol content did not have the same result [20]. In other words, the best treatment for a cocktail headache is actually preventing one in the first place. Before consuming a cocktail, ask yourself if it is worth developing a headache over and ruining your celebration or holiday.

Another thing that remains unclear is whether the type of alcohol you drink determines whether or not you will get a migraine headache. Some studies found that red wine is a main trigger in migraine with aura and cluster type migraine, but they also note that all alcohol could have the same effect. In addition to red wine, other alcoholic beverages, including beer, white wine, and liqueur, have also been reported as headache triggers. A cocktail headache is a headache that occurs within the same evening of drinking alcohol.

While migraine is a common disease that affects 39 million Americans, no two migraine experiences are the same. Symptoms can vary from light sensitivity and dizziness to food cravings or body chills. Explore these Frequently Asked Questions about migraine symptoms to see if you might be experiencing migraine. Yawning and fatigue are typical symptoms of prodrome, the first phase of a migraine attack. Other symptoms can include food cravings and difficulty concentrating. If you think you may have migraine, these answers to common questions can help you further investigate this possibility with a doctor.

Alcohol and migraine: what should we tell patients?

This is because clear spirits often have fewer additives and chemicals that can trigger headache symptoms. When you drink alcohol, your body metabolises it, which can lead to headaches. Your liver is the key player here, breaking down ethanol – the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages – into acetaldehyde. This toxic compound is a known carcinogen and causes inflammation in tissues. The liver further converts acetaldehyde into acetate, a relatively harmless substance excreted by your body.