Some people may feel that they can’t control their drinking, have negative feelings when they don’t drink, or generally feel that their alcohol consumption is negatively impacting their life. If you feel as though you can’t limit how much you drink or if you continue drinking even though it’s hurting you or those around you, it’s time to talk to your doctor. Here’s what to know about preventing migraine attacks when also drinking alcohol, plus how to treat one if it’s too late.
Do you have tips for enjoying alcohol without triggering an attack? Share a tip with the community.
Tannins are naturally occurring compounds (called polyphenols) found in grapes, certain fruit juices, and beer. People who suffer with cluster headaches are particularly sensitive to dark beers, according to Dr. Aurora. According to Dr. Kevin Moore, PsyD, an addiction specialist, alcohol fools your body into thinking that you’re drinking water, but in reality, alcohol actually poisons the brain cells.
Meds haven’t worked for me in the past. Do I just have to deal with my migraine attacks?
Others find that it is more likely to trigger migraine attacks during vulnerable periods—hormonal changes, stress, and weather changes, for example. So, she recommends reducing alcohol intake or stopping drinking altogether if a patient does, indeed, find a connection between drinking and migraine. Neurologist and headache expert Dr. Belinda Savage-Edwards explains that migraine attacks can occur with little alcohol.
What not to drink during a migraine attack?
Yet, a 2016 study pointed out that estimates vary and the reason that alcohol use might trigger migraine episodes is still unclear. Talk with your doctor about how long after drinking alcohol to wait before you can take any prescription migraine or OTC medications. Trying to avoid migraine triggers is one of the only surefire ways to avoid migraine symptoms. Another thing that remains unclear is if the quantity and type of alcohol you drink determines whether you will get a migraine headache. But whether this causes or relieves headache symptoms depends largely on the type of headache.
People who cannot stop drinking should talk with a doctor about treatment for alcohol use disorder, which is a serious but treatable condition. However, more recent research indicates no relationship between tension type headaches and alcohol consumption. You might have heard that red wine is most likely to cause problems. But other drinks like sparkling wine, beer, and hard liquor may be just as likely, if not more, to cause problems. Substances such as sulfites, histamine, and tyramines are found in alcohol and may contribute to headaches as well. It has also been proposed that alcohol triggers an inflammatory response that can lead to a headache.
- The most beneficial plant-based foods for migraines include the most colorful vegetables.
- A total of 32,911 complete cases including 4679 migraine attacks were analyzed.
- However, alcohol is traditionally considered a migraine trigger, with some research suggesting that it prompts episodes in about one-third of people.
- Devineé Lingo is a registered dietitian nutritionist who is on a mission to cultivate health and wholeness in people seeking restoration and renewal.
Natural Ways To Treat and Prevent Migraines
- To summarize, for people with migraine, the best alcoholic choices are clear liquors like vodka, gin, or dry white wine.
- A person should try keeping a migraine diary for a few weeks or months to observe trends in their headache patterns.
- If you already have high blood pressure, NSAIDs can prevent several common meds such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics from doing their job.
- Serotonin is one of our most notorious “feel good” hormones and helps us to regulate mood, sleep patterns, and more.
Some people may be able to drink red wine or whiskey without any problems, while others may find that even clear liquors are problematic. Those who are triggered by alcohol can alcohol cause migraines usually feel the attack coming on within a few hours, although some reported that the next day was when they felt it. Understanding certain food components of some alcoholic beverages will help you understand your choices when it comes to selecting the best alcohol to avoid migraine. The UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines are designed to help all adults keep the health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level.
One study found that alcohol contributes to migraine attacks in up to one-third of people diagnosed with the condition. There were a total of 2990 embedded missing days (2990/46,820, 6.4%) resulting in 43,830 days (90 for each individual) eligible for analysis. Migraine days after the first day of attack (3665 migraine days) were removed from the models, leading to a dataset with 40,165 diary entries.