Hangover Cures Have No Scientific Backing

Hangover cures and remedies are a large market with little evidence to back them up. Products sold as prevention or recovery aids, along with folk remedies like tomato juice and greasy breakfasts, have not been shown to reliably reduce symptoms. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, no remedy has been scientifically proven to work, and only time allows the body to recover.

Research Finds Very Low Quality Evidence for Hangover Remedies

Researchers at King’s College London reviewed 21 placebo-controlled randomized trials of hangover treatments in the journal Addiction and found only very low-quality evidence supporting any pharmacologically active intervention. Clove extract, tolfenamic acid, and pyritinol showed statistically significant symptom reductions compared with placebo, but the researchers rated that evidence as low quality and called for further assessment.

Because no two studies examined the same remedy, none of the results have been independently replicated.

A 2025 analysis of hangover products found B vitamins and sodium were the most common ingredients, appearing in nearly half of products reviewed, with little solid evidence that either improves symptoms in healthy people.

Pain Relievers Carry Real Risks After Drinking

NIAAA notes that the combination of alcohol and acetaminophen can be toxic to the liver, and that aspirin and ibuprofen can increase acid release and irritate the stomach lining. Consuming as little as one drink per day raises the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding associated with NSAID use by roughly 37 percent.

Anyone unsure which medication is appropriate should ask a physician or pharmacist.

Supportive Care Can Ease Symptoms While You Wait

Nothing shortens a hangover, but the Cleveland Clinic suggests these steps while symptoms run their course:

• Eat bland foods with complex carbohydrates, such as toast or crackers
• Drink water, broth, or electrolyte beverages
• Sleep to counteract fatigue
• Use antacids to settle the stomach

Coffee, a shower, or another drink the next morning will not cure a hangover.

Drinking Less Remains the Only Reliable Prevention

NIAAA concludes that the only surefire remedy is to avoid a hangover by not drinking excessively. Eating before and during drinking, alternating alcoholic drinks with water, and setting a limit ahead of time reduce how much alcohol reaches the bloodstream, which is more dependable than any product on the shelf.

Anyone whose drinking feels difficult to control, or who has severe symptoms such as confusion or repeated vomiting after drinking, should seek medical care.

Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism