Morning After Pills

If you’re anything like us, you’re wishing you passed on that 5th cocktail at the office holiday party last night. And if you’re anything like us, you’ve tried everything from drinking a cold morning beer to rediscovering religion in hopes of getting rid of the nasty hangover that throbbed with every ringing Salvation Army bell you heard on the way to work today. But an unfortunate article in the British Medical Journal suggests that no anti-hangover remedies actually work. Numerous studies over the years comparing prescription meds, simple sugars, and different foods have found no benefit. The only known way to lessen the symptoms of a hangover is drinking fewer drinks. Neeext.

Some Asian friends of ours who turn red as beets when they drink (some Asians lack a key enzyme in alcohol degradation leading to skin flushing) swear by Pepcid. Apparently, the pill (a type of anti-histamine known as an H2 blocker) helps prevent the discoloration when taken before imbibing.

What do you do to ease the post party pains?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Kapil Desai in News on December 23, 2005 10:00 AM

Comments [rss]

anonymous

Excedrin Migraine works wonders.

Doctor Strange

Actually, Pepcid's main use is as an antacid but works against a certain type of histamine receptor (namely the H2 receptor) which makes it a class of antihistamine. In fact, its use as an anti-histamine is well documented and is why it is used to treat patients who suffer from large scale anaphylactic reactions where edema may occlude their airways. It is via this mechanism that it prevents the vasodilation and flushing in Asians that was mentioned. Also, what kind of effects does Advil have on the liver? Do you mean stomach lining? And by Advil do you mean Tylenol which _is_ hepatotoxic?

-ed

The charcoal advice is total BS, and Pepcid is an antacid, not an antihistamine! I would also recommend against taking Advil before drinking, as that will 1) have no effect (advil wears off in about 4 hours) 2) you are multiplying the bad effects on your liver. Some of the deleterious effects on your liver can be mediated by taking SAM-e, Milk Thistle, and Curcumin (Turmeric extract) just before drinking. Unfortunately they wont prevent the hangover.....only consuming large quantities of water/pedialiyte will help that.

Joclyn

I haven't had a hangover in probably 8 years. I drink a sports-sized bottle of Gatorade before bed. That's it... and if I feel a little bit funky when I first wake up I do the old greasy food trick: leftover Chinese seems to be the best. Voila.

Mikey

Yes drinking water BEFORE will always help. But who has the time to wait in the pisser line after drinking alternate glasses of water all night. Just pass out with a big glass of water and two advil next to the bed. The first time you wake up choke down the water and slam the advil. Go back to sleep for an hour or two. Get up find a reputable egg and cheese stat and wash it down with a chocolate nestle quick. Finally, take some multivitamins. Your body needs the following in this order: Time, water, sugar, vitamins (B among others). The faster it gets these the better off it will be.

Charcoal pills don't work. Under any circumstances.

Anonymous

dude isnt charcoal poisonous? pedialyte makes sense...but now that amb34 mentioned big breakfast...a big bowl of ramen (instant noodles particularly nong shim) works for me too

Liz

No, no, no. take one CHARCOAL capsule with a full glass of water before passing out. You can get it at any health food supply store. It absorbs most of the alcohol in your stomach while you sleep so you wake up with only a small headache that eventually dies down after 20-30 min. Don't take it in the morning though, or you could really fuck your stomach up.

Beth

But Pepcid is for heartburn, no? So it can't be an antihistamine, which is for allergies? I'm confused--please enlighten me, because although I'm not Asian, I flush even after half a drink and would love to know about a solution!

amb34

Of course you can't cure a hangover. But advil, drinking water all night (right, on the bedside) and eating a big breakfast (sausange mcmuffin with egg, hash browns and oj works for me), takes the edge off it.

Ronnie

I'm always fond of Pedialyte (sp?), which given to babies who are colic-y, etc. Seriously, it is LOADED with electrolytes, and it works like a charm. The grape flavor is pretty good too. Gatorade is OK, but Pedialyte is Gatorade X 100.

The only problem is that Pedialyte is sometimes difficult to find- but CVS or Duane Reade usually carry it. I pick it up by the case.

Anonymous

alka seltzer is cool, but any drugs i wouldnt take with alcohol...dude what's wrong with the asian glow? i love the look...it makes everyone look merrier and ready for more drinks!

meliss

Extra Strength Alka Seltzer is a miracle, whether you take it before you pass out or when you wake up nauseaus with a headache. The stomach medicine deals with the nausea and the aspirin deals with the headache/pains without the added liver damage that comes with advil or tylenol.

ocular spectra

JTR is right, prevention is most of it. a good full meal beforehand is key, but apparently something greasy is actually good. eating something like pizza before i drink has helped, as i recall.

when drinking, don't switch between types of booze. you can have different mixed drinks but keep them all made with the same alcohol. multi-alcohol drinks make for worse hangovers for the same reason.

after you stumble out of the bar/party and before you head home, go to a bodega and buy a decent-sized water, and a few packs of advil (accept no substitutes) if you didn't have the foresight to grab some from the big bottle at home. take 2 advil before you go to sleep.

when you wake up, drink a lot of water and take 2 more advil. breakfast with eggs and toast, particularly if the toast is at least a little burnt, hits the spot and supposedly has properties that combat a hangover.

i found some of the above on this webpage and put it into practice and that's what worked for me. it may not work for everyone (especially the greasy food part).

http://health.howstuffworks.com/hangover.htm

Anonymous

You don't even need the advil. I drink lots of water BEFORE i go out drinking. (i don't even get drunk as quickly then.) plus I drink two giant glasses of water before going to bed. works every time.

JTR

Prevention is the best cure. Drink a bunch of water and take 2 Advil BEFORE you pass out. The trick, of course, is not passing out before remembering to do this. But every time I do it, I wake up feeling great. Sure, mixing the medicine and alcohol can't be all that healthy for your liver, but that won't catch up with you for years.