What can I take for a hangover?

Can I take Tylenol for a hangover?

Tylenol is acetaminophen. The NIAAA says some people take acetaminophen before going to bed to head off a hangover, and it warns that alcohol and acetaminophen together can be toxic to the liver. If you are thinking of taking Tylenol at bedtime after a night of drinking, that is the habit the NIAAA is warning about.

The Tylenol Drug Facts label says severe liver damage may occur if you take more than 4,000 mg in 24 hours, take it with other drugs that contain acetaminophen, or have 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day while using it. There is no label number for a single night of drinking. MedlinePlus says not to take acetaminophen if you drink 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, and to talk to your doctor about alcohol while you take it.

• Label dose for Tylenol Extra Strength (500 mg): adults take 2 caplets every 6 hours while symptoms last, no more than 6 caplets (3,000 mg) in 24 hours unless a doctor says otherwise.
• Ask a doctor first if you have liver disease, as the label says.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist first if you take the blood thinner warfarin.
• Never double up: many cough and cold products also contain acetaminophen. The label says not to use Tylenol with any other drug containing acetaminophen, and to ask a pharmacist if you are not sure.

Can I take Advil or Motrin for a hangover?

Advil and Motrin are ibuprofen, an NSAID. The NIAAA notes that aspirin and ibuprofen can increase stomach acid release and irritate the stomach lining, which is already irritated after drinking. It advises caution with these medicines before or after alcohol.

The Advil label says NSAIDs may cause severe stomach bleeding, and the chance is higher if you are 60 or older, have had ulcers or bleeding problems, take a blood thinner or steroid, have 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day while using it, take other NSAIDs, or take more or for longer than directed. The label says to take it with food or milk if stomach upset occurs, and the NHS says ideally with or after food.

• Label dose for adults: 1 tablet (200 mg) every 4 to 6 hours, 2 if 1 does not help, no more than 6 tablets in 24 hours unless a doctor says otherwise.
• Ask a doctor first if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, asthma, a past stroke, a history of heartburn or stomach problems, or take a diuretic.
• Do not stack NSAIDs: the NHS says not to take ibuprofen at the same time as other NSAIDs such as naproxen (Aleve) or aspirin.
• Pregnant? The label says not to use ibuprofen at 20 weeks or later unless a doctor tells you to.

So which one should I take?

The sources do not name one winner. Each pain reliever has a different weak spot after drinking: the liver for acetaminophen, the stomach for ibuprofen and aspirin. Pick based on your own health. If you have had stomach ulcers or bleeding, have kidney disease, or take a blood thinner, the Advil label says to ask a doctor before using ibuprofen. If you have liver disease, the Tylenol label says to ask a doctor first, and MedlinePlus says not to take acetaminophen if you have 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day.

Use the smallest dose that helps, as the Advil label says, and never take more than the label allows. The Advil label says to ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you take any other drug or are under a doctor's care for a serious condition, and the Tylenol label says the same if you take warfarin. A pharmacist can answer that quickly.

Can I take Tylenol and Advil together for a hangover?

Sources differ here. The NHS says adults can take ibuprofen at the same time as paracetamol (acetaminophen) if needed, but suggests trying each on its own first to see if it relieves the pain. MedlinePlus is stricter: do not take nonprescription ibuprofen with any other pain medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

After a night of drinking, both your liver and stomach are under strain, so starting with 1 medicine makes sense. The Advil label also says to ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you take any other drug. Combining is not safe for everyone.

What else helps besides medicine?

Alcohol makes you urinate more, and the mild dehydration that follows likely adds to thirst, tiredness, and headache, the NIAAA says, so fluids can help your body rehydrate. Some people use sports drinks, but the NIAAA says research has not linked electrolyte levels to how bad a hangover is, and in most people the body restores that balance on its own.

The NIAAA is clear that coffee, a shower, or another drink the next morning will not cure a hangover, and no remedy has been proven to work. Your body has to clear alcohol's byproducts and recover, and that takes time. For more on what to do during the day, see our hangover guide.