whenever i'm stumbling home, and if it takes me more than 10 seconds to find the door, whilst i try to poke at it with my keys, and i notice that they don't work, because there is vomit on the door/handle/me as they slip off the keyhole, and they aren't my keys anyway, but instead i'm poking at the door with a fiver, or often some small change... i make sure to down a few acetominophen (tylenol's generic equivalent, since i'm cheap; or the generic aspirin if no tylenol, or whatever pain/headache deal i have laying around). it hasnt failed me yet (well, there was that one time: i woke up, feeling well rested and headache free. birds were singing, soft music was playing, but i was ralphing all over the bathroom... o the memories). my friend swears by this product called "chasers". i like my tylenol method tho. one should be aware though, that high doses, or regular use, of acetominophen (tylenol) can cause dependance, and very severe liver damage (as if needing them so often from drinking wasn't already doing you enough liver damage, but i digress). all drugs used regularly, or in high doses, will cause some kind of adverse reaction. one should heed the tiny-print warnings that say "don't use this more than [x] times over [y] period, and certainly not [z] times in [w] period."
It's difficult to prevent. Practicing drinking helps.
Anyway, there are things in my experience that can help. First, I find expensive alcohol tends to not be as bad the next day. Second, eating something before going to sleep...or during drinking helps. Third, drink water and pop three Advil before sleeping. That helps a lot.
As for dealing with the existing hangover, I find getting the blood sugar back helps. I'd get up, take more advil, drink more water...then eat something rich in sugars if possible. I used to like getting up around lunctime and eating like pasta. Then, I'd take a nap. For me, the fatigue was the worst part of most hangovers. Also, I used to no get hangovers really....I'd wake up feeling great. That kind of stopped when I hit, say, 21 or so.
It's amazing how many people seem to accept as inevitable that they simply must drink until it makes them sick, as if it were the only way to have fun, or as if it were a necessary social obligation.
I can see getting a little carried away now and again (even then it shouldn't take too many hangovers to learn your limits) but I get the impression that a lot of people writing here are of the "Well, it's Friday night. Time to drink myself blind" sort, making a regular habit of heavy alcohol abuse.
To all the wondering people out there, combining aspirin with alcohol causes stomach damage. Combining tylenol or ibuprofen (advil, motrin) with alcohol causes liver damage.
Hangovers are caused by de-hydration. You get dehydrated because alcohol suppresses release of ADH (Anti-Diuretic Hormone), which causes you to piss out lots of water.
The only real way to stop a hangover from occurring is to drink lots of water. I find a 1:1 ratio of drinks to water works for me unless I'm drinking stuff stronger than beer / wine. If I'm drinking stronger stuff I try to keep the 1:1 ratio, then drink another pint or two of water after I've finished drinking.
Along the lines of drink less but slightly more constructive:
The last few drinks you take at the end of the night have basically no effect on you. They only kick in once your asleep, pointlessly ruining your sleep (one of the major factors in a hangover) and increasing your dehydration in the morning.
So it can be a good idea to train yourself to stop drinking at midnight (or whatever time is appropriate to your lifestyle) and switch to water.
It pays to remember that alcohol dehydrates you and so by the end of the evening a big part of the need to drink is because your body is desperately short of fluids i.e. a genuine 'thirst'. Your body foolishly thinks another double gin and tonic is going to help rather than hinder. Drinking water throughout the evening can help fight this too.
know your limits and don't exceed them (at least too much).
before/ during drinking, eat food too.
drink water before going to sleep.
have sex. (that involves being not too drunk for that..)
when you wake up drink more water. keep a water bottle next to your bed.
for the morning stuff to eat, some suggest bloody mary. i can't drink that though, tomato juice makes me always vomit. i'd suggest some salty stuff - omelettes, salted sardines, dried shrimps (check the italo/mexican groceries for those).
if i feel too miserable, i stay in bed untill i'm ok.
one thing not to drnk morning after is tea. i don't know what about it (i presume the milk/cream) is quite unsettling. a few days ago, i was wrecked beyond belief. i woke up shitty. i thought, ok i'll calm myself with a relaxing cup of nice english tea. half a sip, and i was running for the bathroom. most times, after a good heave, you feel better. i did not, well not for an hour. so an hour later, when i'd settled, i tried again (with a fresh cup, since the first had cooled and distilled). up came the second round. then i thought, "ok, i'll cool it for two hours this time." and the demon liquid decided to pull up the remaining contents of my stomach. i must have had like 2 gallons worth of food and liquor in me (the steak tasted so good going down, and yet so terrible coming up). after that i said, to hell with tea, maybe some clean new york tap water will do me well. that didn't sit either. the human stomach can hold a lot more volume than you might think. i must have tapped into my intestines as well. (does reverse peristalsis go that far?) after i had emptied my body in every imaginable fashion, i was sound as a pound. i went drinking that night and all was well. (ps: guinness is good)
lol. yes. and a bit (and by "bit", i mean a "lot") of sugar. i drink it without milk, when i'm out, or when the mood strikes, but generally i prefer it with. for that story, the first attempt was with, and the second without, if memory serves.
I personally drink a couple of glasses of highly alkaline water (9.5 pH) before I go to bed. It helps the body move out the acidic alcohol from the body and is wonderful at hydrating. Works like a charm.
When I didn't have access to such water I would drink gatorade. I read somewhere that gatorade is better for hydration than regular tap water.
I've also read that driking tomato juice has been proven effective in eliminating hangovers too.
So, I am trashed right now, but know that I am going to pay for it when I wake up. Anybody have a bullet proof hang over remedy or way to prevent them in the first place?
2) Drink only beer and/or vodka (and other purer distillates -> no whiskey).
3) From time to time, drink a glass of water (<- not before you're well drunk, of course , eat whenever you can.
4) Before going to bed, drink a lot of water (>1.5l), carbohydrates and mineral salts (gatorade etc.) certainly won't harm, no drugs.
5) Sleep 3 hours (alarm clock, there's no REM sleep anyway, unless you're trained), piss, drink another liter.
6) Sleep another 3-4 hours.
7) Start the day with a good breakfast.
It's always a good idea to keep track of your alcohol grams. Personally, I used to convert everything I drink to beer (4.5-5%). For me, 3l beer equiv means that I have to slow down, I can manage 4l without a hangover, after that I risk a lost day (+0.5l afternoon bonus).
If you know that you "have" to drink a lot the following days/week (holiday-trip), start a few days earlier with training, you'll sleep better when it's important.
Comments
Anyway, there are things in my experience that can help. First, I find expensive alcohol tends to not be as bad the next day. Second, eating something before going to sleep...or during drinking helps. Third, drink water and pop three Advil before sleeping. That helps a lot.
As for dealing with the existing hangover, I find getting the blood sugar back helps. I'd get up, take more advil, drink more water...then eat something rich in sugars if possible. I used to like getting up around lunctime and eating like pasta. Then, I'd take a nap. For me, the fatigue was the worst part of most hangovers. Also, I used to no get hangovers really....I'd wake up feeling great. That kind of stopped when I hit, say, 21 or so.
So to summarize:
Advil
Water
Sleep
Food
Coffee is good too. mmmm. Coffee.
Originally posted by Matsu
Don't drink too much alcohol. Pretty simple huh?
Originally posted by Matsu
Don't drink too much alcohol. Pretty simple huh?
It's amazing how many people seem to accept as inevitable that they simply must drink until it makes them sick, as if it were the only way to have fun, or as if it were a necessary social obligation.
I can see getting a little carried away now and again (even then it shouldn't take too many hangovers to learn your limits) but I get the impression that a lot of people writing here are of the "Well, it's Friday night. Time to drink myself blind" sort, making a regular habit of heavy alcohol abuse.
Originally posted by Matsu
Don't drink too much alcohol. Pretty simple huh?
And you call yourself a Canadian
Hangovers are caused by de-hydration. You get dehydrated because alcohol suppresses release of ADH (Anti-Diuretic Hormone), which causes you to piss out lots of water.
The only real way to stop a hangover from occurring is to drink lots of water. I find a 1:1 ratio of drinks to water works for me unless I'm drinking stuff stronger than beer / wine. If I'm drinking stronger stuff I try to keep the 1:1 ratio, then drink another pint or two of water after I've finished drinking.
The last few drinks you take at the end of the night have basically no effect on you. They only kick in once your asleep, pointlessly ruining your sleep (one of the major factors in a hangover) and increasing your dehydration in the morning.
So it can be a good idea to train yourself to stop drinking at midnight (or whatever time is appropriate to your lifestyle) and switch to water.
It pays to remember that alcohol dehydrates you and so by the end of the evening a big part of the need to drink is because your body is desperately short of fluids i.e. a genuine 'thirst'. Your body foolishly thinks another double gin and tonic is going to help rather than hinder. Drinking water throughout the evening can help fight this too.
before/ during drinking, eat food too.
drink water before going to sleep.
have sex. (that involves being not too drunk for that..)
when you wake up drink more water. keep a water bottle next to your bed.
for the morning stuff to eat, some suggest bloody mary. i can't drink that though, tomato juice makes me always vomit. i'd suggest some salty stuff - omelettes, salted sardines, dried shrimps (check the italo/mexican groceries for those).
if i feel too miserable, i stay in bed untill i'm ok.
Originally posted by thuh Freak
one thing not to drnk morning after is tea. i don't know what about it (i presume the milk/cream) is quite unsettling.
milk??? in your tea???
Originally posted by Giaguara
milk??? in your tea???
lol. yes. and a bit (and by "bit", i mean a "lot") of sugar. i drink it without milk, when i'm out, or when the mood strikes, but generally i prefer it with. for that story, the first attempt was with, and the second without, if memory serves.
Originally posted by Giaguara
milk??? in your tea???
Why do you think that's weird?
But for my now thankfully infrequent hangovers (age will do that to you) I always preferred a large Coke and a greasy cheesburger
Originally posted by HOM
...or way to prevent them in the first place?
Don't drink alcohol
When I didn't have access to such water I would drink gatorade. I read somewhere that gatorade is better for hydration than regular tap water.
I've also read that driking tomato juice has been proven effective in eliminating hangovers too.
Originally posted by HOM
So, I am trashed right now, but know that I am going to pay for it when I wake up. Anybody have a bullet proof hang over remedy or way to prevent them in the first place?
Dont drink!
2) Drink only beer and/or vodka (and other purer distillates -> no whiskey).
3) From time to time, drink a glass of water (<- not before you're well drunk, of course
4) Before going to bed, drink a lot of water (>1.5l), carbohydrates and mineral salts (gatorade etc.) certainly won't harm, no drugs.
5) Sleep 3 hours (alarm clock, there's no REM sleep anyway, unless you're trained), piss, drink another liter.
6) Sleep another 3-4 hours.
7) Start the day with a good breakfast.
It's always a good idea to keep track of your alcohol grams. Personally, I used to convert everything I drink to beer (4.5-5%). For me, 3l beer equiv means that I have to slow down, I can manage 4l without a hangover, after that I risk a lost day (+0.5l afternoon bonus).
If you know that you "have" to drink a lot the following days/week (holiday-trip), start a few days earlier with training, you'll sleep better when it's important.