Flavonoid phenols, abundant in red wine, have been studied for their potential role in triggering migraine. Alcohol-induced migraine attacks are typically more severe and can occur shortly after consumption or even the next day. Higher alcohol content generally increases the risk of triggering a migraine. Alcohol headaches usually happen after drinking and are often due to dehydration and some other factors.

These symptoms may begin within minutes or hours of drinking and vary widely in severity. Nausea and/or vomiting is just one of many symptoms a person living with migraine might experience. The difference between these two types of headaches is subtle. While anyone can experience DAIH, people with migraine are more susceptible. Even a modest amount of alcohol can cause people with migraine to develop a delayed headache or trigger an attack. If you aren’t sure that alcohol is to blame for your headaches, try keeping a diary.

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It’s important to stay updated on the latest migraine research and treatment strategies. The American Migraine Foundation Resource Library provides a wealth of articles designed to assist you in understanding your symptoms and treatment options. Pregnancy can add another complicated layer to your migraine journey, but having a strong support system will make it easier to navigate the ups and downs. You can find additional support from people in your position and those who have already experienced pregnancy with migraine in our Move Against Migraine Facebook group. The content on this website is provided for educational purposes only. Once it gets into your system, it is converted into a chemical that triggers migraine.

Over the years, research has shown that moderate alcohol consumption may provide health benefits over total abstinence. In spite of this, there are some people for whom combining alcohol with a tendency toward migraines. Patients often make this decision after experiencing a strong connection between alcohol and migraines firsthand. Understanding how alcohol affects your migraine symptoms is crucial. By making informed choices and prioritizing your health, you can still enjoy social events without compromising your well-being.

Types of Alcohol Most Likely to Trigger Migraines

There have been several proposed explanations for how alcohol causes headaches. Dr. Michael Yang is a board-certified neurologist and headache specialist at the Gundersen Health System in Wisconsin. He is an active member of the American Headache Society and the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Yang is currently actively involved in several research projects on migraine. Headaches, including migraine, are treatable with the right combination of medication and lifestyle adjustments.

Amount of Alcohol Consumption and Timing of Migraine

Avoid alcoholic and sugary drinks when you have migraine, especially during an attack. Dark liquors and red wines may be particularly harmful due to their sugar, sulfate, tannin, and histamine content. Since the research migraine from drinking on alcohol as a migraine trigger is limited, and everyone’s body metabolizes foods and drinks differently, it can be helpful to tune into what yours is telling you. Rosen was a co-author of a small 2022 study of 487 people who mostly drank alcohol in low amounts. The data did not suggest a significant link between consuming alcohol and a migraine attack within 24 hours. Even a small amount of alcohol can sometimes spur on a migraine attack.

Those who were included in this study had episodic migraine and self-identified as low dose alcohol consumers. Moore says that there may not be a safe amount to drink, and this corresponds with the latest advice from the World Health Organization. Look for options with lower levels of triggering chemicals, like low-tannin wines. He also recommends speaking with a doctor before mixing triptans with alcohol or other drugs. Resveratrol is a plant compound that may have some health benefits, like lowering blood pressure, though more research is needed. Migraine sufferers, particularly those with aura, already have a slightly elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.

Migraine vs. alcohol-induced headache

While headache is generally recognized as a side effect of alcohol in many people, its reputation as a migraine headache trigger may be overestimated. 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. Migraines and their triggers are very individual – what affects one person may cause no problems for the next.

It has also been proposed that alcohol triggers an inflammatory response that can lead to a headache. Migraine Again follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions. However, more recent research indicates no relationship between tension type headaches and alcohol consumption.

Some research suggests that congeners play a role in hangovers, although factors such as inflammation also contribute. A 2015 study suggests that the inactivity of alcohol dehydrogenase 2, an enzyme that helps break down alcohol, might contribute to hangover headaches. However, the study author also cautions that no single factor causes all hangover headaches. Certain additives can increase the chance of developing a headache after drinking. People prone to headaches may be at a higher risk of experiencing alcohol-related headaches.

Additionally, it’s possible to have migraine episodes and hangovers, Rosen said. A delayed alcohol-induced headache is what we commonly call a hangover. Just like no two people are alike, different types of alcohol have distinct chemical makeup and effects on the body. This dehydration can in turn can contribute to triggering a migraine in susceptible individuals. Finally, it’s important to know the difference between alcohol headaches – also known as hangovers – and migraine. Keeping track of how different drinks affect you can help you figure out which ones cause headaches.

• Stress from work, personal issues, diet, toxins, physical stress, chemical or emotional stress can all have negative impacts on oxidative stress, energy levels and even inflammation.
• Alcohol-induced headaches generally resolve within 72 hours of onset, although they can and many do last for a shorter time period.
• People who suffer with cluster headaches are particularly sensitive to dark beers, according to Dr. Aurora.
• Safe drinking habits can help avoid painful episodes, this is evident.

Dehydration triggers some migraine cases; therefore, drinking plenty of water can help, even after the fact. Drinking water helps replenish your fluids and flush the alcohol out of your system. If you tend to get migraines within three hours or less of drinking, this might work best for you. If none of the preventative measures above work or you didn’t know alcohol triggered migraines until after the fact, there are still options available to you. However, if you already have a headache, it is a good idea to stop drinking. The exact reasons why alcohol triggers migraine attacks are not fully understood, but there are a few likely culprits.

How to tell if alcohol triggers your migraine attacks

• While in some cases it is likely the presence of alcohol itself, it is also possible that specific components of different alcoholic drinks act as triggers.
• And for about one-third of people who have migraines, alcohol is also a trigger.
• Some people only sip a glass or two of wine before their head starts to throb.
• Then consider joining our Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine.

More research will help to determine the effects of specific alcohol content on a person’s headaches. Treatment options vary, from acute treatment to relieve symptoms to preventive treatment to reduce the number of attacks you experience. There are also behavioral treatment options and lifestyle changes that can help. Alternative migraine therapies can work alongside traditional treatments to reduce migraine attack frequency and lessen the impact of symptoms. Migraine is a disabling disease that no one should have to go through alone.