Everyone has an anti-hangover method they swear by. Whether it’s drinking tons of water, hair of the dog, or a breakfast of fast food burgers, none of these really work to prevent or reduce a hangover. In order to “fix” a hangover, you need to understand how alcohol affects your body.  

What Causes a Hangover?

We all know that overindulging in alcoholic drinks results in a hangover, but the science behind the process is less well known.

Alcoholic drinks are what is commonly known as a diuretic. Diuretics are liquids that cause your body to lose water at a faster rate than it is being replenished. There’s a reason you feel like you use the restroom more often when you’ve been drinking. Over the course of the night, your body is gradually becoming dehydrated.

Additionally, you lose electrolytes which facilitate the moving of liquid throughout your body. When you wake up the next morning, you are at peak dehydration leading to headaches and an overall uncomfortable feeling.

A night of drinking can also lead you to experience nausea or vomiting on the morning after. When you drink alcoholic beverages, your stomach responds by increasing acid production. This causes irritation that can result in an upset stomach.

Alcohol can also interfere with your body’s glucose production which lowers your overall blood sugar. Low blood sugar can account for hangover symptoms like dizziness, irritation, and general fatigue.

In combination with dehydration, hangover headaches can be caused by your blood cells dilating. Drinking alcohol causes your blood vessels to widen which can give you a headache.

How the Hangover IV Helps

Hangover IVs are made to reduce the symptoms of your hangover and help you recover faster. There are three components to the hangover IV. 

Rehydrates

Dehydration is the culprit for most hangover symptoms. By prioritizing rehydrating your body, you can recover faster. The hangover IV does this by hydrating your body intravenously. This is a faster and more effective method of rehydration. By entering your body intravenously, you bypass the stomach absorption process, and your body can immediately use the balanced solution to start recovering and replacing essential electrolytes lost. The hangover IV is also a good alternative for those who feel too nauseous to drink water.

Lessens Headaches

While dehydration can also result in headaches, even with intravenous hydration, it may take some time for your symptoms to lessen. The hangover IV handles this issue by including a non-narcotic pain reliever in its formula. This helps keep your headache away until the electrolyte solution has been properly distributed through your body. Additionally, oral pain relievers (Advil, Motrin) can often irritate the stomach.

Reduces Nausea

Like the non-narcotic pain reliever, the hangover IV has the antiemetic zofran designed to make your morning after more pleasant. The hangover IV is formulated with this anti-nausea medication which will help calm your stomach. This will increase your personal comfort, but will also allow you to eat food to restore your electrolytes.

The Takeaway

There is no miracle cure for a hangover, but a hangover IV can target and reduce the negative after effects of alcohol. Intravenous hydration works to replenish water and electrolytes you lost while drinking alcohol. The addition of a non-narcotic pain reliever helps mitigate headaches while you wait for your body to process the rehydration. Finally, the anti-nausea medication calms your stomach and prevents vomiting. All of these components work together to help you start feeling your best again.