The astringency from the tannins is what causes the dry feeling in the mouth when you drink these beverages or eat food high in tannins like unripe fruit. The role of alcohol in triggering migraine attacks is unclear, and the research is limited. If you’ve been diagnosed with migraine and you have questions about drinking alcohol or anything else related to the condition, it can help to talk to others who understand.

Is alcohol or another component of the drink the trigger?

The same is true if you find that some types of alcohol trigger your migraine headaches more than others. Avoiding migraine triggers is one of the only sure-fire ways to avoid migraine symptoms. Several studies suggest that alcohol, especially red wine, may trigger migraine attacks. Alcohol may trigger migraine attacks, and it’s very unlikely to ease them. Alcohol-induced migraine is different than a hangover, which is caused by overconsuming alcohol. Remaining hydrated is one way to reduce migraine attacks, but the type of beverage you choose matters.

Medical Professionals

This process often leads a person to question whether drinking alcohol actually causes attacks or simply makes existing migraine symptoms worse. The investigators even found a slightly lower probability of a migraine attack on the second day after alcohol consumption. If you experience migraine headaches after drinking alcohol, it may be best to avoid alcohol.

What triggers migraine attacks?

If it does, you’ll need to drink less or stay away from all alcohol. After a night on the town, it’s easy to blame a headache on too much alcohol. But if you’re prone to migraine headaches, drinking even a small amount of alcohol can bring on an attack. Immediate alcohol-induced headaches are rarer than hangovers, and even a small amount of alcohol might trigger them in people who, for instance, experience migraines. Hi, I’m Dr. Amaal Starling, a neurologist at Mayo Clinic specializing in headache disorders.

1. If both stress and alcohol are migraine triggers for you, combining them won’t do you any favors.
2. Aura is the term that we use for these temporary reversible neurologic symptoms.
3. People can talk with their doctors about possible methods to prevent or ease alcohol-induced headaches.
4. If you do drink alcohol, it’s important to be mindful of your consumption and to experiment to see what works best for you.
5. Migraines in general have been linked to variations in genes, especially those that regulate blood flow to the brain.
6. However, alcohol is traditionally considered a migraine trigger, with some research suggesting that it prompts episodes in about one-third of people.

Consider joining our Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine. Start your search with these complementary and integrative therapies. Then, consider exploring more treatment options with our other free resources.

It has also been proposed that alcohol triggers an inflammatory response that can lead to a headache. Medication-overuse headaches occur when medications stop relieving pain and begin to cause headaches. You then use more pain medication, which continues the cycle. Medications can help prevent some migraines and make them less painful. The right medicines, combined with self-help remedies and lifestyle changes, might help. However, if you have a serious reaction or severe pain, see your doctor.

Other known triggers include certain medications, drinking alcohol, especially red wine, drinking too much caffeine, stress. Sleep changes, weather changes, skipping meals or even certain foods like aged cheeses and processed foods. The exact mechanism behind this observation may indicate that migraine leads to alcohol-avoidance rather than alcohol having a protective role against migraine. However, there is a need to conduct further studies related to primary headaches and alcohol consumption with low risk of bias. Additionally, patients and physicians should consider the latest medical knowledge to avoid perpetuating the myths about alcohol consumption and primary headaches. Additionally, it would be useful to check whether migraine patients enjoy the advantages or disadvantages of less drinking.

Remember, your health care providers want to work with you to make your symptoms as manageable as possible. The best way to find out what triggers your migraine is to keep a journal. Track what you eat and drink, how much sleep you get, and other potential triggers (such as stress). You may find that alcohol triggers your migraine, or you may see that alcohol has no effect on your symptoms. Once you know what effect alcohol has on your body, you can make decisions about whether to drink at all — and, if so, how much to drink and when.

Quit your wine-ing?

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. According to Beyond Celiac, distilled gin Motives and Side-Effects of Microdosing With Psychedelics Among Users PMC and vodka are gluten free. It’s important to make sure that no gluten was added after the distillation process, especially if celiac disease is a factor for you. Generally, these clear alcohols are highly distilled and have almost no leftover congeners from the beginning fermentation process. While alcohol can help you feel sleepy and induce sleep, it tends to interfere with sleep in the later stages of the evening.