Having a few alcoholic drinks may feel good in the moment, but that’s often followed by waking up the next morning feeling the physical effects of a hangover.1
It might be tempting to turn to comfort food or large amounts of coffee, but the best hangover remedies include proper hydration, rest and innovative therapies such as IV Drips with essential vitamins and nutrients that can help ease hangover symptoms.
Before you take a sip of your next drink and end up feeling worse for wear the following morning, here are the symptoms of a hangover and the Hangover IV Drip nutrients that may help reduce those symptoms.
Why Hangovers Happen
Alcohol causes hangovers, but that happens due to various factors.1 Alcohol is a diuretic, which makes you urinate more frequently. This can lead to dehydration that causes headaches, thirst, fatigue, dizziness and lightheadedness.
Frequent urination can also deplete electrolyte stores, which are the essential chemicals responsible for helping your body function properly, such as sodium, potassium and calcium. However, while electrolyte imbalances may contribute to hangover symptoms,1 it’s important to remember they are not considered a primary cause.2
Alcohol can also increase inflammation, disrupt sleep and irritate the stomach, leading to symptoms such as nausea and slowed digestion.1
When alcohol (ethanol) is metabolized (broken down) by the liver, it creates a toxic compound called acetaldehyde.2 While only temporarily present in the body, acetaldehyde toxicity contributes to inflammation of the liver, brain, gastrointestinal tract and other organs. This can cause symptoms such as nausea, stomach discomfort and general illness.
What are the Symptoms of a Hangover?
Nobody wants to wake up with a hangover. When one strikes, it can include a range of physical and mental symptoms,1 such as:
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Increased sensitivity to light and sound
- Muscle aches
- Vertigo
- Nausea and vomiting
- Thirst
- Weakness
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Apathy
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Rapid heartbeat
Hangover severity and symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. This is mainly due to several factors.1 These include the direct effect of alcohol on an individual, including alcohol withdrawal and metabolism rates, as well as non-alcohol causes, including other components found in the consumed beverages, use of other drugs (especially nicotine), personality type and family history of alcoholism.
Not all hangovers are created equally, either. One morning after a night of partying may only lead to a mild hangover, while another could leave you suffering. Depending on the circumstances of that specific drinking session, a hangover may be more (or less) severe.
For example, it's often recommended not to drink on an empty stomach—and there’s evidence to back it up. Research has shown that food intake can have a significant impact on hangover severity.3 The presence of key minerals in the body, including zinc, copper and magnesium, may influence how alcohol is metabolized or influence hangovers through antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties.
One study suggested that those with a diet rich in nicotinic acid (niacin) and Zinc report less severe hangovers. These foods include meats, poultry, fish, nuts, seeds and legumes.3
How IV Drip Therapy Can Help Reduce Hangover Symptoms
While hangover symptoms don’t usually last more than 24 hours (although it can feel like an eternity), there are additional steps you can take to help reduce and relieve hangover symptoms, including proper rest, nutritious meals and hydration.4
One of the most effective ways to ensure your body is hydrated, with not just water but also vitamins and nutrients essential for helping your body recover, is IV Drip Therapy.
This involves delivering fluids and revitalizing nutrients directly into your bloodstream via a vein in your arm. Compared to oral supplements, which typically result in just 15-20% nutrient absorption, IV Drip Therapy offers 100% bioavailability by administering the nutrients directly into your body’s circulation to maximize effectiveness.
As a result, this treatment may help your body hydrate and utilize the vitamins and minerals more quickly and efficiently.
The Best IV Drips for Hangover
We recommend the Hangover IV, specially formulated to help you recover from the night before. We offer an extensive IV Drip menu of specific Drips, but we can also customize an IV Drip blend tailored to your individual goals and needs.
This can include science-backed nutrients that may help alleviate symptoms associated with hangovers. These nutrients include:
Glutathione: The Master Detoxifier
Glutathione is one of the most powerful antioxidants available. It's an amino acid produced in the liver and is essential for neutralizing toxins and repairing oxidative damage. When alcohol is consumed, it’s broken down into acetaldehyde, a highly toxic compound linked to many hangover symptoms.
Known as the “Master Detoxifier,” Glutathione has strong detoxification properties, which are essential for removing alcohol from the body. Research shows that Glutathione supplementation can help lower acetaldehyde levels, promoting more efficient detoxification.5,6 In addition to clearing harmful byproducts, Glutathione helps repair cells damaged by oxidative stress, meaning it may play a crucial role in reducing hangover symptoms.6
Magnesium: Reduce Headaches & Cramping
Because alcohol acts as a diuretic, it causes the body to excrete more Magnesium, an essential mineral for muscle, nerve and cardiovascular function, as well as energy production. Magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle cramping, headaches, restlessness and poor sleep.
Replacing Magnesium through IV Drip Therapy may help restore depleted levels quickly. Magnesium plays a critical role in maintaining overall health and has been associated with improved cardiovascular function, reduced migraines and positive mental well-being.7 It has also been linked to better sleep quality, which is key in easing hangover discomfort.7
Vitamin C: Antioxidant Protection
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant vital for maintaining long-term health. The body cannot produce the vitamin on its own, so it must be obtained through diet and supplementation. As alcohol is a diuretic, more Vitamin C can be lost through urination and needs to be replaced.
Vitamin C plays a crucial role in immune defense, protecting against oxidative stress and fighting free radicals.8 It helps with iron absorption, which helps the immune system function and protect the body from disease.8
Toradol: Fast-Acting Pain Relief
If you’re experiencing pain, we can add Toradol to your Drip. Toradol contains the active ingredient ketorolac trometamol and is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that provides rapid relief from inflammation and pain.
It works by blocking prostaglandins, chemical messengers responsible for pain and swelling. This means it may be effective for hangover-related headaches, body aches and general discomfort. Administered intravenously, it offers a fast, targeted response for those seeking immediate relief.
Vitamin B12: Boost Your Energy & Cognition
Vitamin B12 is vital for red blood cell formation, brain health and energy production. Alcohol impairs its absorption and use in the body. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to mood imbalances, brain fog and fatigue.
Maintaining adequate levels of B12 is essential for good health. Studies show Vitamin B12 can help improve cognitive clarity and protect the brain from long-term damage from alcohol.9
Zofran: Nausea Relief
Nausea is one of the most disruptive hangover symptoms, driven by alcohol’s effects on the gut and brain. Zofran is a well-studied antiemetic (anti-sickness medication) that works by blocking serotonin receptors involved in the vomiting reflex. Clinically proven to relieve nausea in a variety of medical scenarios, Zofran provides fast-acting and dependable relief, helping users feel functional again sooner.
More research is needed to understand how Zofran works with hangover symptoms.
B Complex: Metabolic & Neurological Support
B Complex consists of B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6, and they are essential for cellular energy, liver detoxification and neurotransmitter function.
Alcohol rapidly depletes these nutrients, impairing both metabolism and recovery. Replacing them helps restore energy, improve mental clarity and support liver health.3Vitamin B3 (Nicotinic Acid), also known as Niacin, has been found to relieve hangover symptoms in social drinkers significantly.3
Studies have shown that B6 in particular can reduce the severity of hangover symptoms and support healthy brain function.3
Other Nutrients That May Support Recovery
There are additional nutrients that may help relieve hangover symptoms. These can be customized to an IV Drip along with those outlined above. The nutrients listed below have been scientifically proven to support your body during recovery and may help alleviate hangover symptoms.
- Taurine: an amino acid that has been shown to reduce inflammation, support detoxification and protect the liver from the effects of alcohol.10
- Zinc: Studies suggest that social drinkers who have higher Zinc and nicotinic acid (niacin) in their systems experience less severe hangovers than those who don’t.4
This may be because Zinc helps to metabolize alcohol faster andStudies suggest that social drinkers who have higher Zinc and nicotinic acid (niacin) in their systems experience less severe hangovers than those who don’t.3 This may be because Zinc helps to metabolize alcohol faster and has anti-inflammatory properties. - Amino Acids: The building blocks of protein and are essential for a range of functions. One in particular—L-Cysteine—was found to prevent or alleviate a hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.11 It may also help the body more efficiently process alcohol.
Reset Your Health with Restore IV Drip Therapy
At Restore, we offer an extensive IV Drip Menu with options like our Hangover IV Drip and our trusty Recharge IV Drip. We can also work with you to customize a blend that includes the essential vitamins and minerals you need to help ease your recovery from a hangover.
FAQs
1. Does an IV actually cure a hangover?
While there isn’t evidence to support one cure for a hangover, there are things you can do to help ease symptoms. The nutrients and vitamins in IV Drip Therapy may help alleviate symptoms and leave you feeling significantly better.
2. Is it safe to get an IV Therapy Drip after a night of drinking?
At Restore, we adhere to strict safety protocols overseen by medical professionals. You will have a consultation to discuss your health history, and a Registered Nurse will assess your vitals before administering your treatment.
3. Can I just drink water instead?
Oral hydration may work for mild hangover symptoms, whereas IV Drip Therapy may be helpful for a broader range of symptoms, including fatigue, sickness and headaches. Opting for an IV Drip may be particularly effective when nausea or vomiting makes it difficult to keep down fluids.
4. How can I prevent future hangovers?
More research is needed to find a fail-safe hangover remedy. To avoid severe hangovers, moderation or abstinence is key. If you choose to drink, stay hydrated, eat balanced meals and get plenty of sleep. Prevention is often the best strategy.
5. How long does IV Drip treatment last?
Treatment takes 60-90 minutes with a safe and effective intravenous infusion of essential vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and/or amino acids.
6. How often should you get IV Drips?
The IV Hangover Drip is intended to help patients recover and revitalize as quickly as possible. IV Drips, in general, however, can be administered weekly or as needed. The frequency of treatment should be personalized to match your health needs and objectives.
Medical services are provided by an independently-owned physician practice. Some services may require medical clearance and a prescription. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. Services, therapies, nutrients and prices may vary per location. The content on our site, blog posts, educational materials, app, promotional newsletters, and any other written content are not intended to replace an evaluation with a qualified healthcare professional and are not intended as medical advice.
