Symptoms
Among the symptoms of a hangover a general feeling of discomfort and misery, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, loss of appetite, dry mouth, thirst, sweating, and cognitive and psychological disorders.
Causes
A hangover usually occurs the morning after excessive alcohol consumption. The condition is further worsened by too little sleep and dehydration.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis can usually be self-diagnosed, and contact with a physician is necessary only in severe cases.
Non-drug treatment
The symptoms usually disappear on their own within 24 hours, even without treatment.
- Bed rest
- Rest
- Sufficient liquid to take
- Have a snack
Drug treatment
For drug treatment, painkillers such as acetylsalicylic acid are traditionally used (e.g. Alka-Seltzer). However, such nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are of limited use in our view because they may further irritate the digestive tract. Better tolerated is generally paracetamol, which, however, has liver-toxic properties.
