Using paracetamol to cure a morning hangover is a bad idea
A night out on the town can leave many seeking a quick remedy for that pounding, unrelenting hangover headache. You know, the kind that makes you want to shut the blinds and wear sunglasses indoors.
But paracetamol, as powerful as it is for reducing day-after headaches, is not a recommended remedy. Pharmacists warn that paracetamol is broken down in the liver by the same enzyme as alcohol.
Anyone who drank the night before will not be doing their liver any favours by taking this painkiller. In forcing the liver to work overtime, paracetamol inhibits the body’s natural ability to filter alcohol out of the system, according to Germany's Federal Association of Pharmacists.
And while experts at the US Mayo Clinic say that "time is the only sure cure for a hangover," there are still a few things you can do to feel better.
One way to cure your headache is to take magnesium and apply a few drops of peppermint oil to your forehead. You can also switch to a painkiller tablet with a different active ingredient, like ibuprofen or aspirin.
Try to also replenish your minerals with bananas, mineral water or fruit juices. Eating something salty and rich in carbohydrates, like a pretzel, some toast or crackers, will also help to bring back your energy.
Some people swear by taking electrolytes, sometimes even doing so while still out and about to prevent a hangover from kicking in at all.
Electrolyte solutions, commonly prescribed when someone is suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea to replace lost minerals, can help to restore your body's balance after a hangover. However, pharmacists recommend using home remedies instead.
Taking electrolytes to prevent a hangover doesn't work anyway, they say. Instead, drinking plenty of water when out is key, as alcohol dehydrates the body. Having a glass of mineral water for every glass of wine, for example, helps to minimize the risk of a hangover.
