A handful of over-the-counter medicines can meaningfully reduce hangover symptoms, but no single pill eliminates a hangover entirely. The best approach is matching specific medications to your worst symptoms, whether that’s headache, nausea, or an upset stomach, while avoiding one common painkiller that can seriously harm your liver after a night of drinking.
For Headache and Body Aches
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is the safest go-to painkiller for hangover headaches. It reduces inflammation and relieves the throbbing pain most people associate with the morning after. Take it with food and water to minimize stomach irritation. Naproxen (Aleve) works similarly and lasts longer, which can be helpful if your hangover stretches into the afternoon.
Aspirin is another option, but it comes with a significant caveat. A study in the BMJ found that aspirin combined with alcohol significantly increases gastrointestinal blood loss. In 13 healthy subjects, blood loss from the GI tract was measurably higher when aspirin and alcohol were taken together, compared to aspirin alone. If you still have residual alcohol in your system the morning after, aspirin can irritate an already inflamed stomach lining. Ibuprofen is the better choice for most people.
Why You Should Avoid Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the one medicine you should actively skip during a hangover. When your body processes acetaminophen, the liver converts a small portion into a toxic byproduct called NAPQI. Normally, your liver neutralizes NAPQI with its built-in antioxidant reserves. But alcohol changes the equation. Drinking ramps up the specific liver enzyme (CYP2E1) responsible for creating NAPQI, meaning your liver produces more of the toxic compound while simultaneously depleting the antioxidant stores needed to clear it. The result can be serious liver damage, even at doses that would normally be safe.
This risk is highest in heavy or chronic drinkers, but even occasional drinkers should steer clear of acetaminophen the morning after. Reach for ibuprofen instead.
For Nausea and Upset Stomach
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is one of the most effective over-the-counter options for hangover nausea and stomach discomfort. It works by forming a protective coating over the lining of your stomach and esophagus, shielding them from stomach acid. This directly addresses the burning, queasy feeling that alcohol leaves behind. Take it as directed on the bottle. Keep in mind it can turn your tongue and stool black temporarily, which is harmless.
Standard antacids like calcium carbonate (Tums) or magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia) take a different approach. They neutralize excess stomach acid rather than coating the lining. These work well if your main symptom is heartburn or acid reflux rather than full-blown nausea. For stronger acid suppression, famotidine (Pepcid) reduces acid production at the source and can be taken before bed or in the morning. Some people take it before drinking as a preventive measure.
Prescription Anti-Nausea Medication
Ondansetron (Zofran), a prescription anti-nausea drug commonly used after surgery and chemotherapy, is sometimes used off-label for severe hangover nausea. It can reduce the urge to vomit, but it has real limitations in this context. It does nothing to protect against the direct irritation alcohol causes in the stomach lining, so it may take the edge off nausea without fully resolving it. Mixing it with alcohol still in your system can actually worsen nausea rather than relieve it. If your hangovers are severe enough that you’re considering prescription medication, that’s worth a conversation with your doctor about your drinking patterns more broadly.
Supplements Worth Knowing About
Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a supplement extracted from the Japanese raisin tree that has gained attention for its effects on alcohol metabolism. Research from USC found that DHM activates a cascade of mechanisms that help clear alcohol from the body faster. Specifically, it triggers the liver to produce more of the enzymes that break down both alcohol and its toxic byproduct, acetaldehyde, the compound largely responsible for hangover misery. It also boosts the efficiency of those enzymes, helping convert alcohol into simpler forms the body can eliminate more easily. DHM is widely available as a supplement and is typically taken before or during drinking rather than the morning after.
Vitamin B6 has some clinical backing as well. A double-blind study gave participants 400 mg of pyritinol (a form of B6) before, during, and after a party. Those who received the supplement reported significantly fewer hangover symptoms the next morning compared to the placebo group. B6 is involved in dozens of metabolic processes, and alcohol depletes it, so replenishing levels may help your body recover faster. A B-complex vitamin covers this base along with other B vitamins that alcohol strips away.
What Actually Works Best in Practice
The most effective hangover strategy combines targeted medication with the basics your body needs to recover. Dehydration drives many hangover symptoms, so water or an electrolyte drink does heavy lifting alongside any medicine you take. A simple, practical plan looks like this:
- For headache: ibuprofen taken with food and a full glass of water
- For nausea: bismuth subsalicylate or an antacid, depending on whether you feel queasy or have heartburn
- For overall recovery: electrolytes, a B-complex vitamin, and bland food when you can tolerate it
- To avoid: acetaminophen and aspirin on an empty stomach
Timing matters too. Many of these interventions work better when started early. Taking an antacid or famotidine before bed, drinking water between alcoholic drinks, or taking DHM during the evening can all reduce the severity of symptoms before they fully set in. By the time you wake up with a pounding headache and roiling stomach, you’re playing catch-up with inflammation and dehydration that started hours earlier.