Getting a Headache right after Drinking Alcohol?
You’ve had a little to drink – or maybe more than a little – and while you’re still having a good time, the headache strikes. What’s happening? Should you be concerned?
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Yes, you should be. If you have a headache within two or three hours of drinking alcohol, you’re experiencing something different from the familiar “hangover”. In fact, the International Headache Society has classified these as two different types of headache.
The headache that arrives early is known as an immediate alcohol-induced headache. That doesn’t mean it happens right away, but if it happens within 2-3 hours, it qualifies. This has sometimes been called the “cocktail headache”.
If these symptoms are new to you, you need to go to your doctor and explain your symptoms and medical history, in order to be sure something serious isn’t behind the headache.
Be sure you tell your doctor about any other headache conditions you have. It could be that people with tension-type headache, or migraine attacks, may be more susceptible to this rare alcohol induced headache. It could also be that the alcohol is triggering an attack.
If you have another headache condition, your best first step will be to treat (or continue to treat) that condition. Getting migraine attacks under control, for example, should improve the situation.
Unfortunately, immediate alcohol-induced headache is notoriously changeable. You may drink a little one day and get a headache, and drink a lot another day with no problem. The only way to certainly avoid the headache is to avoid the alcohol.
Do keep a headache diary, paying special attention to any alcohol you’re drinking. This will help your doctor diagnose you correctly and find a treatment plan which works for you.
21 June 2017 @ 6:06 pm
In the last couple of years, as soon as I have just one sip of alcohol I get a sudden severe headache that feels like I’m being stabbed in the head with lots of pins. It lasts for about 30 seconds and then goes away and generally I’m ok to carry on drinking afterwards. I don’t drink very often, but this never used to happen. What could this be and what should I do?
26 June 2017 @ 11:30 am
go to dr. like the article says since it never used to happen
7 August 2017 @ 12:49 pm
Primary Dr not sure. Anyone tell me the right kind of Dr to see?
Thanks
19 August 2017 @ 2:20 am
I been getting a pain in my neck left side and it’s seems to be going to the back of my head and on top had a massage really strong and the masseur said she could feel tightness in the top left of my shoulder these headache have been on and off for a while now any thought please
30 December 2017 @ 3:53 am
I’ve had headaches like that. I never thought of them as something different from a migraine, as they feel the same. Except when I have more than one drink made with vodka. That will sometimes induce a 9/10 attack with nausea, light, scent and loud noise intolerance, dizziness with chest pain. I have had EKGs that are normal, since these attacks. I have never had that happen from drinking any other alcohol or had chest pain with a migraine, so I just assumed it was an allergy and I just stay away from it. I will be talking to my neurologist about this at my next appointment.
17 April 2018 @ 7:27 am
I get severe head aches on the left side and through my eye only on the left. It leaves me bed ridden and being sick all day and i need to be in a very dark room. This can be caused by have just one beer, it doesn’t matter what brand
22 September 2021 @ 4:40 pm
Peter, this just started happening to me…8 days ago and it is horrible. What did you find out?
26 April 2018 @ 9:33 pm
I get a headache after one or two drinks nearly every time I drink. I don’t drink much or that often and get angry that I can’t enjoy a weekend drink. I recently started having iced tea vodka with iced tea as my Saturday night cocktail and it’s stopped…by doing some research it appears caffeine keeps headaches at bay.hope this helps-
2 January 2020 @ 1:14 pm
I wouldn’t think tea would have enough caffeine to have an effect but it’s possible.
19 June 2018 @ 5:29 pm
the same thing has been happening too me lately, always my left eye and left sinus cavity, after a few beers and I use to drink regularly and this never happened.
11 August 2018 @ 7:59 pm
Over the past 10 months I have been really suffering with the effect of alcohol when having any more than a couple of glasses of wine or four bottles of beer. I am now feeling the effects of two bottles of beer; the symptoms are a nauseating mild headache for ~24hrs or a glass of wine. I used to be a fairly regular drinker, but I am so put off with the symptoms that I have all but gone off drinking. Why is this happening??