Hangovers

How to manage dehydration due to excessive alcohol (hangover)

Alcohol consumption leads to dehydration - believed to be one of the major causes of hangover. Symptoms of hangover related to dehydration include –

  • dry mouth
  • increased thirst
  • headache
  • lethargy (tiredness)

The National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia) recommends that adult men and women drink no more than 4 standard drinks on any one drinking occasion. Above that number is considered excess and can increase the risk of health-related injury.

In Australia, a standard drink is any drink containing 10 grams of pure alcohol, and beverage labels are required to state the number of standard drinks.

Alcohol is a diuretic (a substance that increases urine output).

Research has shown that approximately 100 ml of additional urine output occurs for every 10g alcohol consumed.

Excessive alcohol consumption involving 6 to 10 standard drinks could therefore lead to a net fluid loss of 600 – 1000 ml or more and therefore significant dehydration.

Drinking non-alcoholic beverages (e.g. water, juice) during and soon after alcohol consumption may reduce the level of dehydration. However, these may not prevent the ongoing diuresis.

Drinking of an oral rehydration solution such as Hydralyte is preferable to these other beverages for the following reasons:

  • rehydration is likely to be more rapid
  • the retention of water and electrolytes is superior
  • a person is more likely to sleep longer (and feel better afterwards) due to the lessened need to urinate 

Suggested Dosage

Take 400 ml of Hydralyte (slowly) after the drinking occasion and prior to going to bed.

Consult with your doctor or pharmacist if you intend to take Hydralyte for more than three days in a row.

Warnings

Hydralyte contains approximately 0.8 mg/ml potassium. If you have kidney disease or are taking heart or blood pressure medicines – consult your doctor before using Hydralyte.
Hydralyte contains sodium. Refer to packaging for content.

 

References

  1. Strauss MB, Rosenbaum JD and Nelson WP. 1950. The effect of alcohol on the renal excretion of water and electrolyte. J Clinical Investigation. 29 (8): 1053-1058.
  2. Wiese JG, Shlipak MG, Browner WS. 2000. The alcohol hangover. Annals of Internal Medicine: 132 (11): 897 - 902