Locations:
Search IconSearch

Can Coffee Help Cure a Hangover?

Drinking coffee won’t make the pain go away, but it could make it worse

help for a hangover

On any normal morning, you might automatically reach for a cup of coffee for a caffeine-packed boost. But after a night of … well, let’s just say overindulging in a few adult beverages … you probably feel like you really need that cup of joe.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

But here’s the deal: That java juice might not be as helpful as you think in dulling the effects of a hangover — and it may actually make some of your symptoms worse.

Emergency medicine physician James Roach, DO, explains.

Hangover 101

After a lively evening, alcohol has a tendency to leave its toxic fingerprints on your body. Whether your drink of choice is beer, wine or various spirits, your internal system has a way of letting you know if you overindulged.

A headache, nausea, dry mouth and fatigue — telltale signs of a hangover — all serve as part of alcohol’s morning-after residue.

There are multiple reasons for the icky feeling, but the main culprit is dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which makes you pee more. The fluid you lose with every restroom visit pushes your body’s tank toward empty.

To add to the issue, alcohol consumption also slows the release of an antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) that works to keep your body’s hydration levels balanced.

Does coffee help hangovers?

So, if you’re dehydrated, drinking coffee should help, right? Not exactly.

Coffee also is a diuretic that makes you urinate more — which means, it’s not going to be much help refilling your depleted reserves. (Coffee also can make you poop, too.) “Drinking coffee could actually slow down your rehydration process,” notes Dr. Roach.

Advertisement

The caffeine in coffee might not be kind to your hangover headache, as well. Caffeine narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure, and that could amplify the painful pounding inside of your noggin.

Of course, if you’re used to getting a morning coffee fix and skip it, then you run the risk of a caffeine withdrawal headache. So, if coffee is part of your usual routine, you might want to have a small cup — but don’t overdo it, advises Dr. Roach.

Can coffee sober you up?

Forget what you’ve seen in movies about sobering up quickly with a strong cup of java. It can’t undo a night of imbibing. “The drink is made from coffee beans, not magic beans,” says Dr. Roach.

Now the pick-me-up from the caffeine may offer a temporary energy boost and increase in alertness, but coffee has no ability to make you less drunk.

What should you drink for a hangover?

First of all, let’s get one thing clear: There is no sure-fire cure for a hangover. “There is no shortage of claims about miracle cures,” says Dr. Roach, “but they’re as real as a leprechaun riding a unicorn.”

So, what can you do? The most obvious way to halt a hangover is to simply not drink so much.

If you’re reading this article, however, it’s possible that closing your bar tab early is no longer a viable option. In that case, Dr. Roach recommends keeping it simple with water.

“Drink a glass before you go to bed and do the same thing when you get up,” he says.

Sports drinks also can help you hydrate, with the added bonus of restoring lost nutrients and electrolytes. But whatever you drink, take it slow: You can’t rehydrate in an instant by guzzling gallons.

Which brings us to the one thing that can make a hangover go away. “It’s just going to take time for your body to process the alcohol,” says Dr. Roach. “You’ll feel better eventually.”

Just don’t expect to find that better feeling at the bottom of a cup of coffee.

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Elderly patient’s hand being held by a caregiver
November 1, 2024/Brain & Nervous System
Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease: Are They The Same?

Alzheimer’s is just one common cause of cognitive decline categorized as ‘dementia’

Person with head against eye exam equipment, with provider looking through other end at eyes
October 30, 2024/Brain & Nervous System
Your Vision Can Predict Dementia — Here’s How

Changes to your vision may have an impact on the way your brain processes information

Person holding head in forgetfulness next to close up of a brain and magnifying glass and DNA strand
October 29, 2024/Brain & Nervous System
Understanding How Some Dementia Is Hereditary

Your risk for familial Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of hereditary dementia increases if an immediate family member has it

People in a park, walking a dog, sitting on bench, with a child and dotted lines of them running around
October 25, 2024/Children's Health
Autism and Elopement: What You Need To Know About Wandering

Securing your home, preparing your neighbors and teaching your loved one to swim are key to ensuring your child’s safety

Three happy females sitting at table outside playing cards
October 25, 2024/Brain & Nervous System
14 Ways To Limit Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Research suggests that up to 45% of current Alzheimer’s cases may have been avoidable

Child bent over coloring book, coloring with a marker
October 23, 2024/Children's Health
ADHD vs. Autism: What’s the Difference?

Between 50% and 70% of autistic people also have an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis

Smiling caregiver holding smiling toddler interacting with smiling healthcare provider in medical hallway
October 21, 2024/Children's Health
What ‘High-Functioning Autism’ Means (and Why You Shouldn’t Call It That)

Describing people as ‘high- or low-functioning’ is both medically inaccurate and dehumanizing

Palm of hand holding two capsules
October 14, 2024/Digestive
Is Acetaminophen Safe To Take When You’re Drinking?

The answer depends on both dosage and drinking habits

Trending Topics

Female and friend jogging outside
How To Increase Your Metabolism for Weight Loss

Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress

stovetop with stainless steel cookware and glassware
5 Ways Forever Chemicals (PFAS) May Affect Your Health

PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body

jar of rice water and brush, with rice scattered around table
Could Rice Water Be the Secret To Healthier Hair?

While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims

Ad