I Tested 4 Popular Hangover Cures – Here’s What Actually Works (and What’s a Waste of Money)

I’ve tried to make this as scientifically sound an experiment as possible, but it is important to remember that this is a very – perhaps entirely – subjective review and is meant neither as a medical recommendation nor as a glorification of binge-drinking. 

Quite the opposite, in fact; the only surefire way to avoid hangovers is to not drink. But should you choose to drink, this experiment should help narrow down your choices at no expense to anyone but me and my liver. 

I’m in my 40s now (and a father), and I can get a hangover if I sleep in the wrong position. As such, a few beers in a single sitting typically makes me feel somewhere between “subpar” and “pretty crappy” in the morning, particularly if my toddler wakes up early. For this experiment, I drank the same amount of the same beer each night, used one of the products as indicated on its packaging, drank at least 80oz of water throughout the day, ate about the same amount of dinner (I didn’t eat the same exact thing – life’s too short), and slept at least seven hours. I’ve given each product an average rating based on its ease of use (how easy it is to carry around and to take), taste, and perceived effectiveness.

First, as a control, I used no product. I drank three pints of 5.0% ABV lager (Carlsberg is cheap, readily available, and reasonably easy to substitute) over the course of three hours. I slept 7 hours and woke up groggy but able to workout. There was no headache, though I experienced cottonmouth and fuzz behind the eyes, as well as decreased energy. 

Time to test some products…

Testing and Scoring

Upside 

This is, by far, the weirdest option. In its wrapper, it looks like any narrow powder packet, but inside it’s a single long amber-colored worm of a thing that feels a bit like Jell-o and tastes sort of like a cola gummy (if you have food texture sensitivity, beware: it’s odd). You take it before “celebrating,” and it scores points for its portability; it’s unobtrusive in a pocket or purse and requires no water, mixing, or shaking. But, will I feel like hell tomorrow?

I felt no better than when I took nothing before drinking my three beers. Maybe I wasn’t ready for this jelly, or maybe the jelly just doesn’t work. I woke up with a headache – nothing skull-shattering but still unpleasant – but no nausea. My energy levels were low and my movements felt leaden. Upside does suggest that you can take a second jelly before bed which I did not do. Just make sure you brush your teeth after.

Ease of use: 8 – It’s like a funky candy and, even if you don’t like Jell-o, it’s small enough to not be an issue.

Taste: 5 – I am a garbage disposal who will eat anything, but some of you won’t like the “tropical berry” flavor that tastes like no berry or tropical fruit I’ve ever eaten. Bonus points for being vegan, in case that’s your thing.

Effectiveness: 1 – Did it do anything? Not really. That said, I’m writing this the day after testing it, so I’m not a complete waste of space. 

Overall: 4.66

Cheers Health

Whoever said there is no magic pill to prevent hangovers may be proven wrong. Cheers Health is straight-forward: once you finish drinking, take the pills. They have bombarded social media with ads and posts about the science behind their product. The packaging is excellent: I love the tidy, compact jar it comes in, as well as the accompanying literature that tells you to take it easy, drink more water, and not to rely on magic pills. That’s nice, but we are here to test silver bullets.

Ease of use: 7 – Swallowing pills shouldn’t be a barrier to entry for most, though you do have to take three.

Taste: N/A – If you’re tasting these, you’re doing it wrong. I’ve averaged the other two categories.

Effectiveness: 5 – I woke up with no nausea but still a headache behind the eyes and general lethargy.

Overall: 6

ZBiotics

ZBiotics is another example of great packaging. Each box reveals vials of an all-but-transparent liquid. The vials themselves make it look like an antidote – let’s hope that’s the case. The flavor is vaguely citrus, neither sweet nor tart, but since each vial only holds 14mL of liquid, it doesn’t really matter, it’s barely a sip. I was worse for wear the next day, experiencing virtually all symptoms of a hangover: persistent headache, nausea, and malaise.

Ease of use: 7 – It’s a quick gulp of half a fluid ounce and the vial is small and portable (but glass).

Taste: 5 – It’s not bad, but I’m happy you only have to have a sip of it.

Effectiveness: 3 – I woke up with a headache and nausea and ended up taking Advil despite sleeping an extra hour thanks to Daylight Savings.

Overall: 5

Liquid I.V. ‍

A pretty standard product; almost everyone has some experience mixing powder into liquid. I used the lemon-lime flavor (not sugar-free), and it tastes like your basic sports drink. As a former athlete, I appreciate its familiarity. It is a bit cloying if you don’t get the proportions right, but a full packet in 16oz of water balances nicely. It’s typically used the day after a night of drinking so you are taking this in the morning in desperation, hoping it dulls the sharper edges. 

I woke up with a hangover, but felt markedly better about a half hour after drinking it. It gave me an energy boost without the heart-racing associated with caffeine, my headache dissipated, and my stomach settled. I like it enough that I might take it on days when I haven’t had a drink but feel sluggish or dehydrated. Beware that it does have a lot of sugar and sodium so the sugar-free variety may be better if you want to cut back on calories.

Ease of use: 7 – It’s compact and easy to take with you wherever you go. However, it’s a powder so even the most fastidious among us will make a mess sometimes.

Taste: 8 – I happen to like lemon-lime sports drinks. Again, this is a biased review.

Effectiveness: 8 – I wish it did more to prevent the hangover rather than just fight the symptoms, but I suppose you could take it before you go to bed after drinking, too. I like that it gets rid of the cottonmouth and fogginess, and provides some pep.

Overall: 7.66

In Conclusion

Did we answer the big question: do these hangover prevention products work? The only way to avoid hangovers is to abstain from drinking altogether. Despite science and business teaming up to try to cure our ills with these various potions, none of these products was a surefire panacea, though they may help you recover a bit quicker. 

In the end, Liquid I.V. was my overall winner. It beat out the vegan Korean jelly, the Instagram capsules, and the GMO probiotic, and it did so by doing what sports drinks have always done: replacing what you’ve lost. At just over $1 per dose versus up to $12 per dose, Liquid I.V. shows that even self-optimization is often an expensive way to fix a cheap problem. 

I was excited to try these products, hoping that one might be magic. In the end, even when testing the other products, I found myself turning to Liquid I.V. to curtail the discomfort that the other products failed to prevent. It has earned a permanent spot in my medicine cabinet, though the best idea is probably to clear out my beer fridge. That said, the holidays are approaching.