Hogewoning A, et al. – This study entailed the scrutiny of the characteristics of drinkers who claimed to be hangover immune and compared them with drinkers who did report having hangovers. The data revealed that in contrast to drinkers with a hangover, for those who claimed to be hangover immune, next–day adverse effects of alcohol consumption appeared to be limited to a mild increase in drowsiness–related symptoms.

Methods

• 36 social drinkers took part in a naturalistic study consisting of a hangover day (alcohol consumed) and a control day (no alcohol consumed).
• Cumulation of findings was performed on alcohol consumption, demographics, sleep, next-day adverse effects, and mood.
• A comparison was pursued of the data from drinkers with a hangover (N=18) were compared with data from drinkers who claim to be hangover immune (N=18).

Results

• Drinkers with a hangover exhibited drowsiness-related symptoms, symptoms related to reduced cognitive functioning, and classic hangover symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, and stomach pain.
• Corresponding mood changes increased feelings of depression, anger–hostility, fatigue, and reduced vigor-activity.
• On the other hand, hangover-immune drinkers displayed a considerably few hangover symptoms, with only mild corresponding severity scores.
• The reported symptoms appeared to be limited to drowsiness-related symptoms such as sleepiness and being tired.