If you used Clearing in 2024, how did you find it?

Avoiding headaches when drinking

I've been trying to drink more before going to university, but I can't go through more than about 2 units before getting headaches (for context I have Asian flush so that comes with red cheeks and high heart rate), before I'm tipsy.

How do I avoid this? I could take NSAIDs, but apparently that results in gastrointestinal bleeding (although I don't think I would take NSAIDs outside of drinking). Paracetamol would be worse since it would damage my liver. I could take softer drugs, but I can't count on those existing where I'll be going for university. So I don't really know what to do.

Reply 1

Anonymous #2

You could just - not drink that much?

Alternate soft drinks with alcohol (and drink more dilute alcohol). What have you been drinking? Often headaches aren’t necessarily due to alcohol but the other ingredients in a drink.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

Original post by Anonymous

You could just - not drink that much?
Alternate soft drinks with alcohol (and drink more dilute alcohol). What have you been drinking? Often headaches aren’t necessarily due to alcohol but the other ingredients in a drink.

I've tried gin/vodka cocktails and wine, and they do give me headaches. Drinking less would make me waste the rest of my drink, which isn't good considering how much alcohol costs. And drinking until before I get headaches is pointless anyways as I don't feel very tipsy and the taste of alcohol sucks.

Reply 3

black tea

Original post by Anonymous

so don't drink at all? what's the big deal?

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

Original post by black tea

so don't drink at all? what's the big deal?

Eh true, I suppose I can just take other drugs then.

Reply 5

Anonymous #3

Original post by Anonymous

I've been trying to drink more before going to university, but I can't go through more than about 2 units before getting headaches (for context I have Asian flush so that comes with red cheeks and high heart rate), before I'm tipsy.
How do I avoid this? I could take NSAIDs, but apparently that results in gastrointestinal bleeding (although I don't think I would take NSAIDs outside of drinking). Paracetamol would be worse since it would damage my liver. I could take softer drugs, but I can't count on those existing where I'll be going for university. So I don't really know what to do.

you get headaches because you’re dehydrated, so before you go out drinking make sure to drink extra water than you would normally, and then when you’re out maybe juys have one or two glasses of water in between your drinking !

Reply 6

Dunnig Kruger

Original post by Anonymous

Eh true, I suppose I can just take other drugs then.

NO!

Go out, have fun, let your hair down. Whilst drinking nothing, taking nothing, smoking nothing.

Don't be a "degenerate" (OK that's a rather harsh word, but I'm trying to influence you to change your attitude and behaviour here). Don't be a "degenerate" like all the other guys that go out and get wasted.

Aim to be better than them.

The booze and the drugs are self-medication. For people that feel they have insufficient social skills. Or inability to relax, be themselves and enjoy the moment of being out without the medication.

Do you want to be the same as everyone else? Or would you rather be better than everyone else? At least when it comes to your substance consumption on a night out? And your social skills?

Going out, chatting with friends, meeting new people, engaging in good natured banter, flirting and teasing - that's the joint most pleasurable thing you can do as a student. It's so good that altering your consciousness subtracts from how good it is.