Migraine-sufferers also get hangovers

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers suggest migraine sufferers may be more prone than others to getting hangover headaches after drinking.

The researchers' experiments compared rats that suffered migraines when their brains were stimulated with an inflammatory mixture with rats that did not suffer headaches.

"Our results suggest that dehydration or impurities in alcohol are not responsible for hangover headache," Michael Oshinsky, assistant professor of neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, said in a statement. "Since these rats were sufficiently hydrated and the alcohol they received contained no impurities, the alcohol itself or a metabolite must be causing the hangover-like headache. These data confirm the clinical observation that people with migraine are more susceptible to alcohol-induced headaches."

The researchers compared four groups of rats. Two groups received repeated dural stimulation -- the outermost layers of the brain -- followed by an oral ingestion of the equivalent of one to two shots of liquor. Two control groups received no inflammatory stimulation but similar "liquor" ingestion.

The rats receiving dural stimulation followed by alcohol showed an initial analgesic effect within the first two hours after alcohol ingestion. Four to six hours later, their pain sensitivity increased, indicating a more painful state.

There were no changes in alcohol-induced sensitivity in the control groups.

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago.