In one of my earlier articles I talked about cluster headache triggers. One of the most common triggers I talked about was the use of alcohol. When you are in an active period the use of alcohol could trigger another attack, but does this mean you can’t even have one drink?

Does anyone get a headache after a single drink?

So, does anyone get a headache after a single drink? Well, if you are a cluster headache sufferer and you are in your active period, the answer is yes, it’s possible you will get a cluster headache attack after just one drink. So, do you need to stop drinking alcohol altogether? >No, you don’t. When you are in between two periods you can drink a glass of alcohol without a problem. You will not get a headache easier than any other person.

Even when you are in an active period you can have alcohol if you choose to. Just keep in mind that it is more likely to start an attack in the following hour. My husband, who had an active period around the day of our wedding did drink a glass of champagne that day. He choosed to do so, but he also drank enough water afterwards. He did see good results with the water treatment, and it helped him with the alcohol too.

If you are trying out the water treatment and it is working for you (less attacks, or attacks that are not as strong as before) you could try to drink a glass of alcohol at a special occasion. Remember to drink enough water before and after the alcohol, and don’t drink to much of it.

If you aren’t trying the water treatment, or if you do but it isn’t working for you, you can still have alcohol, but remember that it will in most cases cause an attack. Other triggers for cluster headaches you can find here.

So, the answer to “Does anyone get a headache after a single drink?” isn’t an easy answer.  It depends on the headaches you have, as well as how you react to your treatment.