How to Stop Alcohol Spins

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: November 29, 2022 References

Oh no—not the dreaded spins. If you’ve had a little too much to drink, you can sometimes feel dizzy or like the room is actually spinning. While the only way to really get rid of the spins is for your body to filter out all of the alcohol in your system, there are things you can do to try to help the spinning feel less severe.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Dealing with the Spins

1
Drink water to help your body filter out toxins. The truth is until your body processes and removes the alcohol in your system, you may feel disoriented or have the spins. Additionally, alcohol can lead to dehydration, which can make your symptoms worse. Drink a big glass of water to help replenish any fluids you may have lost while drinking.^{[1]
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Harvard Medical School
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- A drink with lots of electrolytes, such as a sports drink like Powerade or Gatorade, can help rehydrate you more quickly and more effectively.^{[2]
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2
Try focusing on a fixed object to stop the room from spinning. Find something stationary in the room such as a light fixture, picture frame, or book. Focus on the fixed object to give yourself a mental “grounding” point, which can help lessen the spinning feeling.^{[3]
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3
Watch a movie or play some video games to stimulate your brain. Stimulating your vision and brain can help reduce the spinning feeling. Put on a movie or a TV show you can focus on, or try playing a fun video game. It can help distract your mind as well, which can make the spinning sensation less disorienting or nauseating.^{[4]
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- Try picking a movie or TV show that is calming and relaxing. For instance, if you’re a fan of The Office, re-watching a familiar show may make you feel better.
4
Drape a cool cloth with lavender oil over your forehead. Lavender oil has calming properties so it can help you feel a lot more relaxed.^{[5]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Wet a cloth with cool water and wring it out so it’s not dripping wet. Then, put a few drops of your lavender oil on the cloth and lay it over your forehead. Take deep breaths in through your nose so you can smell the lavender and calm down.
5
Lie down on your bed at the edge with your foot on the floor. Chances are, if you’ve got the spins, you may have had too much to drink, so lying down may be a good way for you to deal with them. Lie down on your bed near the edge and place 1 foot flat on the floor, which can help reduce the spinning feeling and make you feel a little more grounded.^{[6]
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- Try meditating to help you relax. Take a few deep breaths and focus on how you’re feeling. You may even be able to find videos online with hangover recovery frequencies and tones to help you calm down.
- For some people, closing your eyes can make the spinning sensation worse. It may be helpful to keep them open.
6
Get some sleep to allow your body to process the toxins. While you sleep, your liver will work to process and remove the excess alcohol in your system, which will put an end to the cursed spins. Try to get some extra sleep to let your body do its thing and when you wake up, you should have less of a spinning feeling.^{[7]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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7
Take OTC painkillers except for aspirin if you have a hangover. If you’re dealing with a nasty hangover that also includes the spins, an over-the-counter painkiller such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help with any headache or discomfort you’re dealing with. Avoid taking aspirin, which can actually upset your stomach (which may already be extra sensitive if you’re hungover).^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Avoiding the Spins

1
Eat before you start drinking. Protect your stomach before you start drinking by eating high-fat proteins so your body is processing food and won’t process the alcohol too quickly. Avoid foods high in carbs, which break down too fast and will be out of your system before you need them. Eat a nice meal with meat and high-fat foods before you head out for drinks.^{[9]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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- If you’re at a party or a bar with food, try snacking while you’re drinking to help keep your body well-nourished.
2
Drink an 8 fl oz (240 mL) glass of pear juice before you start drinking. Pear juice can help break down alcohol and lower your blood alcohol levels, which can help prevent the spins. Before you head out for a night of drinking, down a nice glass of pear juice.^{[10]
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- Drinking pear juice before you start drinking may help make your hangover symptoms less severe as well.
3
Alternate every other drink with water. Dehydration can make your symptoms worse. One easy trick to keep yourself hydrated while you’re drinking is to have a glass of water in between every drink.^{[11]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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- For instance, if you have a beer, make your next drink a glass of water before you grab another beer.
4
Drink in moderation to avoid getting the spins. Your body can process about 1 serving of alcohol per hour. After you’ve had a few drinks, you can start having side effects such as slurred speech, double vision, and the spins. Avoid drinking more than 2-3 drinks in an hour to prevent the spins.^{[12]
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- According to the CDC, women should have no more than 1 drink per day and men should have no more than 2 to avoid alcohol-related harms.^{[13]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
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5
Limit darker drinks like wine, whiskey, or rum. Dark-colored alcohols contain a chemical called congener, which may be linked to worse hangover symptoms. Try sticking with light-colored drinks like beer, white wine, and clear liquors like vodka.^{[14]
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- But that doesn’t mean drinking clear or light-colored alcohol won’t give you the spins or a hangover! They just may be less severe for some people.
6
Wait at least 48 hours before you drink again. Give your body at least 2 days after a night of drinking to fully recover before you drink alcohol again. It could help prevent severe hangovers and symptoms such as the spins.^{[15]
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Warnings

If someone shows signs of alcohol poisoning, such as confusion, seizures, slow breathing (less than 8 breaths a minute), blue or pale skin, a low body temperature, or loss of consciousness, seek emergency medical attention.^{[16]
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Mayo Clinic
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