The DSM-5 doesn’t decide whether you’re an “alcoholic.” Instead, it places alcohol use disorder on a spectrum based on 11 specific criteria. For many people, recognizing mild or moderate AUD is the first indication that their relationship with alcohol may be worth reevaluating.
The best vitamin after drinking is somewhat of a myth. For preventing hangovers, the evidence is strongest for eating before drinking, staying hydrated, avoiding binge drinking, and allowing your body time to recover.
Feeling guilty after drinking doesn’t always mean you did something wrong. Alcohol changes brain chemistry, disrupts sleep, and can temporarily increase anxiety and self-criticism the next day. For many people, guilt also reflects a mismatch between how they drank and how they wanted to drink, rather than the events of the night itself.
Why do they always give people in movies coffee to sober up? Some part of you probably already suspects it doesn’t work, and you’re right. It doesn’t. None of those “classic” tricks change how quickly your liver processes alcohol. Only time does.
While not everyone experiences anxiety after drinking, many people report feeling more emotionally vulnerable or on edge during a hangover. Not just fatigued or nursing a headache—feeling real anxiety, dread, racing thoughts, or a sense that something bad is about to happen.
Alcohol intolerance usually refers to a metabolic condition where your body cannot efficiently break down alcohol, causing symptoms like facial flushing, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and headache within minutes of drinking. Unlike a hangover, which appears hours later, alcohol intolerance triggers reactions almost immediately and often after very small amounts.
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About Sunnyside
Sunnyside is a comprehensive platform for building a healthier relationship with alcohol. We combine a behavior-change app, real human coaching, and Sunnyside Med — our Telehealth service where licensed providers can prescribe medication to help reduce alcohol cravings. Members using the Sunnyside app report an average 33% reduction in weekly alcohol consumption, and Sunnyside Med customers are reducing their drinking by nearly 50% on average — along with improved sleep, better mental clarity, and an overall improved sense of well-being.
What is Naltrexone? Naltrexone is a medication that works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain, which reduces the pleasurable effects of alcohol and helps decrease cravings. Originally approved by the FDA in 1994 for the treatment of alcohol dependence, Naltrexone has been shown in clinical studies to significantly reduce heavy drinking days and support long-term moderation. Sunnyside Med prescribes a compounded oral formulation containing Naltrexone as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes coaching, tracking, and ongoing medical support.
Sunnyside Med connects you with licensed medical providers who can prescribe compounded medication containing Naltrexone, an active ingredient that is FDA-approved to support alcohol moderation, through a private Telehealth process. Sunnyside Med is not a substitute for emergency services or inpatient treatment. If you are in crisis or experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, please contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or call 911. We are proud partners of Moderation Management, a non-profit dedicated to reducing the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol.
Alcohol Moderation guides