Prickly Pear Extract

Out of all the remedies on this list, prickly pear is one of the few that has been scientifically proven in a 2004 study to reduce the effect of a hangover. According to the study, participants who took prickly pear extract before drinking were less likely to have common hangover symptoms like nausea and headaches. Besides this one study, there's not much else on the Internet about taking prickly pear for hangovers, so we sort of had to wing it when it came to how many pills we were supposed to take and when. Bad idea.

Did it work?

So I was the one to try the prickly pear extract, and I took one pill before drinking approximately seven margaritas. The next morning I woke up at 6 a.m. feeling like I was mere seconds from dying of dehydration. I also had a killer headache. In other words, I was hungover — the very thing prickly pear promised to prevent! I have to admit, I did feel like my symptoms were reduced by about 20 percent or so, but it definitely wasn't the holy grail I was expecting.

Overall verdict: 👎

Activated Charcoal

These little black charcoal pills aren't backed up by some fancy, schmancy study, but several places on the Internet, including this chick who went on a three-day bender on this stuff and afterward felt "fine," swear by it. Charcoal pills are very absorbent, and not only do they slow down how drunk you get, they also absorb all the bad stuff in your gut that makes you feel like complete and utter death the next day. Sounds good to us.

Did it work?

So we had two co-workers try them. Each one took two pills each before they started drinking. One said when she woke up she "honestly felt fine" despite the fact that she was anticipating a headache. "I didn't drink any water last night so I was a little worried," she said. "I think the charcoal pills were what saved me. I'm definitely going to try them out again."

Our other co-worker also had a good experience with the pills. "I thought that I was definitely still dehydrated when I woke up, which is easily fixed," she told me. "But no headache so like #winning." She also said she'd "definitely" try them again.

Overall verdict: 👍

Pickle Juice

Now this is a controversial remedy, but many professionals swear by it, even Dr. Oz (ya know, the dude with the TV show). Apparently, the salt in the juice helps replenish your electrolytes to get you back to feeling normal again. Dr. Oz recommends drinking 1/4 of a cup the morning after drinking. Pickle juice on a nauseated hangover stomach? What could go wrong?

Did it work?

FHM editor Nick Dimengo was the brave soul to give this a try, even though he "hates" pickles. From the way he dry-heaved after chugging a small glass of juice, it's safe to say he wasn't a fan. "I'll say that taking the pickle juice definitely was the worst thing I've ever done to try to cure a hangover," he said. "Look, no offense to Dr. Oz, but, man, that dude has to be sadistic to suggest wiping out last night's poor decisions with that. I'd much rather drink a straight shot of whiskey and go the hair-of-the-dog route than do that again."

Overall verdict: 👎

Coconut Water

Hey, can't argue with an old staple. Coconut water has electrolytes that keep you hydrated, which is a lifesaver the morning after when you're feeling like you're in the middle of the Sahara desert dying of thirst.

Did it work?

The one co-worker who tried it liked it so much, it turned him into a temporary poet — or a spokesperson for VitaCoco "The subtle flavors have reinvigorated me," he told me. "Once it hit my tongue, it was an immediate reprieve from my clouded thoughts and horrendous physical state." Well damn.

Overall verdict: 👍

Drinkwel

Out of all the remedies on the list, this was the only one specifically designed to cure hangovers. These vegetarian capsule pills are full of healthy-sounding organic stuff like milk thistle, reishi mushroom, and artichoke leaf — and...okay. We're not sure what any of those mean, but the company says they help "process alcohol induced toxins" and "help neutralize free radicals." We're still confused, but it has favorable Amazon reviews, so it can't hurt, right?

Did it work?

Each packet comes with three capsules, one to take before drinking, one to take before bed, and another to take in the morning. We had two co-workers give them a try and both of them were split on them. "After taking Drinkwel, I definitely still woke up feeling like I drank the night before," one of them told me. "Although my hangover would have probably been much worse without it. I didn't find the product to be life-changing, but I'm sure it made a little bit of a difference."

However, another co-worker had the complete opposite experience. "I thought it was actually good!" she said. "I didn't have a headache at all this morning. I was like really tired, but I wouldn't say hungover. I would take it again."

Overall verdict: 👍

Pedialyte

Although it's advertised for children, Pedialyte is also pretty damn good for hangovers, too. Even the company touts this fact on their website. Because the drink is full of electrolytes, it rehydrates you and helps alleviate common hangover symptoms. And considering the drinks are sold everywhere and aren't that expensive, it's a pretty convenient cure to reach for the morning after. Well, we're sold.

Did it work?

Because prickly pear didn't work for me, I also decided to try the Pedialyte since I felt like death and still had a full day of work ahead of me. I bought the powered version, which you're supposed to dissolve into a 16-ounce bottle of water. After the first sip, I immediately started to feel better. Another co-worker who tried it agreed and said she started to feel normal after only drinking a quarter of a cup of the stuff. She said it was her "No. 1 recommendation." It also tastes pretty damn good. Strawberry Lemonade? F--k yes.

Overall verdict: 👍

Alka-Seltzer

Forget the weird-sounding herbal supplements or expensive hangover pills, at the end of the day, sometimes all it takes is a tall glass of the ol' fizzy. The company even has a "Morning Relief" formula specifically for hangovers. However, for this article, we simply grabbed whatever was available at Walgreens. The sodium bicarbonate in the medicine helps settle a queasy stomach, which is definitely what you'll need after a night of sugary cocktails.

Did it work?

We had one co-worker try it, but she wasn't really sold on its benefits. "Okay, No. 1, tastes f--king gross and the chalky consistency gives me the wiggins," she said. "Number two, I started hydrating when I stumbled awake at 4 a.m. and spent the last few hours working from home, so that very much aided in the me-getting-better thing. But overall, by noon I was feeling very much like myself, so I'm sure Alka Seltzer didn't hurt the situation. I'm just not about to trade in those tablets for my standard giant bottle of coconut water." Touché.

Overall verdict: 👎