Hangover & Dehydration in Ibiza: Treatment Options

Ibiza's nightlife is famous for many reasons; the morning after is usually one of them. Most hangovers are unpleasant but self-limiting. A small number cross into territory where medical attention is genuinely useful. Knowing the difference saves you time, money, and the occasional scary moment.

This is a non-judgemental practical guide. No moralising — just what works.

What a hangover actually is

A hangover is the convergence of several physiological insults from the night before:

• Dehydration — alcohol is a diuretic, MDMA is a sweat-inducer, dancing for hours in 28°C heat compounds it
• Electrolyte imbalance — sodium, potassium, magnesium all depleted
• Inflammatory response — alcohol metabolites trigger systemic inflammation
• Glycogen depletion — you didn't eat enough; blood sugar is low
• Sleep deprivation — even if you "slept", REM sleep was suppressed
• Direct stomach irritation — gastric mucosa is inflamed, hence the nausea

Recovery means addressing each of those, in roughly that order of priority.

The evidence-based hangover protocol

Hour 0 — The moment you can stand

• 500–750 ml water with oral rehydration salts (Sueroral, Hidranova — any pharmacy, €4–8 a packet). This beats plain water, sports drinks, and the trendy electrolyte gels. Sips, not gulps.
• 1 g paracetamol for the headache. Don't take ibuprofen yet — gastric irritation on an alcohol-irritated stomach is asking for trouble.
• Cool, dim room. Phone face-down. No caffeine yet — coffee is a diuretic and worsens dehydration.

Hour 1–3 — Recovery

• More slow rehydration. Aim for 2 L of fluid in the first 4 hours.
• Light salty food when stomach allows: toast, salted crackers, broth, banana. The sodium replacement matters.
• Sleep if you can. The body repairs efficiently when at rest.

Hour 3–6 — Function

• More water + electrolytes
• Real meal — eggs, rice, soup
• Gentle walking outside (not exercise — fresh air and slow movement)
• Coffee is OK now if you tolerate it; pair with water

What doesn't work (or is overhyped)

• "Hair of the dog" — extends the hangover, doesn't shorten it
• B12 vitamins, "hangover pills" — placebo effect at best, no quality evidence
• Greasy fried food — slows alcohol absorption if eaten BEFORE drinking, makes you feel worse the morning after
• Sugar drinks (Coke, Aquarius) — electrolyte profile is less effective than ORS

When to call a doctor

Most hangovers resolve in 6–24 hours with the protocol above. Signs that this has crossed into something needing medical attention:

• Persistent vomiting for more than 6 hours, can't keep any fluid down
• Severe dehydration signs: no urination for 8+ hours, dizziness on standing, sunken eyes, persistent dry mouth
• Headache much worse than your usual hangover — especially with stiff neck, fever, sensitivity to light (rare but rule out)
• Fever above 38°C — points to something other than just hangover
• Confusion or unusual sleepiness — could be persisting intoxication or something more
• Chest pain or palpitations — particularly post-stimulant use (MDMA, cocaine, amphetamines)
• Symptoms not improving in 24 hours

For any of those, a home-visit doctor or private clinic is the right call. In Ibiza, services like OnCall Clinic provide 24/7 home-visit doctors who can assess in your room, do basic vitals, and provide IV fluids if needed.

IV fluids: when they help, when they don't

In-room IV rehydration is heavily marketed in Ibiza ("hangover IV", "wellness drips"). Here's the honest medical view:

IV fluids genuinely help when:

• You're significantly dehydrated and can't keep oral fluids down
• You have persistent vomiting and need to break the cycle
• You have orthostatic dizziness (head spins when you stand) and need rapid restoration

In those cases, 500ml–1L of saline (sometimes with added electrolytes, sometimes with anti-emetic medication for nausea) over 30–45 minutes restores you remarkably quickly. Cost in Ibiza: €150–300.

IV fluids are mostly placebo when:

• You feel rough but can drink water
• You're tired but not dehydrated
• You want a "wellness boost"

In those cases, oral rehydration salts cost €5 and work just as well. The IV is a luxury experience, not a medical necessity.

Look for: a service that uses a licensed doctor or nurse (not "wellness practitioners"), proper sterile single-use cannulas, and provides documentation of what was administered. If the price is significantly above €300 for a basic IV, you're paying for the marketing.

Drug-related symptoms: when to be more cautious

Most "hangovers" in Ibiza are alcohol-only. Some involve other substances, and a different threshold applies:

MDMA / ecstasy

The morning after: fatigue, jaw tension, low mood, headache. These resolve over 24–48 hours. Worry signs: persistent vomiting, very high temperature, confusion, irregular heartbeat, severe muscle pain (rhabdomyolysis risk) — see a doctor or 112 if severe.

Cocaine

Hangover symptoms include anxiety, fatigue, congestion, irritability. Worry signs: chest pain, irregular heartbeat, severe headache, persistent agitation — see a doctor.

GHB / GBL

"Hangovers" from GHB can include amnesia and lingering sedation. Severe over-dose presents as deep sleep, slow breathing, and unresponsiveness — that's a 112 emergency.

Ketamine

Recovery typically rapid; lingering effects mild. Worry signs: bladder pain, blood in urine, persistent confusion — see a doctor.

Mixed substances

The risky combinations — and the source of most Ibiza ER visits — are alcohol + sedatives, multiple stimulants, or unknown substances. If you or a friend feels really off and you don't know exactly what you took: medical attention is the right call. Be honest with the doctor; they're not going to call the police, they need to know what to treat.

Severe dehydration — what it looks like, why it matters

Ibiza's combination of alcohol + heat + dancing + hours of sweating produces dehydration that can outpace what people realise. Severe dehydration signs:

• No urination for 8+ hours, or very dark urine
• Dizziness when standing
• Sunken eyes
• Dry, cracked lips and tongue
• Heart racing (over 100 bpm at rest in an otherwise healthy adult)
• Confusion, irritability, or lethargy
• Skin that "tents" briefly when pinched

Severe dehydration responds quickly to IV fluids. It can also cause kidney injury if prolonged. Don't try to ride this out — see a doctor, get rehydrated.

Prevention

The most effective protocol, if you're going to drink:

• Hydrate before: 500ml of water with electrolytes before going out
• Alternate: water between alcoholic drinks, ideally 1:1
• Eat: a proper meal before drinking matters more than after
• Limit total volume: be honest about how much you've drunk
• Avoid mixing depressants (alcohol + sedatives + GHB)
• Bring water on the dance floor, especially in hot venues

Bottom line

Most Ibiza hangovers respond to oral rehydration salts, paracetamol, light food, and sleep — done within 6–24 hours. Severe dehydration or persistent symptoms benefit from medical attention. IV fluids genuinely help when you're truly dehydrated; they're marketing when you're just tired.

For anything chest-related, persistent vomiting, confusion, or symptoms after unknown substances: don't tough it out. A home-visit doctor in Ibiza reaches you in 30–60 minutes most nights. Better to overreact and be reassured than to miss something serious.

Be kind to yourselves the morning after. The island will still be there tomorrow.