A real hangover cure--is it too good to be true? After seeing commercials for Alka-Seltzer's new Morning Relief tablets, Recess decided to find out if it's the real deal.
The commercial depicts a man dancing in a lame club setting gettin' his freak on, only to awaken the next morning with a pounding headache. Fortunately, our televised hero has Alka-Seltzer Morning Relief and is able to do a full day's work in his cubicle.
Assuming the daunting burden of an inebriated guinea pig, I took Morning Relief on a test drive last weekend. After a night of research (hard partying), I awoke Sunday to try my luck. In each recommended dose of two tablets is a hefty helping of aspirin (1000 mg) and an equally large amount of caffeine (130 mg--over twice the load in a can of Coke).
I dissolved the tablets in a glass of water, dreading a chalky taste. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a refreshing bubbly citrus flavor. It's no Fresca, but it beats Dimetapp. In any case, Morning Relief is a better health alternative than grabbing for that last six-pack.
Almost immediately I felt a surge from the caffeine, which definitely helped me over that getting-out-of-bed hump that is so common after a long night. But I must say, I prefer ever-potent Advil to aspirin for a hangover headache any day.
Even the Red Bull-level high turned out to be a downer--I crashed after about three hours and was even more listless than before.
So the verdict is still out. It's probably a good idea if you wake up with a hangover and need quick energy before class, but on the weekends, in the words of a friend, you might as well drink a glass of water and eat a big plate of pasta.
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