A new over-the-counter hangover remedy called Blowfish has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but medical experts caution that it may encourage excessive drinking. The effervescent tablets, which dissolve in water, contain high doses of aspirin and caffeine to combat headache and fatigue, two common hangover symptoms.
Brenna Haysom, founder of Rally Labs, the company behind Blowfish, said she developed the product after struggling with hangovers while working in finance. "I needed to function well the next day while still enjoying my free time," she told the BBC. After experimenting on herself and friends, she created a blend of aspirin, caffeine, and flavouring.
Unlike other hangover remedies that use unregulated herbal supplements, Blowfish is the first to receive FDA acknowledgement because its ingredients are already approved. The FDA determined it complies with over-the-counter regulations and is not misleading in its marketing.
However, Dr Richard Blondell of the American Academy of Family Physicians expressed scepticism. "Every year there is a new product that claims to be the cure against hangovers," he said, adding that the best remedy is not to get drunk. He warned that the pill cannot undo the damage of alcohol, such as liver strain or poor nutritional choices.
Dr Aaron White, a neuroscientist at the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, raised concerns that hangover cures might encourage binge drinking, especially among young people. "It may change their relationship with alcohol and have them drink more often," he said, though he noted no evidence that such remedies increase drinking. Ms Haysom reported positive feedback, with some users saying the product "saved Christmas."
