Drinking alcohol to excess can lead to a host of hangover symptoms, including throwing up. Vomiting is your body's response to excess toxins from alcohol in your body.

While vomiting may make you feel awful, the risks from excess toxins can be damaging to your system. That's why it's best to let your body do its thing, while taking steps to prevent complications like dehydration.

Keep reading to find out why the alcohol you drank made you throw up, and what you can do about it.

What's the best way to stop throwing up after drinking?

Throwing up is your body's way of ridding itself of a toxin — in this case, alcohol. Instead of stopping yourself from throwing up, it's best to simply help yourself feel better until your body's gotten rid of all the alcohol.

Here are some ways to minimize the nausea and side effects from vomiting:

• Drink small sips of clear liquids to rehydrate. Wait until about 30 minutes after you last vomited.

• Get plenty of rest. Don't try to overdo it on the day of a hangover (not that your body will let you). Sleeping it off can help you feel better.

• Refrain from “hair of the dog” or drinking more to “feel better.” Give your stomach and body a break and don’t drink again the night after a vomiting episode.

• Take ibuprofen to relieve pain. Most doctors suggest ibuprofen over acetaminophen because the liver breaks down acetaminophen, and the liver is already busy breaking down the excess alcohol by-products. However, ibuprofen can cause stomach upset in some people, so take it with small bites of food.

• Eat small bites of bland foods, such as toast, crackers, or applesauce to keep your energy up. Again, wait a little while after you've vomited to reduce the chance you'll trigger the vomiting reflex again.
  
  

  Warning: Alcohol poisoning

  Alcohol overdose or alcohol poisoning is a potentially life threatening occurrence that happens when a person drinks so much that their body can't compensate for all the alcohol in their bloodstream. This causes symptoms like confusion, vomiting, seizures, slow heart rate, problems breathing, and low body temperatures. Alcohol poisoning also impairs a person's gag reflex, so they can't prevent choking on their own vomit.

  Anyone who consumes a large amount of alcohol in a short time period can experience alcohol poisoning. If you see a person you think may be experiencing alcohol poisoning, turn them on their side and call the police. Acting quickly may save their life.
  
  

  Should you make yourself throw up after a night of drinking?

  You'll probably notice one suggestion that didn't make the above list: intentionally making yourself throw up after a night of drinking.

  While you may have a friend that swears by this approach, it's a dangerous one. Making yourself throw up can put greater strain on your esophagus. This can make it more likely you'll experience small tears that can damage the esophagus and potentially lead to bleeding.

  Intentional vomiting also increases your risk for acid reflux, damage to your teeth, and aspiration. This is when your stomach contents accidentally go into your lungs.