It’s known to produce a calming effect on the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier and increasing the production of both GABA and dopamine in the brain. Unlike prescription anti-anxiety medication, it does not cause sedation and drowsiness (13, 14, 15). The commonly-prescribed antidepressant Wellbutrin is anticholinergic, meaning it inhibits the physiological action of acetylcholine.
- Did you know that heavy drinking can lead to big shortages in the nutrients you get?
- It might seem unbelievable but there is research demonstrating vitamin C’s usefulness in overcoming addiction and reducing withdrawal symptoms.
- Many holistic healers believe there is a link between sugar and alcoholism.
- Exercising regularly can double the effect of proper nutrition and help in your overall health benefits.
- Furthermore, when ethanol is oxidized by CYP2E1, it creates acetaldehyde, a highly reactive molecule that may contribute to ethanol’s toxicity [25].
Dual Diagnosis 101: How Mental Health Disorders and Substance Use Disorder Often go Hand in Hand
In effect, chronic alcohol consumption has been demonstrated to lower vitamin D levels (inactive vitamin D (25(OH)D3) and active vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3) as well as cathelicidin/LL-37 expression [80]. It’s important for every person to develop healthy eating habits, but it’s crucial for people who are recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction. Even short-term addiction can take a huge toll on the body as it is forced to work overtime to eliminate toxic substances and defend itself against the damage they do. Achieving nutritional balance is essential in repairing the harm addiction does to the body. Of course, these are only 12 helpful options—there are many vitamins and supplements for alcoholics you can take to aid your system in recovery. We recommend speaking with your doctor about how heavy drinking has impacted your body, and which supplements will be the most safe and useful for you as an individual.
How Do You Stop Unhealthy Cravings?
If a few more sugary snacks will prevent you from drinking, it can be okay to treat yourself a bit more than usual. For those in the withdrawal phase, the most common food craving is sugar. One reason this occurs is because blood sugar levels are known to fluctuate during early recovery, causing someone to crave sugar more than usual. Sugar can also provide a dopamine release, which can feel especially satisfying for someone already craving the dopamine burst alcohol provides.
Discuss Supplements With a Physician First
Getting enough sleep is essential for addiction recovery because you’ll have fewer cravings and can control your emotions in a better way. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the foundation of effective opioid addiction treatment. Suboxone contains buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist that reduces addiction symptoms and cravings. In the meantime, there are many things you can do to help get through the withdrawal stage. In addition to changing your diet, you can get extra support through treatment options such as medication to curb cravings, specialized alcohol therapy, and peer support groups.
Herbal Supplements
Because excessive alcohol use can lead to protein deficiency, it’s great to add low-fat proteins into your recovery diet. Protein is essential for the brain and heart and serves as the building blocks for all the body’s muscles. Having enough protein can help reduce withdrawal symptoms review and comparison such as nausea, headache, and fatigue. Because alcohol damages the digestive tract, it prevents the absorption of many nutrients including thiamine. It can take weeks or months for an alcoholic to achieve gut health, even with a proper diet and nutritional supplementation.
Nonetheless, hepatocytes’ antioxidant defense can counteract this damage through enzymatic as well as nonenzymatic mechanisms [31,32,33,34,35,36]. Recent clinical trials have examined the efficacy of numerous antioxidants, including S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and vitamin E. However, the conclusions drawn by these have been conflicting [31,32,37,38]. As a result, can you drink alcohol while taking amitriptyline the current study focuses on what we know about antioxidant deficiency and its involvement in AUD and provides suggestions for future trials. Figure 2 shows the oxidative pathway during ethanol metabolism into the hepatocytes. Alcohol use disorder affects about 7.2% of people older than 12 years old, including 6.9% of males and 7.8% of females [8].
Besides trauma-informed therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another one that plays a major role in managing your opioid addiction. You get to learn valuable skills that will help you manage your cravings in a better way. You can better cope with your present situation and reduce the relapse risk by working on your underlying emotional issues. According to TruLaw, victims have been claiming that Suboxone manufacturers didn’t warn them enough about the severe tooth decay risk.
Magnesium may also aid in resetting some of the overly active glutamate-based brain pathways that cause alcohol withdrawal symptoms. By raising ROS and lowering endogenous antioxidant levels, alcohol promotes oxidative stress [101]. In addition, Kaur et al. [103] studied examined vitamin E supplementation alcohol withdrawal symptoms, treatment and timeline in ethanol-treated mice and found that it restored redox state, decreased apoptosis, and lowered oxidative stress markers. Aperson with alcohol use disorder may be deficient in vitamins A, C, E, K and the B vitamins, as well as the minerals calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc.
Relapse is a common occurrence in individuals with alcohol use disorder and can be a significant obstacle in maintaining sobriety. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may help to reduce the risk of relapse by improving overall mood and reducing inflammation in the brain. Alcohol use disorder is a chronic condition that can have significant physical and psychological effects. Vitamin D supplementation may help to improve bone health and reduce the risk of fractures in individuals with alcohol use disorder.
It can be an especially good alcohol recovery supplement for people with liver damage. Studies show that glycine is useful in treating both alcoholic hepatitis and carcinoma caused by alcoholic cirrhosis. Even if you are not suffering from these conditions, taking glycine may help protect your liver if you have a history of heavy drinking. One critical nutrition and recovery tip is to consider not only what you’re eating, but also how and when.
There are several herbal supplements that may be beneficial during alcohol withdrawal. Kava has been shown to have a calming effect on the brain and may help reduce anxiety and insomnia. Alcoholics need vitamin D to help them replenish healthy levels of serotonin since chronic heavy drinking lowers serotonin levels over time. While taking vitamins can help manage symptoms caused by chronic alcohol use, they are most effective alongside detoxification and rehabilitation.
It is also used as a supplement to support muscle growth and recovery. Vitamin B6 plays a vital role in neurotransmitter production and can help restore brain function, the area which alcohol severely affects. Similar to pantethine supplementation, zinc increases the enzyme that helps alcohol be cleared.
This is because they address the psychological aspects of addiction without considering the physical aspects of the disease. Certain health consequences become more likely with continued alcohol use, and people who consume alcohol excessively or daily are most susceptible to the following conditions. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent brain damage or death. Thiamine deficiency can lead to more complications, such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which will be explained later. As always, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen.
Dietary sources of thiamine include beans, poultry, red meat, grains, and nuts. Most people need at least 1-3 mg of it per day, but this is not enough for alcoholics who need to reverse their deficiency. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is a form of irreversible alcoholic dementia caused solely by vitamin B-1 deficiency. A complication of this disorder, known as Korsakoff’s Psychosis, is the most extreme consequence of this deficiency.