Maintaining the proper diet can help to reduce the stress your body experiences and better equip you to handle the difficulties of alcohol withdrawal. Excessive urinary excretion of zinc and zinc deficiency have been found in drug addicts. And researchers recommend zinc supplementation to treat addiction and reduce withdrawal symptoms (70, 71).

What Does Research Say About Vitamin Therapy in Alcohol Withdrawal?

If someone regularly drinks more than the recommended amounts of alcohol — one drink daily for women and no more than two drinks daily for men — they may experience negative health consequences. For example, their body may become dependent on the alcohol, and their brain chemistry drug addiction treatment may change. People who misuse alcohol can experience a range of symptoms if they abruptly stop drinking. These symptoms can range from mild nausea, headaches, to life threatening seizures. I know which vitamins work for me as tools, buffers, or lines of defense against stress, insomnia, and poor health.

Tips for Using Supplements Safely in Alcohol Recovery

Supplements to reduce alcohol cravings work best when used alongside behavioral therapy and medical detox. My own bio-repair process involved a three-month intensive period of supplementation, nutrients from A to Z in therapeutic doses recommended by the doctors whose work I’ve studied. Immediately, I noticed changes in sleep, mood, skin, digestion, energy, and cravings–a complete release from the slog of recovery I have maintained to this day.

Vitamins and Minerals

• They also slow ATP production, making you feel sluggish and hungry, which can stall your progress in detoxing from alcohol.
• Excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to liver disease, cirrhosis, and alcoholic hepatitis.
• Valerian root is known for its ability to promote relaxation and sleep, which can alleviate stress-related cravings for alcohol.
• Although small amounts of alcohol may not have a big impact on your nutritional health, many chronic, heavy drinkers struggle with significant nutrient deficiencies.
• Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through!

The vitamin B complex in general, and particularly vitamins B1 (thiamin), B3 (niacin) and B5 (Pantothenic Acid), play a role in turning sugars into energy. Niacin, or vitamin B3, can also be found in pork, as well as in fortified cereals, salmon, and swordfish. Whole grains, milk, eggs, and liver are perhaps the best food sources for B5, or Pantothenic Acid.

• Often, people with addiction experience malnutrition and biochemical imbalances, which can be exacerbated by insufficient water intake (Ranch at Dove Tree).
• Post-abstinence issues may persist in the hippocampus (which improves memory) and prefrontal cortex (which affects executive abilities).
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) is an acetylated form of the amino acid carnitine.
• A good diet can help improve your mood, increase your energy levels, stabilize your blood sugar levels and reduce cravings.

If you’re in an alcohol addiction treatment program, you know how tough it can be to overcome alcohol cravings. Your body may crave alcohol long after your last drink, and this can pose a severe challenge to your recovery. GABA, inositol, and 5-HTP may help to reduce anxiety, promote sleep, and stabilize mood. Multivitamins can help replace some of the broad nutrient vitamins for recovering alcoholics deficiencies caused by alcohol abuse. Taking a multivitamin can provide a baseline nutritional foundation during detox.

More on Substance Abuse and Addiction

• Since alcohol affects thyroid function and can lead to unexplained weight gain and digestive issues, this support is essential.
• Vitamins are essential for aiding the liver after alcohol misuse by helping with detoxification, regeneration, and metabolism.
• Poor sleep can escalate stress and anxiety, which, in turn, might worsen alcohol cravings.

While no vitamin alone can stop a person from drinking, natural supplements for alcohol withdrawal like kudzu root, NAC, inositol, and milk thistle may help reduce cravings and support detox. These should be used under medical supervision and alongside counseling or treatment. Taurine is an amino acid known to lower levels of acetaldehyde—a toxic metabolite produced when your body breaks down alcohol.