Curb Alcohol Cravings: 3 Medications and 5 Natural Remedies to Drink Less or Quit

It could take some time and effort to find a strategy that helps you navigate them effectively, but you do have plenty of options for support. These changes can lead to tolerance, or a need to drink more in order to feel the same effects. They can also leave you more sensitive to alcohol’s effects and raise your risk of withdrawal symptoms. A regular intake of glutamine supplements has been shown to reduce the desire for alcohol by replenishing GABA levels in your brain that get depleted due to excessive drinking.

Changing your diet won’t stop alcohol cravings altogether – they’re an unavoidable part of recovery — but it can greatly support your ability to stay strong in the face of triggers. When you feel healthy and your body is working to its best ability, it’s easier to draw on other relapse-prevention tools that help you stay sober. Moreover, maintaining a balanced diet high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats can help regulate blood sugar levels. Fluctuations in blood sugar can trigger cravings of many kinds, so keeping your blood sugar steady may help reduce the desire for alcohol.

Is there a pill for alcohol cravings?

Chronic alcohol use can deplete your body of vitamins and minerals by reducing your appetite, interfering with nutrient absorption, and impairing your body’s ability to use nutrients effectively. There’s no way around it—when you drink heavily for a long period, your body takes a hit. Overcoming alcohol use disorder can be a long and difficult process, and different people have different herbs to curb alcohol cravings needs. But one often-overlooked aspect of beating addiction is nutrition in recovery. A balanced diet, which encompasses all essential nutrients from vegetables, cereals, whole grains, nuts, and sprouts, among others, is beneficial. This is another popular home remedy for alcoholism, which enables you to reduce the ill effects of alcoholism, along with rejuvenating the liver tissues.

That is until I started upon my sober journey, delved deep into the biology of addiction, and became kind of my own personal guinea pig. For example, if you notice that you crave a drink every day when you walk in the door after work, you can start targeting that time by altering your routine. Instead of walking in the door and starting dinner immediately, start by changing out of your work clothes, or going for a five minute walk before starting dinner. This will help you disrupt the trigger, and begin establishing new patterns.

How to Get Rid of Alcohol in Your Body

Our neurological pathways and memories are conditioned to respond with cravings, but our brains will continue to rewire themselves with a little planning, patience and time. In general, the most intense cravings often occur within the first week of abstinence, as this is when withdrawal symptoms are at their peak. However, it’s common to experience intermittent cravings for several weeks or even months after quitting.

• The supplement is also gluten-free and contains a variety of herbal ingredients that have been studied and found to be beneficial for liver health.
• You’ll find glutamine aplenty in your body because it’s naturally produced.
• Taking too much of a supplement can be harmful, while taking too little may not provide the desired benefits.
• Adding this nutrient can help boost mood in recovery and reduce withdrawal symptoms, making it one of the best supplements for alcohol cravings.
• Dr. Rebeca Eriksen, PhD MSc BSc (Hons) RD, is the Co-Founder at BioRebalance.
• For those contemplating reducing or even eliminating their alcohol use, an anti-alcohol supplement may prove to be a useful support tool.
• If you can find a pure or reliable source of CBD, it might be worth trying as a supplement for alcohol withdrawal.