Alcoholism: Important information-Thiamine, B12 and B complex

[Run_Lola_Run]

Someone I know (still in his 20s) recently suffered a severe nervous collapse of the left side of their body. Similar to a stroke but not. The consultant neurologist said it was both neurological and an attack on the nervous system due to the stresses on the nerves caused by drinking too much and not getting the required vitamins in their diet.

Of course the best way to combat alcoholism is to stop drinking but until the person with alcoholism decides bite the bullet and abstain then they need some essential vitamins. Actually anyone who drinks even a little too much would need more of these in their diet.

The whole group of B vitamins are needed to protect the nervous system.

Thiamine is vitamin B1 and is the most important. It is recommended to take at least 200mg of this a day. It must be taken every day as the body cannot store it.

B12 is a vitamin that is stored in the body but on a very bad diet the body loses it rapidly. This is essential for people who drink much more than the recommended maximum daily amount/units. You would have to see a doctor to get this prescribed as it has to be injected. You can buy it in tablet form but as far as I know it just runs through the body and is of little value.

All the other B vitamins you can usually buy in an 'All-in-one' tablet form. For heavy drinkers then a prescription of B vitamins in super strength form will probably be needed.

These are the most critical vitamins needed regarding alcoholism or even overdrinking. They won't stop the onset of nervous or neurological damage but they might help prevent it happening in someone so young. Females. have to be extra careful as alcohol affects their system much more severely than it does males. There are other vitamins that the body needs which you can read about more concisely here.

A list from the Mother Nature site:

Originally Posted by Mother Nature.com

Prescriptions for Healing

Alcohol abuse causes damage to the liver, pancreas, intestines
and brain. The process of reversing that damage begins when you stop drinking and start eating a balanced diet that provides at least the Daily Values of certain vitamins and minerals. Here's what doctors say that you need. If you find that you can't get these amounts from your diet, taking a general multivitamin/mineral supplement may help.

Nutrient Daily Amount

Folic acid 400 micrograms

Magnesium 400 milligrams

Selenium 70 micrograms

thiamin 50 milligrams

Vitamin A 4,000 international units for women, 5,000 international units for men

vitamin B6 2 milligrams

Vitamin C 60 milligrams

Vitamin E 30 international units

Zinc 15 milligrams

Or a multivitamin/mineral supplement containing the recommended amounts of these vitamins and minerals

MEDICAL ALERT: If you have a drinking problem, you should seek professional care.

If you have heart or kidney problems, you should consult your doctor before taking magnesium supplements.

If you are taking anticoagulant drugs, you should not take vitamin E supplements.

[Hammer]

I take Berocca after a few folks on here recommended it. It had most of your daily vitamins and all the B-conplexes you need. It's good stuff.

It's also touted as a hangover cure.

[GoddamnElectric]

So.... being an alcoholic and not eating a decent diet can make you ill? Stay here, I'll go get the world media.

[endemoniada]

Beroca is good.

Best advice is really not to binge drink.

[Cat]

My friend gets this massive spasm on one side of his body occasionally. He's a very heavy drinker and his diet is absolutely terrible, as in it consists almost entirely of ale and steak. I know it's very likely to be connected to his drinking, but could it be a similar thing to what your friend suffered?

[purkle]

that berocca stuff, what is it meant to do? it says stay sharp and makes your pee neon yellow.....is it just for the vitamins or is it meant to be a little like pro plus without the caffiene

[The_librarian]

Originally Posted by purkle

that berocca stuff, what is it meant to do? it says stay sharp and makes your pee neon yellow.....is it just for the vitamins or is it meant to be a little like pro plus without the caffiene

It's cause of all the nice b vits, gives your body a nice wee energy boost.

[blackmood]

Drinking excessively and having a poor diet can also lead to a life threatening condition called Wernicke's encephalopathy (also caused by a lack of vitamin b in the diet).........symptoms include incoherant speech, poor cognitive responses, lapses in concentration and uncoordinated movements/staggering (similar to drunkeness, but doesnt go away when alcohol is out of the body system). If not treated quickly with high dose vitamin B, the person may die or go on to develop Korsakoff's Psychosis (a neuro degenarative disorder - symptoms may include deterioration in movement and cognitive abilities, aggressive behaviour, short term memory loss, psychotic symptoms such as auditory hallucinations, paranoia). This condition is irreverisible.

These conditions are generally associated with long term excessive alcohol abuse, previously found in middle age to older people. More recently there have been cases in people in their twenties and thirties due to binge drinking culture.