My son has alcohol dependence and I want to help him quit drinking with GABA and other amino acid supplements. Alcohol and the benzodiazepines used in treatment both block GABA receptors, but I assume having GABA available in your system is better than none (especially as nutrition has been very poor). Have you an article on this? Thank you for your knowledge and understanding.
MJ posted this question on one of the GABA blogs and I shared a few blogs to get her started (some of those are listed below). I also shared that with addictions to alcohol (and sugar and drugs) it’s a matter of figuring out which amino acids are needed in order to balance the neurotransmitters and help you to quit with no willpower and without feeling deprived. This can differ for each person and it’s a matter of doing a trial of each amino acid based on unique needs.
He may well need GABA if he self-medicates with alcohol when under stress, but he may also need serotonin support with tryptophan or 5-HTP if he drinks when depressed and needs a mood lift.
I decided to create a new blog because it’s a much needed topic and so I could share additional resources and a table I use (see below) to help you figure out where your need may be. We use this in conjunction with the symptoms questionnaire for each neurotransmitter.
In addition to addressing her benzodiazepine question, I also shared the need to address low blood sugar, low vitamin B1 and overall nutrient status. She does mention nutrition has been poor and it often is with alcohol addiction.
Which emotions are driving the need to self-medicate with alcohol and which amino acids to trial?
This is how I help you figure out which emotions are driving the need to self-medicate with alcohol and which amino acids to trial:
| How do you feel before drinking alcohol? | How do you feel after drinking alcohol? | Likely brain chemistry imbalance | Amino acid/s to supplement |
| Anxious or stressed (physical anxiety) | Calm or relaxed | Low GABA | GABA, pharmaGABA or theanine |
| Depressed or worried? (mental anxiety) | Happy or content | Low serotonin | Tryptophan or 5-HTP |
| Tired or unfocused | Energetic, alert, or focused | Low catecholamines | Tyrosine |
| Wanting a reward or treat, and sad (weepy) | Rewarded or comforted | Low endorphins | DPA (d-phenylalanine) or DLPA |
| Irritable and shaky | Grounded or stable | Low blood sugar | Glutamine |
We use this in conjunction with the symptoms questionnaire for each neurotransmitter.
Many individuals with alcohol addiction have imbalances in all areas. We use the same approach when it comes to alcohol addictions that we use sugar/carb/junk food addictions i.e. we tackle one imbalance at a time so we know which amino acid is helping and how much is needed.
The amino acids play many roles in addressing alcohol addiction:
- They help you to quit alcohol with no willpower and without feeling deprived
- They help to mitigate many of the adverse effects of quitting (like insomnia and increased anxiety and depression)
- They address the root cause of the addiction i.e. neurotransmitter imbalances
- They address the emotional aspect so mood and anxiety is improved
- They help to heal the damage that has been done to the gut: glutamine, GABA and tryptophan
- They prevent the need to find a replacement like sugar, coffee, Diet soda and cigarettes (intake is often ramped up when drinking ceases)
- They even help children who have had prenatal exposure to alcohol – 5-HTP benefits both adopted daughters who had prenatal exposure to alcohol: they are happier, more focused and can stay on task
PharmaGABA eases physical anxiety, amino acids ease alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and tryptophan turns you off alcohol
These blog posts illustrate the many applications of amino acids when it comes to quitting alcohol
- PharmaGABA eases physical anxiety in a young man who has recently given up Adderall, alcohol and nicotine (some folks do better with GABA and some with pharmaGABA)
- An amino acid supplement with DLPA, glutamine and 5-HTP eases alcohol withdrawal symptoms at an inpatient detoxification program
- Tryptophan had the added benefit of turning me completely off alcohol when I took it to improve mood and sleep during perimenopause (this need for serotonin support could be applicable for a male too and at any age)
As I mentioned above, be sure to use the search feature to find other blogs on this site: use alcohol, addiction and sugar (and replace sugar with alcohol in the sugar blogs).
Does his prior benzodiazepine prescription prevent him from being able to use GABA?
MJ asks if her son’s prior benzodiazepine prescription will prevent him from being able to use GABA. He will need to taper very very slowly under the guidance of someone knowledgeable and with oversight by the prescribing physician.
It is true that GABA receptors can be affected by benzodiazepines but despite this, many of my clients and others in my community do get relief from GABA during the taper period and afterwards.
We do start with a very small dose – I typically have someone start with 25mg GABA and go up from there – and only use sublingual GABA (or pharmaGABA). For some very sensitive folks we will start even lower as in this example where Syd gets sleep and body anxiety benefits with just 1.5 mg to 3 mg GABA.
I share more on this blog – Rebound insomnia after tapering a benzodiazepine: will taking GABA or any other natural supplement interfere with healing?
One big caveat is that nutritional stability is key when it comes to tapering benzodiazepines. It is also imperative when it comes to addiction recovery.
Good nutritional status, low blood sugar and low vitamin B1
MJ does mention that her son’s nutrition has been poor. It often is with alcohol addiction. I also shared with her the need to address low blood sugar and overall nutrient status.
When you are new to the amino acids and anxiety nutrition solutions my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is an excellent resource for all of the above – and the information applies to those with addictions too.
Here is a blog with additional information and a study on the importance of addressing low blood sugar when it comes to anxiety and also addictions – Anxiety and Hypoglycemia Symptoms Improve with Diet Modification.
This highlights the importance of consuming enough protein, fats and fiber, especially at breakfast. There is an entire chapter on blood sugar in my book – it’s that important.
Finally, low thiamine/vitamin B1 must be addressed: “alcohol misuse is the most common risk factor for thiamine deficiency.” More about this here.
A complete nutritional assessment for other issues should be done too: low vitamin D, low zinc, other vitamin B deficiencies, low magnesium, adrenal insufficiency, leaky gut and more.
Medically assisted withdrawal treatment
If you are wanting to quit alcohol and don’t have an alcohol use disorder, all of the above approaches can be safely used.
However, medically assisted withdrawal treatment may be needed in some instances: “Excessive chronic alcohol users, and particularly patients with alcohol use disorder, may present an alcohol withdrawal syndrome if they abruptly stop drinking. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome requires pharmacological treatment for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms and to prevent withdrawal complications. Medically assisted withdrawal treatment is used in alcohol treatment units, but it is also frequently required in patients admitted to hospital for other conditions.”
It’s important that this is recognized for those who need it. MJ mentions benzodiazepines were used in her son’s treatment so presumably he had medically assisted withdrawal treatment.
In this situation, once her son has safely quit alcohol everything I mention above would then apply – looking at the amino acids and nutritional status so there is no relapse. And so recovery is easier and sustainable with a stable mood and no anxiety.
Resources if you are new to using amino acids as supplements
If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.
There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.
The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs. You can find them all in my online store.
If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.
If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.
Have you or a loved one used the amino acids to help with alcohol dependence/alcohol use disorder?
If benzodiazepines were used in the treatment center, was GABA still helpful?
Have the amino acids helped prevent new addictions to sugar/coffee/cigarettes and improved anxiety, depression and insomnia?
If you have questions and other feedback please share in the comments too.
Excellent article. I wondered if you have something similar for smokers who want to quit but struggle with cravings followed by failure after failure to quit? Can amino acids help withdrawal as you suggest they do for alcohol?
Catherine
The amino acids do help smokers quit in the same way. I have found it’s often low GABA and feeling anxious or stressed (physical anxiety) that drives the need for cigarettes. For some folks the amino acids are not quite enough and the addition of hypnotherapy can help.
Nutritional status is also a factor as many nutrients are depleted (vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin E, B vitamins) and there is a much higher need for antioxidants due to them being depleted and because of the toxins in cigarettes (like cadmium affecting selenium and zinc). Smokers often don’t eat very well so that affects overall nutrient levels and health. More here – Cigarette smoking-nutritional implications https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1784736/
Because of the toxins, I have found an infrared sauna such as the Therasage to be very beneficial too https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/thera360-plus-my-portable-full-spectrum-infrared-sauna-from-therasage-better-sleep-and-digestion-more-energy-and-even-more-joy/
Sauna also “improves endothelial dysfunction …suggesting a preventive role for atherosclerosis” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14610268/
Thank you so much. Terrific information and very helpful links.
How does one receive the blog please. TY
Char
On the top right of the blog – sign up under Free Report – 9 Great Questions Women Ask about Food, Mood and their Health/ You’ll also receive a complimentary subscription to my ezine “Food, Mood and Gal Stuff”
I send a new blog post out each week via the ezine/newsletter. I also send out other emails about online educational summits and various useful and supportive products (like saunas, beefsticks etc)
Dear Trudi, I have been trying to help my own daughter withdraw from vaping but it is proving such a viscous cycle. We tried 5-htp which did not help. I make sure she gets a great protein, veg, good fat and some carb for breakfast and she takes home made food to work but she works in hospitality and has really late night / early morning finishes and I feel like we are dealing with a lot more than the addiction here to try and find a way to get her use down and hopefully kicked to the kerb.
She wants to quit but has anxiety and gets health anxiety when she doesn’t use the vape within a certain period – the physical withdrawal signs come thru very quickly for her (rapid heart beat, pain in side etc( which freaks her out and then she vapes…).
It’s a hopeless cycle of withdrawals with horrible physical symptoms and then the emotional frustration of using to manage the symptoms and feeling so frustrated with herself. If we could put her into a deep deep sleep for a few days till the toxin is washed out of her system and have a way to deal with the emotional aspect of withdrawal I think myself and so many other parents in Australia would be grateful.
Vaping is huge problem in our young people – it’s all thru the schools too. It doesn’t smell, tastes like lollies and parents can’t detect it easily. Louise
Louise
I hear you, vaping is a huge hug problem. However the good news is that similar logic applies to any drug of choice and vaping is no exception. I use the table shared in this blog and the symptoms questionnaire and we do trials of each amino acid as needed, assessing before and after feelings.
With vaping (like cigarettes) there is often a low GABA aspect i.e. physical anxiety. When health anxiety is more emotional serotonin support helps and when 5-HTP doesn’t work we always trial tryptophan if there are low serotonin symptoms (after increasing 5-HTP to the max – how much did you use and how often?)
With really late night / early morning finishes we always consider adrenal issues and address those after salivary testing.
Having good a good foundational diet with eating for blood sugar goes a long way so this is great for your daughter and will help so much. My book is a great resource for really understanding the amino acids and for many other fundamentals dietary principles https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
If you need additional support be sure to sign up to get on the notification list for when we relaunch the GABA program https://www.anxietynutritioninstitute.com/gabaquickstart/
Be sure to read my feedback for Catherine – much of it applies to vaping too. There are aspects specific to vaping that I’ll cover in a future blog post as I don’t yet have one on this topic. I plan to use your question (first name only) as I’m sure many parents have similar questions – so thanks for posting it.
great article. Where do I find your recommendations for L-theanine supplements? I searched and found Gaba, but not L-theanine. Also B-1 if you have any. thank you
Wendy
Thanks for the feedback. We’ll add some theanine products to the Fullscript store but remember you can always use the search feature
the problem with the alcoholic is “selfish and self entered to the extreme, spiritually broke and alcohol is but a symptom”. regretfully, this is true. and i would add – as well as other complications. The other complications can contribute but if this first part is missed – non of it can stand.
First, the 12 step program has exceptional success for those who actually work at it. Disregard this at one’s own peril.
Second, see Dr Brownstein in Bloomfield Michigan at the Center for Homsitic Medicine and have the blood test done with Angela – after 20 years sober – i dealt with insane anxiety – turns out i had lead and mercury poisoning and several parasites, bacteria, molds and virus’.
Next – explore treatments via TruRife with Dr Howard out of Houston.
Next – Hyperbarics at Oxford in Brighton Michigan with Dr Tami Powell
Last – explore treatment with Cereset out of Plano Texas – with Sonya Howeth
All these have helped return me to exceptional health. No one of these stands alone to have helped – and continued effort with all have been successful for normalization and wellbeing
J William
Wonderful to hear all of these have helped you
I agree that 12 step is wonderful for the support but, as you know, they are unfortunately lacking when it comes to nutritional/biochemical aspects
And yes to addressing heavy metals and gut health (for everyone)
My son who is alcohol dependent, is also on lorazepam and Celexa. Can he add GABA to this mix…..or does he have to get off the lorazepam and Celexa first? The goal is to get off all of it and just take GABA or pharma GABA.
Jackie
There is no evidence that GABA can’t be used with these meds and I’ve had clients use GABA with success to help with tapering (which must always be done really really slowly and under medical supervision). With tapering being nutritionally stable is key – as with addressing alcohol dependence.
My book is a great resource for really understanding the amino acids and all the fundamentals dietary information https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
If you need additional support be sure to sign up to get on the notification list for when we relaunch the GABA program https://www.anxietynutritioninstitute.com/gabaquickstart/
Hi,
I have a family member who has chronic severe alcoholism for nearly 25 plus years now. They are now in liver failure. They have developed seizures and several other health issues during these years of addiction. It has been indescribably painful for my family to try and help with no luck and to have to witness. Any interventions from family have been met with hostility and refusal. (Had very short term detox maybe once or twice while in the hospital due to being admitted for other health issues. It wasn’t truly a self directed attempt at detox- just a secondary detox while being there.
We did see a glimmer of hope though, but so short lived). They are also very very dependent on benzodiazepines and gabapentin. (Both of these are quite concerning and just add to their issues and addiction cycles)
My question is if there are any articles or any of your programs you could recommend on how to properly use GABA, tryptophan and thiamine etc in chronic alcoholism? Does sobriety need to be in place first? Also, once the addiction is this chronic- can a person’s GABA receptors ever naturally be restored? Will drinking alcohol continue to make each cycle of extreme anxiety worse and worse each time a person drinks? This seems to be the case with my loved one.
I am sincerely grateful for your reply- Bev
Bev
I am sorry to hear this but the person has to acknowledge there is a problem and want help. It often helps for them to hear this from someone other than family.
I would start with my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/ and Joan Matthews Larson’s book “Seven Weeks to Sobriety: The Proven Program to Fight Alcoholism through Nutrition” (my Amazon link https://amzn.to/3RLIykt)
GABA receptors can be restored but drinking alcohol “does continue to make each cycle of extreme anxiety worse and worse each time a person drinks” because of the ongoing nutrient depletion, neurotransmitter imbalances and gut damage.