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.
