What vitamins have helped you in early sobriety?
 

Curious, what vitamins have helped others in early sobriety? Trying not to tread on that giving med advice to others rule here. Just asking whats worked for you.

Ive always taken a multi and calcium. Since quit drinking Ive added a B Complex vitamin, and 250mg of Magnesium...both being things Ive read help with withdrawal from alcohol. Honestly Im not sure if the B Complex is helping anything besides turning my urine a yellowish-green, haha. The Magnesium has helped me stay regular #2 wise, but not sure if either are touching the anxiety/insomnia problems Ive been having.

Anyways, if this post doesnt fit the guidelines of giving advice or not, Im sorry. Just trying to hear about Vitamin stories.

Thanks.

--Shane

I did and am doing a multi, B complex, and omega 3. I think what helps me most is eating well in general. Lots of whole grains fresh fruit veggies and lean meat, as well as exercise. I know I was getting 800-1000+ calories daily from booz, which is 1/2 to 1/3 of what my daily recommended caloric intake is (kinda scary). I think the exercise helps my stress/anxiety more than anything else, but they all do work together.

My neighbor's a nutritionist and I talked to her about this a few weeks ago. She told me something to the effect of..."a big ass plate of veggies will do you more good than any supplement pill". Tongue in cheek but you get the idea.

From my own experience, I used to feel tired all day no matter how much sleep I got. I was taking a multi vitamin + 3 other supps + whey protein. Now, since I started eating about 6 to 8 servings of fruits/veggies daily for the past month, I feel at 100% after 5.5 hours a night, every night. Some of it must have to do with quitting drinking but I've never felt this clear headed with this much energy and positivity.

I take a multivitamin when I remember - I seem to do better taking them than not taking them.

Vitamins are just like anything else medical tho - its a really good idea to speak with your Dr about what might be good for you...especially if you're on other meds or have specific health issues :)

good multivitamin,super nutrition brand is what I take
omega 3
tyrozine

I take a good multivitamin, plus a B100 complex and also 300mg of Cod Liver Oil every day.
Don't know if this has actually helped me get sober but I was pretty malnourished from drinking for days without eating.
6 months sober now, I feel MUCH better.
:dance8:
One thing I have noticed is the cod liver oil eases the arthritis symptoms I've developed in my fingers from years of playing jazz guitar..no kidding.

I also take a multivitamin and a B complex. I'm one month in and feel great though this is due to not drinking. I figure the vitamins can't do any harm. Just need to try and improve my diet now which is ok in general but i'm still craving sugary food

I am taking a multi, milk thistle (anyone know it lives up to the hype--part of what is getting me to take this seriously is my liver enzymes were quite elevated and an autoimmune issue/s) multi, iron (i'm anemic) and i'm taking a bcomplex - with folic and folate both i want to say, and biotin. I started showing/suffering from really hellish pain and burning in my feet and it's signs of alcoholic neuropathy--I had a hard time wrapping my head around that i'm not 30 yet...but i know age is just a number. But I'm really interested in learning more.
I saw your other post shane about the insomnia and anxiety and good goodness that is a HUGE issue for me. I've tried everything under the sun, and just barely sleep period. I am going off sleeping meds and trying just smaller amounts of melatonin (3 mg) and 2 valarian root pills to try a last ditch approach. I cut WAY back on caffeine but i don't know how long that will last.
Smoothies are a good way i can get some fruit and protein in, I love vegetables and that helps for meals but i know i can feel like such crap when i wake up, usually b/c i barely sleep and just making smoothies is a good way to cover a lot of good nutritional sources. Hang in there.

Multi and a B100

Another here for Multi-Vitamin (Centrum Chewables) and B-Complex (Puritan's Pride sublingual)... I just got a new batch & gonna start take them again.

And to all of us living in the northern climes, apparently we should be taking at least 500 mg of Vitamin D every day since we don't get enough from sunlight.

I take a multi-vitamin and a B1 every morning after breakfast. Seems to work for me:)

tyrozine helps restore your body's Norepinephrine which is depleted by chronic alcohol and drug abuse. low Norepinephrine is a factor in depression and mood swings. I took tyrozine twice a day(in addition to a multi that contained it) my first few months. it seemed to make a difference.

pretty informative blog I just found about supplements in early recovery
Nutrition And Alcoholism

I take what the doctor told me too, Calcium, D, multi, fish oil. In my outpatient, the nutrition specialist stressed that the most important thing to do is eat one raw meal a day, veggies with lots of colors. I try, but don't always succeed, working as a chef gets in the way a lot of times.

I read a book called Seven Weeks to Sobriety. A nutritional guide to help curb cravings, withdrawals, etc. you can check it out. But check w/ your doc before taking anything. I've followed some of the amino acids they suggest & really haven't had bad cravings. So I think it works. Plus multi, b complex, eat lots of veggies. Water. Avoid sugar. Etc

I'm jealous - in my rehab, we got zero zip nutritional advice, and some of my groupies ate the worst dreck you could possibly imagine: fast food breakfast, potato chip lunch while smoking, and Spam from the can dinner. (I happen to like Spam myself but do not consider it the foundation of a good diet.)

The only negative comment I put in my eval of the program was that they really needed to include some nutritional advice for people whose bodies and minds are supposed to be healing.

I take a multivitamin that's high in vitamin B and amino acids. I also take a vitamin D-3 supplement during the winter when I don't get as much sun.

Oh, and I also take omega 3 fish oil.

I usually feel pretty good, though I have off days like everyone else. Who knows if its the supplements helping, or if it's staying clean/sober, eating healthy, exercising, always at least 7 hours sleep, and anti-d medication. ;)

I take B complex, Vit D and Fish Oil, but I also took those before I sobered up, so I don't know whether they've made a difference or not.

Interesting thread. I love stuff like this :)

I have been called a vitamin crazy person before; always have been even when drinking. When I stopped drinking for good (yesterday) I added to my usual; (multi, calcium, magnesium) the following:

Vitamin C
Milk Thistle
B Complex
Amino Essential
Taurine (when a craving or anxiety hits)
Omegas
GABA Calm

I am determined to stay quit this time and did a lot of research and am hoping these vitamins help in recovery, craving, anxiety. These along with AA and my strong desire.

I haven't read all the posts - just giving you what worked for me.
Thiamine/B1
B12
Milk Thistle
Multi
Omega3
Glutamine
I would avoid Niacin if you see it...I am not sure what a lot of people's reactions are to it in general but I know that I thought I was having some sort of SEVERE allergic reaction because of the incredible flushing I endured.

All in all....what works for some doesn't work for all...and make sure to ask you Doc. Because I didn't know Niacin (a B vitamin) would do that to me...or St. John's Wort (that has an effect on anti-depressants )...
I would definitely invest in some Milk Thistle though and B vitamins.

Purplecatlover - did you find that it worked? When I tried it, it didn't do anything for me. Was wondering how it affected your sobriety - if it helped/etc.

How do you take them? Just slam down 7+ pills in 1 sitting? Wow!

Vitamins really help. I take multivitamins in the morning and B vitamin complex in the afternoon. Afternoon vitamin really does make a difference.

Also I eat smoked fish, instead of artificial fish oil pills. Planning not to increase any more vitamins, otherwise another addiction - vitamin addiction. :herewego

I was just out looking for this but they didn't have it. The pharmacist said I had to try a health-type shop? I grabbed some Vitamin D and came home :) All this overcast weather isn't helping my no-drinking + break-up at the same time clause AT ALL.

Vitamins won't resolve this. Staying sober should. Good luck.

"How do you take them? Just slam down 7+ pills in 1 sitting? Wow!"

mwstylee - LOL! I knew I would get this from someone. I always do! It's actually ten pills in all and no not in all one sitting.

I take the multi, amino (temp. in early recovery), fish oil, vitamin C (temp in early recovery), milk thistle (temp. in early recovery) with breakfast.
Calcium and Mag right before bed.
Taurine and GABA only now in early recovery when I get anxiety.
This is not the most vitamins I have ever taken at one time. I am telling you I am a freak when it comes to nutrition and vitamins. I have talked to my doctor about all as well. My dad and brother used to always say.... why do you take such good care of yourself but drink like a fish? I wondered that as well.....I guess that is what addiction does to you. It comes first no matter what! :-/

Thx for all the replies. This site is such a great resource, so happy I found it & joined.

Im gonna get with my Doc, and see what else I can do in my case vitamin wise. Im all about learning everything I can about getting healthy lately. Its like after poisoning myself for almost 15 years Im eager to enjoy life fully, rather than drinking it away.

vitamins
 

ShaneW,

When I left detox on Saturday, I was told to take a multivitamin,folic acid, and Thiamin. It seems to give me energy to get through without upsetting my stomach. Hope this helps, and Good Luck on your journey.

I have tried the 7 weeks to sobriety and it does work
 

I was on the program for 6 months and not a drop of alcohol. Felt great. Lost weight. Then I thought I was "healed" and stopped taking the supplements and the cravings came right back. Drinking started again. So, I have just started the program again and you notice a difference on your mood in about 24 hours. Cravings go away. The ability to concentrate returns. It is a lot of pills to take. About 70 a day during the detox phase which last 2 weeks. I believe they have adjusted the formula a bit but it basically consist of pre meal Glutimine powder, enzymes, amino acid, and Taurine. Then 30 minutes later enzymes, vitamin C, multi vitamin which has high doses of the b vitamins, omega-3 fish oil, Calcium Magnesium(I think they have changed this to just magnesium) Betaine HCL, primrose oil with 10% GLA. Then between meals additional vitamin C. Then Tryptophan shortly before bed and meltonin at bedtime. I would encourage anyone looking for a huge help in their recovery to have a look at this. I have tried it all and this seems to have worked the best for me.