Vitamin B while drinking?

Question

I've heard that taking vitamin B while drinking helps to reduce hangovers. There are so many kinds of vitamin B. Does anybody know which is most effective?

Answer 1

I think that's largely a myth. Hangovers are caused by the dehydration of the brain cells caused by alcohol, and by chemicals in the alcohol that give it its taste. The best way to avoid a hangover, other than not drinking, is to ensure you get lots of water (not mixed with alcohol). Taking an aspirin as a preventative measure is also not a bad idea, although it can irritate your stomach. The B vitamins are important in preventing something called Koraskoff's psychosis, in which memory is impaired due to prolonged alcohol consumption and poor nutrition. A deficiency of the B vitamin thiamine appears to be the cause. If you drink heavily enough to be at risk for Korsakoff's psychosis, then you're going to have a lot of other health problems as well.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I used to be a heavy alcoholic (2 fifths a day), rarely with a hangover, but I guess I was never really sober enough to have a "hangover" of sorts... Water helped alot when I drank, I always drank water, by itself, inbetween drinks... That has also helped my girlfriend....

I'm going to have to ask my doctor about that B12 stuff... After reading about it, it says it helps your memory after alcoholism... I almost died, from Severe Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis (From drinking), spent 2 months in the hospital with a 20% chance of living... and was only 26... my memory is shot though, I make due though... In nursing school now... I might ask about that too, because i'm taking Metformin (for diabetes, because of my pancreatitis), and it inhibits the absorbtion of b12...

Anyway, back to you...

My total advise would to not drink, however, that is probably not going to happen, so drink loads of water instead of the b12 crap...

B12 is mostly for nerve cells, red blood cells, and combining with intrinsic factor and would do little for a hangover, probably.

The RDA is 2.4μg, but, there isn't much of a danger with going over that, from studies that have been conducted anyway... So you could give it a shot if you wanted...

Alot of the energy drinks have alot of b12 in them, so if you're getting drinks like jagerbombs or anything else mixed with an energy drink, chances are you're already conducting this test without knowing it... And it's not working lol...

Answer 4

As a nurse who has worked on psychiatric units with patients in Alcohol detox, I can say I have never heard of this. However, alcoholics (really, really, heavy drinkers) often will develop a form of neuropathy. The doctor always prescribes them Thiamine and Folic Acid (2 forms of B vitamins) to help reverse the neuropathy process.

Answer 5

I take a B-12 and B complex every day. They help the liver function since you're peeing away vitamins, and the B's are always stored in the liver. If you're a drinker, always take B-12 and B complex, and stay away from any vitamins with iron. Iron damages the liver horribly if you're a drinker.

Answer 6

Acupuncture, which involves inserting thin needles into various points on your body, may reduce peripheral neuropathy symptoms.