How to Stop Alcohol Cravings: Remedies, Medication & More

Eating foods that are rich in these B vitamins can be beneficial for reducing the negative side effects of alcohol misuse, which can make it easier to manage how to stop alcohol cravings cravings. Engage in relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. These techniques can help reduce stress and anxiety, which are common triggers for alcohol cravings. At their core, alcohol cravings are intense urges or thoughts about drinking. They can manifest physically (dry mouth, restlessness), emotionally (irritability, anxiety), or mentally (obsessive thoughts, glorifying past drinking experiences).

Alcohol Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, & Treatment

• In this blog, we’ll look at different ways of coping with cravings for alcohol and what can be done to stop them.
• However, if you can manage to ride it out and curb alcohol cravings, these will start to fade and become less intense.
• However, if you find you need more support, traditional medicine is an option.
• This herb is an excellent home remedy for treating liver diseases caused by alcoholism.
• It can feel physical (tight chest, racing thoughts), emotional (restlessness, anxiety), or mental (romanticizing alcohol, obsessive thinking).

We provide medical detox and residential care for drug and alcohol addiction. All our plans are tailored to your needs and you’ll be surrounded by our friendly and knowledgeable treatment team throughout the process. Studies show that managing stress levels plays a big role in the success of treatment programs. Fortunately, there are a lot of mindfulness activities that can help and be great natural remedies to reduce cravings.

Ashwagandha: An Adaptogen for Stress-Related Urges

• If you usually experience urges when drinking alone create a little ritual that brings company such as sending a quick text to a sober buddy.
• Cravings may still arise—but with the right tools, they don’t have to control your life.
• Eat a salami and butter sandwich on ciabatta bread, which will absorb a significant amount of alcohol from the body.
• Another approach is taking medication that makes the person violently ill when they drink.

Vivitrol is a bit more expensive, but does not require a daily decision. While the FDA has not approved naltrexone for moderate drinking in the U.S., it is used for this purpose in Europe. Your primary care provider may or may not be willing to prescribe you naltrexone for cutting back on your drinking if that is your goal.

Identify triggers

But even when you don’t know anyone else trying to make a similar change, friends and loved ones can still offer emotional support. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that binds to the opioid receptors in the brain. Normally, alcoholism symptoms the body secretes endogenous opioids to help mediate feelings of happiness, relief, or pain. You may have close friends or even family members who can contribute to your alcohol intake and habits. According to multiple studies and surveys, peer pressure influences the drinking behavior in young adults who would have otherwise remained sober.