Can Magnesium Supplements Ease Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
Could a common supplement make getting through alcohol withdrawal easier? There’s no question that most people would like to get through detox as easily and painlessly as possible. After all, withdrawal has a reputation for being a difficult process that can come with a roller-coaster ride of symptoms. That’s why hearing that some people use magnesium for alcohol withdrawal symptoms may have piqued your interest. This concept actually isn’t anything new. Studies going back to the 1980s have shown the benefits of magnesium replacement for easing withdrawal symptoms. Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking of supplementing with magnesium.
What Is Magnesium?
Magnesium is one of the most popular supplements. Magnesium is a mineral that’s found abundantly throughout the human body. In most cases, people meet their daily magnesium requirements by eating high-magnesium foods that include whole wheat, avocado, beans, and nuts. However, some people choose to supplement with magnesium.
Magnesium plays several important roles in the body. First, it’s required for the proper growth and maintenance of bones. It’s also needed for the proper function of nerves, muscles, and many other organs and systems. Magnesium is constantly used as a digestive supplement due to its role in neutralizing stomach acid and moving stools through the large intestine.
What Is the Logic Behind Using Magnesium for Alcohol Withdrawal?
Roughly 50% of people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal can range from mild to severe. The theory behind magnesium supplementation is that it can help to ease symptoms because most people who are heavy or binge drinkers are actually magnesium deficient.
Research shows that lower serum magnesium concentrations are associated with specific heavy-drinking markers. When a person consumes alcohol heavily, this can alter mineral metabolism to reduce the body’s absorption of magnesium. This is a sophisticated way of saying that people with AUD are at higher risk for magnesium deficiency. While the emphasis is often placed on elevating magnesium levels when going through withdrawal, the most important takeaway may be that magnesium depletion is actually a concern for all heavy drinkers regardless of whether they are actively going through withdrawal and detoxification. Common signs of magnesium deficiency include:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Nighttime leg cramps
- Numbness or tingling of the extremities
- General body weakness
- Tremors
- Heart palpitations
Some people with magnesium deficiencies also experience abnormal eye movements and convulsions.
The Neurotransmitter Angle: How Magnesium Impacts GABA and Glutamate Balance
Another reason why magnesium is often prescribed for people going through alcohol withdrawal is the mineral’s role in the function of the brain’s neurotransmitters. Magnesium is especially important when it comes to GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and glutamate. GABA acts as a primary regulator of brain activity. It brings the body in check to slow things down when rest is needed. Glutamate works in the opposite way by ramping up brain activity. When a person’s physiology is balanced, GABA and glutamate work in harmony to keep brain function stable. While both are connected to nearly all elements of neurological function, their impacts are especially profound in regard to:
- Memory
- Cognition
- Learning
Both GABA and glutamate are affected by alcohol. While alcohol can intensify the effects of GABA, it can reduce the effects of glutamate. This is why many people who consume alcohol experience feelings of calm and euphoria while intoxicated.
When a person drinks heavily on a regular basis, this causes an imbalance in GABA and glutamate levels. As drinking increases, GABA becomes the dominant neurotransmitter over glutamate. The body will actually recognize this pattern. In an attempt to equalize and stabilize the balance between the two neurotransmitters, the body will begin to prioritize glutamate production over GABA production. This is the point where many people suffering with excessive drinking or substance use disorder will begin to notice that it takes substantially more alcohol to achieve the same effect that they used to get from just one or two drinks. It’s actually the body’s confusion over neurotransmitter balance that contributes to many symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. For people suffering with AUD, withdrawal symptoms may look like this:
- Anxiety or nervousness
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Jumpiness or shakiness
- Mood swings
- Nightmares
- Not thinking clearly
- Sweating or clamminess
- Enlarged pupils
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid heart rate
If a person enters a severe form of withdrawal called delirium tremens (DTs), symptoms can be far more serious. Delirium tremens symptoms include agitation, irritability, delirium, fever, and seizures. If severe withdrawal symptoms are suspected, you should seek medical attention immediately because delirium tremens is a life-threatening condition.
What Research Says About Using Magnesium for Alcohol Withdrawal
Research that’s been done on the use of magnesium supplementation to reduce symptoms of alcohol withdrawal have been mixed. It’s true that studies going back to the 1980s have supported the use of supplementation for easing symptoms. However, other studies have reported inconclusive results.
A systematic review looking at the effectiveness of magnesium for the prevention or treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in adults found that there was insufficient evidence to determine whether magnesium is beneficial or harmful for the treatment or prevention of AWS. The results of a randomized control trial that looked at magnesium in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome did not support the rationale of systematic oral magnesium supplementation in patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
What Should You Take Away From the Research?
The evidence that magnesium depletion is common in chronic AUD is pretty clear. However, the answer regarding what people who are concerned about going through alcohol withdrawal should do is less clear. With so much research and anecdotal information supporting the use of magnesium to potentially ease withdrawal symptoms, speaking with a care provider about implementing magnesium supplementation is a good idea. The fact that most people who drink heavily may already be suffering from magnesium deficiencies alone makes supplementation a viable option.
Before taking magnesium, you need to do some research just as you would before taking any other supplement. It’s also advisable to speak with a physician to make sure it’s not likely to conflict with any medications you take or health conditions you have. While magnesium is generally considered safe, 350 mg daily is the upper limit for supplementation. Extra magnesium from your diet is safe because the body eliminates any excess in urine.
Taking doses of magnesium that are too large can cause the mineral to build up in the body to cause low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and slow breathing. It can even lead to coma and be life-threatening. Additionally, magnesium supplementation can be dangerous for people with bleeding disorders, diabetes, heart block, and myasthenia gravis. Magnesium can also disrupt the potency of a number of different medications. For example, the absorption of antibiotic medications can be reduced when magnesium is taken at the same time. This is why it’s so important to carry out supplementation under the supervision of a trained and certified medical professional capable of looking at your health history to help you determine if magnesium is a good fit for you.
Ways to Supplement With Magnesium
Magnesium supplements come in a variety of forms. The most common way to take magnesium is to purchase a dietary supplement. Commonly recommended forms include magnesium citrate, magnesium gluconate, and magnesium lactate. If you’re suffering from an intense magnesium deficiency, an IV supplement may be recommended. IV supplementation bypasses the digestive system to allow for faster absorption.
Of course, if you’re concerned about magnesium levels, you should also focus on boosting magnesium content in your diet. Generally, eating a balanced diet full of whole, natural foods will enable you to maintain consistent magnesium levels. Foods highest in magnesium include:
- Pumpkin seeds
- Almonds
- Spinach
- Cashews
- Peanuts
- Fortified cereals
- Soy milk
- Dark chocolate
- Avocado
- Potatoes
- Rice
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Kidney beans
- Bananas
- Salmon
- Milk
- Halibut
- Raisins
- Chicken breast
- Beef
- Broccoli
- Rice
- Apples
- Carrots
Unfortunately, keeping up with proper nutrition is one of the struggles for people living with AUD. One analysis of the nutritional status of people with AUD found that many consumed 35% to 50% of their calories as alcohol. Many also exhibited inadequate macronutrient and micronutrient levels.
Talking to Someone About Withdrawal Concerns
If you believe that you suffer from AUD, you may be eager to speak with someone who can provide guidance about how to safely break the cycle of excessive drinking. Knowing where to turn isn’t always easy. That’s why it’s helpful to know about a 100% free resource called Alcohol Awareness. Our organization’s mission is to raise awareness for AUD. Many people who are struggling find it to be less intimidating compared to other help options due to the fact that it’s operated by fellow recovering alcoholics who understand how hard finding free, reliable resources for AUD can be. AlcoholAwareness.org can be a valuable tool whether you’re seeking free resources for yourself or someone you care about. Getting started is as easy as contacting our free 24/7 Alcoholism Hotline at (855) 955-0771.
How should people who are struggling with AUD look at the idea of magnesium supplementation? There is limited evidence that supplementing with magnesium can reduce symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. However, many medical professionals prescribe magnesium to people with AUD due to the increased risks for magnesium deficiency that go along with heavy drinking. Finally, the connection between symptoms of GABA and glutamate imbalances and withdrawal symptoms creates a compelling argument for considering magnesium supplementation. Ultimately, this is an important conversation that anyone who is considering detoxing from alcohol should have with a qualified healthcare professional who can assess all the benefits and risks.