Just occurred to me that I've never seen anything about this on this site. One of the first things the first counsellor I saw told me was that heavy drinking depletes the body of vit b and thiamine, so to get supplements prescribed. The GP I saw to get them turned out to be an alcohol specialist (what a Godincidence!) and she also said that taking them would protect me while trying to cut down from withdrawl effects etc. Just thought I'd post this, as I've not seen it discussed on this site. I take 100mg thiamine and one vit b compound strong tablet 3 times a day. Hope this might be useful info to others who are also
on this journey to controlled drinking xxx
I take vitamin B every day , or milk thistle .
Very good advice. I've taken them for a couple of years, on prescription from Dr, after being in rehab. Protects the liver too I was told 
I think our brains are beyond help 😜
very true...most brains having suffered this much are beyond repair...
Does this help someone who isn't trying to stop drinking, who is happy being an alcoholic, but would perhaps give me peace of mind, if I can persuade him that this is protecting him,, without given him a green light to carry on, if you see what I mean?
Ha ha..totally agree..!!!
Def. olivo. Ask Dr to prescribe it for him. It will help to protect him
Yes, thiamine is very important. It is one of the B Vitamins. When people drink too much alcohol, they get a deficiency of thiamine. This is the main cause of alcohol-related dementia later on. As a matter of course, people should be given thiamine when they detox and it should be taken for around 4 weeks (100mg twice a day).
As you point out h1954, some of the symptoms that occur when withdrawing from alcohol will also be helped by thiamine but it will not stop the most severe and dangerous risks so it shouldn't be used ALONE to detox from alcohol. Benzodiaepines (like Librium) should be used as the main drug to stop alcohol withdrawal symptoms and make the withdrawal safe and comfortable,