smoking and alcohol: best supplements for quitting. Need help

[johnner]

Hi everyone
I smoke lightly (if that term actually exists) maybe 3 or 4 cigs a day.
I also drink daily. I have been tapering from about 7 beers a day down to 2 or 3 per day. But I can not seem to get to zero. I read that L glutamine in powder form and L trypophen are effective for cravings of many kinds. D3 is good for sleep. Can anyone share with me about other supplements they use for getting down to zero? What works for you guys???
Appreciating any help or suggestions anyone may give.
Johnner

[Neo]

Hi Johnner. As a veteran quiterer this is what I would do.

1/ Go to doctor and get blood tests to find out if everything is ok . You should be fine on low amounts tapering off but Valium is relief from the dirty lowest of low anxiety panic attacks you may get quitting in the first few days and this is important to have on hand

2/ I have a high dose mega B+ multivitamin I take in the morning before breakfast to absorb all the nutrients in your food. Your piss will turn bright yellow so don't freak out. don't take this at night on an empty stomach as it won't do anything

3/ L-glutamine is an amino acid that helps improve your brain functioning. Along with glucose, it's one of the main fuels for your brain cells. It improves your ability to sleep, decreases anxiety and reduces cravings. L-glutamine decreases sugar cravings and your desire for alcohol and is useful for recovering alcoholics. L-glutamine is easily destroyed by cooking. Fresh, raw spinach and parsley are good sources. Talk to your dooc before taking a glutamine supplement, since ammonia accumulation in the blood could result if you have cirrhosis of the liver.

I also have whey protein concentrate. If you are lactose intolerant you will fart like a steam engine and also if you're fat , go the whey protein isolate so you don't put on weight. I have 2 of these a day. With or without milk to preference

4/ No Sugar, Coffee as these are stimulants which you're body doesn't need in the quitting phase. Beer is loaded with it and we need to get rid of these cravings. also no preservatives

5/ healthy food. Whole grain Bread , salad sandwich for lunch, 6 eggs for breakfast , maybe baked beans, plenty of chicken veges fruit

This is my main regime but you could also look into Nootropics and do some reading

I'm currently today trying Noopept twice a day and GABA supplement at night for sleep aid. Alcohol screws up your sleeping
I also like to time my sleep in blocks of 90min so calculate out as it's been proven that this is the most effective

Also, Join the roll call to keep you accountable on this site

Good luck

[johnner]

Hi Neo and thanks for the reply. I have been to the doc and ast and gama gtp is in check
or slightly high. He did load me up with xanax, 90 round clip. I have a vegan diet so I don't
eat junk (that is except alcohol). I do eat a little very high cocoa 92% chocolate as it seems to
help with mood swings a bit. Gave up coffee but I drink macha, a form of green tea that is very
high in theanine which I think is a precursor to gaba production it has maybe 1/8th the caffeine
of coffee. I will try out the Gaba as a sleep aid . I had not thought about a protein supplement
to be honest and know nothing about nootropics. One good thing though is that I kicked the
nicotine habit for 72 hours so now I know all the nicotine has been processed out so physiological
cravings are not coming from this source. Of course psychological still remains. I do take high dose B for alcohol and C for nicotine.
Thanks again for you kind reply and I will try to find the rollcall. I am new to this site as my profile indicates so I don't know my way around it so well yet.
p.s.
I also read that L tryptopthan is good for sleep but I have never tried it.

[Neo]

Alot of amino acids are in protein powder. I'm back to day 1 again together with quitting the smokes. I tapered the 2 previous days but felt awful for doing so . In for quite a ride this week. Rollcall is locatd here https://www.mywayout.org/community/ju...light=rollcall

I'm also a 10-15 can a day drinker and find it hard to stop at 6 or less. I wish I could have 2 - 3 a day but I have never been able to do that the last few years.

[johnner]

Hi Neo,

Is it just night drinking before bed or is it getting kicked off in the day?
Maybe a gentle long burn benzo like valium can get your volume down if used short term.
I am also struggling with reduction and for me to it will be a hell of a week.
Is it okay to p.m you?
Hang in there

[johnner]

Hi Neo,
Cigs are a thing of the past now. But I got totally out of hand on a binge and wound up in
the hospital for the afternoon. Tapered back down to two or three but still feel the spaced out
feeling. Hope it passes.

How are things going with you?

Cheers and good luck with everything

[Neo]

Well I'm back to day 4 off the beer and cigs. I was drinking 15 heavys a day and smoking rollies. Only used valium on day 1 and ran out. Feeling fine ATM and no serious withdrawals or anything this time round. Body getting used to sober runs I think

Last time I stuffed up a trip got cancelled and had to wait at the pub. (well I didn't have too) and ended up drinking 10 schooners and starting smokes again after a couple of months of good work .

[johnner]

good work

Well I'm back to day 4 off the beer and cigs. I was drinking 15 heavys a day and smoking rollies. Only used valium on day 1 and ran out. Feeling fine ATM and no serious withdrawals or anything this time round. Body getting used to sober runs I think

Last time I stuffed up a trip got cancelled and had to wait at the pub. (well I didn't have too) and ended up drinking 10 schooners and starting smokes again after a couple of months of good work .

Hey Neo,
Great work on the 4 day thing and quitting them darn cigs. I was puking like a monkey with night sweats for my first 3 days. Finally got to the two week mark. It seems to just get easier everyday. Recently good clarity of mind. Desire to drink gets less and less. I think or at least hope I got good traction on this alcohol quit. If your friends and family etc. start saying you look better or your eyes are clearer you know you are making major progress. They can see stuff we can't. I thought I looked fine when I was throwing them back at 5 a.m. but everyone later told me I looked like sh##t. Now they say I look healthy. I took your advice on the eggs and amino acid supplements. I use L glut. it seems to kill the desire to drink pretty good. I think I'll stay on it until I get a couple sober months under my belt. I have to admit that the
the valium has been a crutch I am leaning on to keep dry and clean. But I guess I will just have to face that monster when the time comes. Anyway congrats on the major headway . The first week is always the worst. Smooth sailing is coming our way.
Take care and let's not back down on this fight.
John

[Roadside]

"Body getting used to sober runs" -

I know when I am getting sick, it is easy for me to put down the glass; a few days later when I am feeling better (my body has healed, duh!), I will pick up the drink again and the maddening cycle starts all back over.

Keep up the sober streak! Those months of good work don't have to be forgot about just because of one smoky pub. Keep on going, you have already begun the hard work.