Thiamine

Anyone regularly consuming high levels of alcohol should take thiamine (vitamin B1). You need thiamine to maintain a healthy central nervous system and most people will get enough of this crucial vitamin from their everyday diet. But alcohol can prevent you absorbing thiamine from your food and, over time, thiamine deficiency can develop leading to damage to nerves and the brain. A person may experience memory loss, confusion, and tingling or numbness in fingers, legs and toes. These are symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy. Eventually, people can develop a very serious condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.

Taking a thiamine supplement every day can prevent this damage. Our nurses will start prescribing this vitamin and will often ask your doctor to continue the prescription longer-term. Even if you are not seeking help or looking to change your alcohol use, if you are regularly consuming high levels of alcohol, you should see your doctor for a thiamine prescription. Otherwise, you can buy thiamine over-the-counter but it has to be at the correct strength (100mg), such as you’ll find at Holland and Barretts.