What To Take Before Drinking Alcohol To Reduce Post-Drinking Symptoms: 7 Tips

Preparing your body before you drink can make a huge difference in the way you feel the next day. You can help your body manage alcohol consumption and bounce back from post-drinking symptoms by supporting hydration, stabilizing blood sugar, and doing everything you can to support your body in advance.

Here are seven science-backed suggestions to help you enjoy your night out and recover more smoothly the next day!

What To Take Before Drinking Alcohol

Preparing your body before drinking can protect your liver and support recovery the following day, potentially reducing unpleasant post-drinking symptoms. While there’s no replacement for moderation in alcohol consumption, here are seven strategies to consider before you reach for that first alcoholic beverage:

1. Plenty of Water

Alcohol is a diuretic, so it increases urine production and can lead to dehydration. This is a contributor to hangover symptoms like headaches, fatigue, dry mouth, and more (although dehydration is not the only cause of hangovers).

Drinking plenty of water before you start drinking alcohol helps you keep your hydration levels higher, which can offset alcohol’s considerable health drawbacks. Being hydrated when you start drinking alcohol can also make you less likely to drink too much, because your body’s thirst signals are more distinguishable from alcohol cravings.

2. Electrolyte Supplement

As alcohol dehydrates you, it can also disrupt the body’s electrolyte balance. Since having the right levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium is crucial for nerve function, muscle coordination, and many other bodily functions, replenishing electrolytes can help your body deal with the effects of alcohol.

Taking an electrolyte drink/supplement before you begin drinking alcohol helps the body maintain healthy fluid balance and can potentially reduce muscle cramps, dizziness, fatigue, and other unpleasant effects of alcohol.

3. Protein-Rich Meal or Snack

Consuming a high-protein meal or snack before you begin drinking can help with blood sugar stability, which is helpful for preventing post-drinking symptoms, as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can contribute to hangovers.

4. B Vitamins and Magnesium

Alcohol depletes these essential nutrients, which are needed for energy production, nervous system function, liver health, and more. Making sure to take a B-complex vitamin and magnesium before drinking may help your body metabolize alcohol more effectively while also supporting relaxation and mental clarity. Having these nutrients available to your body ahead of time gives your body the best chance of recovering from a hangover.

5. N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial (meaning the study was well-designed, so its results are more meaningful), NAC was found to reduce unpleasant post-drinking feelings—but interestingly, the effect was only observed to be significant among women. Nevertheless, taking NAC before you drink can be beneficial, so it’s worth considering as part of your routine.

6. Dihydromyricetin (DHM)

DHM is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoid derived from the Japanese raisin tree. It may reduce alcohol-induced stress on the liver by preventing the oxidative damage that’s associated with alcohol consumption.

7. Capsulyte’s PREGAME

PREGAME stands out for its evidence-based formula, which includes two of the beneficial ingredients listed above: NAC and DHM.

In addition to these, PREGAME also includes:

• Siliphos®: A compound derived from milk thistle that could protect against cirrhosis due to alcoholic liver disease
• Clovinol®: An antioxidant that can reduce negative post-drinking feelings by 55%

Even better, Capsulyte was founded by Dr. Dan Nguyen, MD, MBA, and PREGAME is backed by a money-back guarantee. It’s ideal for those in search of a more science-driven option for managing hangover symptoms in advance.

Visit the Capsulyte blog to find more evidence-based advice on managing post-drinking symptoms!