Alcohol and Dopamine: Do Levels Recover After Quitting?

Alcohol’s Link to Brain Chemistry

Alcohol has a number of effects on brain chemistry, in both the short and longer term. Chronic heavy drinking, for example, can affect regions of the brain involved in motivation, memory, decision-making, impulse control, attention, sleep regulation and other cognitive functions.

One of the most important interactions is the one alcohol has with the parts of the brain responsible for producing and processing dopamine. This neurotransmitter is sometimes known as the ‘happy hormone’ as it is heavily involved in pleasure, reward and motivation.

Alcohol can affect dopamine levels in both the short and longer term, leading to an imbalance that can have a range of different effects.

How Alcohol Affects Dopamine Levels

In the short term, alcohol boosts dopamine levels, which can lead to feelings of happiness, giggling and even euphoria in the early stages of intoxication. Alcohol also acts as a central nervous system depressant, though, so heavier levels of drinking can see mood swings and depressive behaviour overtaking those earlier feelings of happiness and relaxation.

The stimulation of the reward centres when drinking can also contribute to dependency and addiction. At the same time, continued drinking can lead to an increased tolerance, meaning the drinker has to drink more and more to get the same effect.

Long-term drinking can also cause the brain to reduce the amount of dopamine it produces naturally. These factors can all combine to produce flattened or depressed moods. In some cases, the drinker may have to drink just to feel normal and may lose interest or motivation in other things that used to bring them pleasure.

Alcohol and Dopamine: What Happens to Levels After Quitting?

Dopamine levels can become reliant on alcohol, with the brain producing smaller amounts naturally. This means that when the alcohol is removed, it can lead to depleted dopamine levels. This in turn can lead to symptoms including a low mood, fatigue and cravings for alcohol. This can affect even light or moderate drinkers, but will usually be more pronounced for heavier or regular drinkers.

Dopamine recovery is certainly possible, but the rebalancing process may take weeks or months, depending on the level of drinking involved and other factors. This can be a difficult period, but the positives will outweigh the negatives over time.

The Role of Withdrawal in Dopamine Imbalance

As well as the effect on dopamine, alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant and the system will produce more stimulant-type chemicals to compensate. When the alcohol is removed, this can result in withdrawal symptoms producing heightened nervous system activation. This can produce symptoms such as raised blood pressure and heartbeat, shaking, sweating, tremors, aches and anxiety. At its most severe, it can cause seizures and hallucinations and can even be life-threatening.

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is a set of ongoing psychological and emotional symptoms that can linger for a long time after the initial detoxification and withdrawal phase of alcohol recovery. It occurs as the system rebalances and adjusts to life without alcohol, including the artificially induced production of dopamine.

Symptoms can include insomnia and restlessness, irritability and mood swings, depression, a lack of enthusiasm or motivation, boredom, lethargy, impaired concentration and impaired cognitive function (‘brain fog’). It can be a crucial time for people recovering from alcohol misuse and they may be vulnerable to relapse.

How to Support Dopamine Recovery Naturally

Dopamine levels will gradually start to reset but it can be a difficult period and this can take a long time. You can help the process along with healthy lifestyle choices. These include getting plenty of rest and practising sleep hygiene habits, eating a nutritionally balanced diet and taking regular exercise.

Adopting healthy habits to aid natural recovery is important, but you can also give your system a boost with easy-to-take daily supplements designed to improve your overall well-being and mental performance. Nootropics, sometimes known as ‘smart drugs’ are evidence-backed substances that help to boost or restore thinking, learning, and memory – especially in instances where these functions have been impaired.

Alcohol and Dopamine: How Sober Relief Helps Restore Balance

Sober Relief is a specially formulated nootropic made using natural ingredients and designed help people looking to cut down or quit drinking – both during and after they quit. 

The science behind Sober Relief is based on three key ingredients. These are:

• Bacopa Monnieri

Frequently used to boost memory and cognitive functions, this natural herbal extract has been used for centuries. Previous generations might have observed the effects without knowing how it works, but modern studies have shown a number of mechanisms, including improving dopamine synthesis by keeping the dopamine-releasing cells alive.

Learn more in our guide, What Is Bacopa Monnieri?

• Acetate (Apple Cider Vinegar)

Acetate derived from apple cider vinegar helps to fuel the brain without alcohol, promoting healthy digestion and supporting mental well-being by increasing serotonin levels. Serotonin is another ‘feel good’ hormone that helps regulate mood and sleep cycles.

• MCT Oil Powder

Medium Chain Triglycerides or MCT is a fat type that helps generate ketones, elevating the NAD+/NADH Ratio in the brain. NAD is a substance found in all living cells that plays a vital role in energy metabolism, DNA repair and cellular regulation. It’s often turned into a powdered form for use in supplements.

Learn more in our guide to MCT powder.

Taken together, these key ingredients combine to help restore dopamine levels and produce other benefits, including improved mental well-being and reduced cravings for alcohol.