Causes
Alcohol and Nerve Damage: What Public Health Sources Say
Alcohol and nerve damage are linked in the sources we read. Mayo Clinic says alcohol use disorder is a cause of peripheral neuropathy, and Cleveland Clinic lists it with vitamin shortfalls. Alcohol is only one cause among many. A doctor can sort out the reason for numb or tingling feet, and a supplement cannot.
Written by the Flow Nerves label deskUpdated · 4 min read
The link
Can alcohol cause nerve damage?
Yes, according to the sources we read. Mayo Clinic lists alcohol use disorder among the causes of peripheral neuropathy (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy). Cleveland Clinic lists it too (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy).
The sources point to two routes. Alcohol can damage nerves directly, and it can lower the vitamins nerves need. Cleveland Clinic names copper and vitamins B1, B6, B9, B12 and E among the shortfalls that matter (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy).
Our sources do not give an amount of alcohol or a time frame, so we will not guess. If you drink and your feet tingle, tell your doctor honestly. That is a medical question, not a moral one.
| Possible cause | What a source says |
|---|---|
| Alcohol use disorder | Listed as a cause by Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy) |
| Low vitamins | B vitamins, copper and vitamin E matter to nerves (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy) |
| Diabetes | The most common cause of peripheral neuropathy (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy) |
Other causes
Is alcohol the only cause of numb feet?
No. Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy, and alcohol is only one item on a long list.
The list below shows causes that public health sources name. Sometimes no cause is found (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy).
- DiabetesThe leading cause of peripheral neuropathy in the U.S.; about two thirds of people with diabetes have nerve problems of some degree. (NINDS, Peripheral neuropathy) (ADA, Neuropathy and diabetes)
- A vitamin shortfallB vitamins, copper and vitamin E matter to nerves. With low B12, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet can occur. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy) (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12)
- AlcoholAlcohol use disorder can damage nerves directly and by lowering vitamins. (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy) (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy)
- Injury or pressureA crush, a fracture, a slipped disk or repeated pressure on a nerve can all cause symptoms. (NINDS, Peripheral neuropathy) (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy)
- MedicinesSome medicines, especially chemotherapy, can cause peripheral neuropathy. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy)
- Other health problemsInfections such as shingles, autoimmune conditions, kidney, liver or thyroid disease, and inherited conditions are on the list. Sometimes no cause is found. (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy) (MedlinePlus, Peripheral nerve disorders)
Getting checked
What should you do if you drink and have tingling feet?
See a doctor. Mayo Clinic says to seek medical care right away for tingling, weakness or pain in your hands or feet (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy).
A clinician can check your vitamins, your blood sugar and your medicines. If you want to cut back on alcohol, ask your doctor for support; our sources do not give a plan, and we will not invent one.
Mention every supplement you take. Magnesium, turmeric and other ingredients can interact with some medicines, and your doctor needs the full picture.
Supplements
Can a nerve supplement undo alcohol's effects?
No source we read says any supplement can. Flow Nerves has six named ingredients, no printed milligrams and one label claim, NERVE SUPPORT*.
No study of it exists in our sources, so we make no promise about nerves or timing. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting, and keep taking prescribed medicine.
FAQ
Flow Nerves questions people ask
Is alcohol neuropathy permanent?
Our sources do not say. Mayo Clinic says early diagnosis gives the best chance of managing the cause (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy). Ask your doctor what is likely for you, since it depends on the cause.
Does alcohol lower vitamins that nerves need?
Cleveland Clinic lists alcohol use disorder and vitamin and nutrient shortfalls, such as copper and vitamins B1, B6, B9, B12 and E, as separate causes of neuropathy (Cleveland Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy). A blood test can check some of them.
How much alcohol harms nerves?
We found no source with a safe amount or a harmful amount, so we will not give a number. Your doctor can advise you based on your health and medicines.
Can tingling feet have a cause other than alcohol?
Yes. Diabetes, low B vitamins, injury, some medicines, infections and kidney, liver or thyroid disease are all on Mayo Clinic's list (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy). Do not assume the cause.
Should I take Flow Nerves if I drink?
Talk to your doctor first. Flow Nerves is a dietary supplement with six names and no printed amounts, and no source shows it helps nerve damage from any cause.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the brand panels and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. stocking partner for Flow Nerves. It is not the manufacturer or a distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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