There are a lot of supplements out there. Pre-drinking supplements, post-drinking supplements; it’s easy to get confused and overwhelmed. As you scroll through all your options, you may find yourself wondering whether it’s better to supplement before drinking or after if you want to feel energized and clear-headed the next day. 

In short, when it comes to feeling good the day after drinking, pre-drinking supplements are more effective than post-drinking supplements. In this blog post, we’re breaking down the science of why this is and how you can take the best care of your body before and after celebrating with the people you love. 

How do after-drinking supplements work? 

After-drinking supplements aim to neutralize the unpleasant sensations one may feel the day after, such as a dry mouth, headache, upset stomach, and fatigue. They do this by delivering specific compounds to combat these sensations, including: 

• Electrolytes to support hydration
• Caffeine and Vitamin B12 to boost alertness
• Pain relievers
• Prickly pear, peppermint and other extracts to settle one’s stomach
• Cysteine to help the body process acetaldehyde

Keep that last bullet in mind because it’s an important part of how BuzzClear works. As your body breaks down alcohol, acetaldehyde builds up in your bloodstream. This is the toxic compound that causes your heart rate to increase, your stomach to feel upset, and a general sense of feeling lousy. A lot of the after-drinking supplements on the market aim to reduce the amount of acetaldehyde in your bloodstream by helping your body process it faster, all while treating the symptoms it’s causing you to experience. 

Do after-drinking supplements work? There’s no general consensus, but generally, pairing the compounds they contain with water and rest may help to alleviate nausea and fatigue. 

How do pre-drinking supplements work?

Pre-drinking supplements deliver helpful compounds before your night out, with the goal of preventing the unpleasant feelings that occur the next day. Just like after-drinking supplements, different pre-drinking supplements have different ingredients. 

BuzzClear aims to prevent unpleasant feelings by reducing the amount of acetaldehyde that reaches your bloodstream. It does this by providing ADH and ALDH, two enzymes that break down alcohol in your liver, so you’re “armed and ready” before your first drink. By the time that drink—and any others you choose to enjoy—is metabolizing a few hours later, your body is working with an increased enzyme level that could mean a more complete alcohol break-down. 

In essence, pre-drinking supplements aim to prevent the problems post-drinking supplements aim to fix. Both aim to make your next day better, but only one type aims to keep you feeling good from the get-go. 

Not all supplements are the same

When you’re comparing pre-drinking supplements and post-drinking supplements, it’s important to remember that every supplement is unique. Before taking any supplement, read its label and understand exactly what’s in it and how you can expect its ingredients to affect you. Two supplements may advertise the same effect, but contain very different ingredients. 

Should I take both kinds of supplements?

You could, but this is generally considered to be unnecessary. Think of it as doing both a prevention and a cure for the same issue.

After-drinking supplements often advertise themselves as “cures.” As you compare pre-drinking and post-drinking supplements, keep this in mind. Cures fix existing problems. In contrast, a pre-drinking supplement prevents the problems you’d need a cure to fix, like a headache and feelings of nausea. 

You’ve heard the maxim an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure. It means you’re always going to have an easier time preventing a problem than fixing it, and that’s true for the body aches and nausea that can follow an evening of drinking. Put another way—would you rather reach for relief as your head is pounding and your stomach is doing flips, or wake up well-rested and ready for a great day?

Learn more about how BuzzClear works

Interested in learning more about the science behind BuzzClear? Take a look at our Science page. Our patented technology is the result of years of research conducted by our PhD-led team. 

Ready to give BuzzClear a try? Order today.