Best nootropics to take before drinking alcohol?

A dual effect of N-acetylcysteine on acute ethanol-induced liver damage in mice

We hypothesize that local redox environment might influence the effect of NAC.Before ethanol, the body is in intracellular redox balance.When administered before ethanol, NAC behaved as antioxidant and significantly attenuated ethanol-induced oxidative stress in mouse liver. However, when administered after ethanol, NAC may interact with ROS generated by ethanol and generate thiyl radicals, which, in turn, may impart a pro-oxidant function. Actually, the presence of metals, such asCu(II), and the presence of ROS, such as H2O2, potentiate“auto-oxidize” process of NAC[42]. Furthermore, as it has undergone auto-oxidation, thiol no longer acts as an “antioxidant”. Once initiated, these reactions can produce additional ROS including O2−•,H2O2, and•OH. Thus, when administered at 4 h after ethanol, NAC behaved as pro-oxidant,aggravated ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation, and eventually worsened acute ethanol-induced liver damage. These results are in agreement with our recent report[43], in which we found that pretreatment with NAC prevented from LPS-induced intrauterine fetal death and reverses LPS-induced fetal growth and skeletal development retardation, whereas post-treatment with NAC aggravates LPS-induced preterm labor.

So NAC becomes pro-oxidant if you take it after drinking alcohol without having it in your system before you start drinking. This is why we do not have NAC in our Alcohol Defense product, and why we think it is VERY irresponsible and dangerous for all the anti-hangover products out there having NAC in them. One hing is for sure, people who drink alcohol will sometimes forget to take their supplements before they start drinking. If you have NAC in the product, you are harming those people with your supplement.