Before Week 1: Medical clearance first.
The DRY protocol requires medical consultation before beginning. If you have been drinking heavily (more than 6 drinks/day) for more than a few months, withdrawal carries seizure risk. Medical management of acute withdrawal is not optional for heavy users.
The DRY protocol is designed for the post-acute phase-after medical clearance and initial stabilization.
Week 1: Neurological Stabilization
GABA-A receptors are rebuilding sensitivity. NMDA receptors are downregulating toward normal. The hyperexcitability of acute withdrawal is resolving.
What you feel: Residual tremor, anxiety, and insomnia. Possible intense alcohol craving. Gastrointestinal upset. This is the most physically uncomfortable week of the protocol.
Start the full stack: Kudzu 1500mg, NAC 600mg 2x, B-Complex (B1 100mg high priority), Magnesium Glycinate 500mg, GABA 750mg, Milk Thistle 400mg, L-Glutamine 5g.
Critical: B-vitamin loading (thiamine specifically) begins on day one. Do not delay.
Week 2: Emerging Clarity
Acute withdrawal resolves. GABA-A/NMDA balance is largely restored. However, the brain's reward circuitry is still significantly disrupted.
What you feel: Improved physical symptoms but significant mood instability. Alcohol craving may be triggered by routine contexts (meal times, social situations) with unexpected intensity.
Kudzu effect beginning: Some reduction in craving intensity typically appears in week 2.
Week 3: The Mood Disruption Window
As acute neurological normalization completes, the dopamine system's recovery from alcohol-induced disruption becomes the primary challenge.
What you feel: Possible depression, anhedonia, emotional flatness. This is not permanent-it is the dopamine system rebuilding. Similar to the nicotine dopamine deficit phase, but often more severe.
Practical instruction: Do not make major life decisions during week 3. The emotional landscape is not representative of your baseline.
Week 4: One Month Clean
A significant milestone. Liver function is measurably improving. GABA-A receptor density is substantially normalized.
What you feel: Marked improvement for most users. Sleep quality improving. Appetite normalizing. Kudzu has been in the system for 4 weeks-craving reduction is typically noticeable.
Lab work: If you have access, this is a good time to check liver enzymes (AST, ALT). The direction should be positive.
Week 5: Dopamine Recovery
The dopamine system-disrupted by years of alcohol's dopamine-depleting effects-is showing measurable recovery.
What you feel: Improved capacity to feel pleasure from normal activities. More consistent mood. Some return of motivation.
Social risk begins: As you feel better, social situations with alcohol become more accessible. Strategy for high-risk contexts is needed now.
Week 6: GABA Homeostasis
GABA-A receptor sensitivity is largely restored. The physiological substrate for severe acute relapse is reduced.
What you feel: Substantially better. Physical cravings are less intense. Psychological and social cravings remain.
Week 7: Psychological Work
The physical recovery is substantially complete. The remaining work is behavioral: identifying and managing conditioned cues, building alcohol-free social patterns, addressing the underlying patterns that drove drinking.
The DRY protocol supports this phase with tools, but professional support (CBT, AA/SMART Recovery, counseling) is particularly valuable here.
Week 8: Protocol Completion
Physical recovery from alcohol dependence is substantially achieved for most users. PAWS is still possible-see the PAWS article for what to watch for.
After week 8: Continue B-vitamins and magnesium indefinitely (or for 6+ months). PAWS episodes will require the same stabilization tools in the same doses.