Everything in the bottle: Pregame's full ingredient guide
August 30, 2026
Nine ingredients. Each one is on the label, each one is there for a reason. Here's the full breakdown.
DHM (Dihydromyricetin)
DHM is the lead ingredient and the reason Pregame exists. It's a plant-based flavonoid extracted from the Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis), used in traditional East Asian wellness practices for centuries.
What it does: DHM supports the liver enzymes, specifically ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase) and ALDH (aldehyde dehydrogenase), that your body uses to break down alcohol and its byproduct, acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is where a lot of the rough feeling comes from. Supporting those enzyme processes gives your body better tools to do what it's already trying to do.
A 2012 UCLA study showed DHM reduced alcohol's effects in preclinical models. The mechanism is well-documented. We have a full post on DHM if you want to go deeper.
NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)
NAC is a precursor to glutathione, which is your body's primary antioxidant. Alcohol depletes glutathione heavily. That depletion is a core part of why oxidative stress spikes when you drink.
Taken before you go out, NAC supports your body's ability to replenish its own glutathione stores. DHM handles the enzyme side; NAC handles the antioxidant side. They're doing different things, and the combination covers more ground than either alone.
B vitamins
Pregame contains five: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 (cobalamin).
Alcohol blocks B-vitamin absorption and accelerates how fast your body uses them. B vitamins are involved in hundreds of metabolic processes, including energy production, nerve function, and cell repair. You don't lose one B vitamin when you drink. You lose all of them. That's why we put in the full complex.
Electrolytes
Sodium, potassium, magnesium. Alcohol suppresses antidiuretic hormone, which is the signal your kidneys use to retain water. So you flush more fluid than you take in. Electrolytes go with it.
Plain water replaces the volume but not the electrolytes. The blend in Pregame addresses what water alone can't.
L-theanine
L-theanine is an amino acid found naturally in green tea. It supports calm, focused clarity. It doesn't cause drowsiness, doesn't carry serotonin-pathway interactions, and doesn't conflict with common medications.
We chose L-theanine specifically over 5-HTP for those reasons. The serotonin interaction risk with 5-HTP made it a non-starter. The full reasoning is here.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid involved in fluid balance and electrolyte regulation. It works alongside the electrolyte blend rather than replacing it. Alcohol disrupts fluid balance through more than one mechanism, and taurine helps cover a piece that the electrolyte blend doesn't.
It's well-tolerated, stable, and has a long safety record at standard doses.
Milk thistle
Milk thistle has been used to support liver health for centuries. The active compound is silymarin, which has antioxidant properties and has been studied in the context of liver function specifically.
DHM handles the enzyme support side of liver health in Pregame. Milk thistle adds a complementary antioxidant layer. They work through different mechanisms and don't overlap.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant. Alcohol generates oxidative stress, so antioxidant support is relevant. Your body excretes what it doesn't use, so there's no accumulation concern at standard doses.
Ginger
Ginger is in the formula for digestive comfort. Some people notice stomach sensitivity after drinking. Ginger has a long track record in that context. It's not handling oxidative stress or liver enzyme function. It's handling something different, and it's there because the formula should cover the full experience of a night out.
One honest note
Pregame is a dietary supplement. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It doesn't counteract impairment: don't drink and drive, don't drink past your limit, drink responsibly.
What the formula does: it supports antioxidant function, liver health, and hydration. Nine ingredients. All of them listed. None of them hidden.
Ready to try it? The six-pack is at the shop.
Keep reading
- Why Pregame doesn't include 5-HTP (and what we chose instead)
A lot of recovery supplements include 5-HTP. We looked at it carefully and said no. Here is the reasoning, and what we put in its place.
- How to actually prevent a hangover: what the science says (and what doesn't work)
Water, greasy food, charcoal, ibuprofen before bed. You've heard them all. Here's an honest look at which ones hold up, which ones don't, and what the research actually points toward.
- What is DHM? The ingredient doing the heavy lifting in Pregame
Dihydromyricetin has been used in traditional East Asian wellness practices for centuries. Here's what it actually does, and why it's the reason Pregame exists.