Posted by Tony P on March 12, 2004, at 0:47:39
In reply to Re: URGENT: Alcohol Withdrawal. Please help!, posted by Alara2 on March 8, 2004, at 22:37:46
> Thanks Fallen and Rainy. Unfortunately the anxiety got so bad yesterday that I medicated myself with about 2 litres of wine. I called the detox unit at the local hospital and they put me on a waiting list, but I realise in the sober light of day that I can't possibly go because there is nobody who can take care of my cat.
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> I will be fine. I have set myself a tapering down schedule and will start with 2 light beers a night for 2 days, decreasing to 1.5 for another two nights, 1 the next two nights, and half a light beer for the remaining two days. If I leave the drinking until right before bedtime, I won't be tempted to drink more and to make an evening of it. I hear that many people do successfully withdraw from alcohol in this way.
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> Rainy, it's interesting that you experienced flu-like symptoms when withdrawing. The psychological symptoms for me outweighed the physical ones. For example, on day 3 I was consumed with anger and day 5 (as you know) was fuelled by anxiety and paranoia.
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> I wonder if anybody can tell me how long the psychological withdrawal lasts?
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> Thanks again,
>
> Alara
--------------I sure can empathize. I must say, of all the (many) things I have been addicted to, I found alcohol the hardest to stick to "tapering" off - I always had to go cold turkey - but if you can do it, more power to you. From the quantites you describe (depending somewhat on your body weight and how long you've been drinking at that level), you're probably not in too much danger of seizures, but it can get pretty darn uncomfortable.
If you can't get into a detox quickly/easily, have you consulted your family doctor? Many detoxes now use Valium or clonazepam to ease withdrawal and prevent seizures; if your MD is open to it, those can also be used outside a detox with frequent followup from your MD. The trick there (and I've been through it) it is to get OFF the booze right away, then taper off the benzodiazepines as quickly as possible.
Robaxin (available OTC if you ask the pharmacist most places) also helps with the "shakes". If asked, say you need it for neck muscle spasms -- you probably do! There is a risk you might get hooked on that too if you take more than the package directions -- I did. DON'T mix it with booze - you can get dangerously screwed up by the combo.
The worst withdrawal symptoms from alcohol go away pretty quickly, i.e in a few days to a couple of weeks for most people, but it can take up to six months to feel completely "normal" (whatever that means). A few people also experience an unexpected return of apparent withdrawal symptoms about 6 weeks after quitting - it happened to me once, I thought I was going completely crazy. Luckily I had read a book which described the exact phenomenon, so I was fairly sure it wouldn't last - and the next day I was fine!
Yes, I experienced flu-like symtoms - the flip side is that I recently figured out that one of the reasons why I feel guilty when I get sick is it makes me feel like I'm detoxing again!
Get as much support from other people as you can - it's hard to do it on your own. Good luck - it can be done, and it's worth it - you're worth it too! {{{{}}}} Take care, and let us know how you're doing. I care, too.
Tony P
poster:Tony P
thread:321829
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20040130/msgs/323450.html