Posted by Alara2 on March 12, 2004, at 9:17:46
In reply to Re: URGENT: Alcohol Withdrawal. Please help! » Alara2, posted by Tony P on March 12, 2004, at 0:47:39
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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!
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> 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!
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> 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.
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> Tony P
>Tony, thanks for all the good advice. After a couple of days of drinking back at my previous levels, I finally bit the bullet tonight and stuck to one glass of wine. (Probably would have slipped up and had more but fortunately that was all that I had in the house.:) ) I realise that it is still early days, but I feel physically fine, with the only problem so far being that I am wide awake at 2am! The insomnia is something that I know will plague me for a long, long time. I occasionally use Phenergan (antihistamine) as a sleeping aid - although I recently read some horrifying information about its potential side effects (similar to antipsychotics!) so I don't want to take this drug more often than I can help.
I will stick to the light beer schedule I described for the rest of the weekend and will ask my doctor on Monday for short course of benzos to help me for the rest of this detox phase. (I seem to fare much, much better with quitting via the light beer because I don't notice its effects, which makes it less tempting to get drunk.)
Tony, you really experienced a return of detox symptoms 6 weeks after withdrawing from alcohol? Whew. Thanks for the warning. This is not something that I would have anticipated and it's important to be ready for that kind of thing as I'd be likely to relapse if a return of symptoms were to take me by surprise.
I know that I need a plan too. Grief is the main reason that my drinking has spiralled so badly out of control lately - so I need a way of facing up to my feelings in a way which feels safe. AA does not really suit. Am thinking about taking a cognitive behavioural approach using the Smartec online program but still need to do some raw emotional work. Fortunately I have been through a lot of therapy and think that I have the self-insight and inner resources that I need in order to get through this.
Tony, I take it that you have been sober for a while? Would be interested in hearing about your journey - triumphs, hurdles, good times and bad.
Thanks again for the input.
Alara
poster:Alara2
thread:321829
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20040130/msgs/323560.html