How and when does an alcohol habit/withdrawal present ?

[nurse_K]

My experience is there are a lot of factors to take in consideration. Age. Competitive illnesses amongst others. Tolerance is a slippery slide. Also withdrawl symptoms can be seen ( and felt by the patient) although alcohol is still detectable in the body. Something heath staff not always are aware of and address accordingly. Unfortunatly.

One thing that is not mentioned here is the importance of daily intake of vitamin B´s  ( b complex)when regular and high intake of alcohol.

[MoeMentim]

  Woke up shakey with THE FEAR.  Drinking already (11:45 am).  Goddamn do I hate this shit.  I picked up my script for anabuse a couple days ago but I've not taken any yet.  Not sure if I will, I read that it can take up to 2 weeks after stopping anabuse before one can drink safely & I'm terrified about that prospect.  Seems like a recipe back to a dope habit.  As bad as my drinking presently is I'm not doing heroin & haven't since a couple chips last winter.  Part of that equation is just the fact that I refuse to drive even after one beer.  I'm scared about not having booze at my disposal, I do think that at times it's kept me from copping.  At this point I'm not sure if a heroin habit is worse or better, at least I'd get happy from time to time instead of just drinking to obliterate the fear...

  I wish, if nothing else, that I could regulate my intake.  Two shots of whiskey & I feel better presently but know I'm going to drink the six pack of 9% beer I picked up at the least.  Once I finish that I give myself a 50/50 chance of not walking to the liquor store for more.  Next time I see my psych I'm going to ask for a benzo script but doubt he'll be game due to my addiction history.  If I could quit drinking I bet my depression/anxiety would be cut in half & I'd be able to do the stuff that seems impossible to me right now. 

  I've been tying off to look at my veins several times a day, just unsure if a chip or two would get it out of my system like last winter or if I'd end up jumping back into it.  Fuck me and this life.  I swear alcohol is the worst drug ever.  Please tread carefully Chipper, k?
 

[George]

i guess that's sweating, anxiety and tremor ?

That's just the natural course of human existence in the modern world, hahahaha.

I wish I could recall the good source I found when I was searching the same question, but I am not going to try as I am too intoxicated. But that source was great. Medical Doctorates and graphs, oh what a source!

If you're concerned I'd just take 48 hours with no alcohol. I'm sure you know hangover and withdrawal are the same thing.

I am well versed in the art of alcoholism, but my methods differ from most: sometimes I can be found in my native habitat pulling the covers over my head to shield myself from non-existent light, writhing in a pool of sweat, panicking about the nonsense I have posted on the d&U forum.

[Chip (OP)]

I have a double GABAb issue as I also use Phenibut.

Time out is a good idea.

[nurse_K]

i guess that's sweating, anxiety and tremor ?

If you're concerned I'd just take 48 hours with no alcohol. I'm sure you know hangover and withdrawal are the same thing.

If there is a medical history of seizures I would not suggest just quiting alcohol. That can be dangerous. Kindling effect.
this has to be medically supervised .( or at least where I come from)

I have has issues with alcohol clinics of my knowledge, as they oftes seem very resolute its either no drink or your not welcome. Quite interesting if it is compared to heroin clinics where harm reduction is practiced.
why not harm reduction in alcohol clinics?
Although I completely understand from a medical point of view that alcohol is bad for your, if  the alternative is no treatment - why not practise harm reduction in alcohol treatment?
There is a very interesting article;
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/world/europe/amsterdam-has-a-deal-for-alcoholics-work-paid-in-beer.html
they did similar in a park where a social worker  was available, and could help the people with various matters. Interestingly the alcohol intake dropped and various health matters where attended and most importantly  the " people of the park" experienced better quality of life.
Sometimes I think it is more important to  initially address some of the other problems. If they are solved the alcohol intake will reduce accordingly.

[traplord69]

I have heard that in some hospital detox settings that they will actually treat alcoholics with small amounts of alcohol for the initial withdrawal along with benzo's, lithium etc.  Like they will literally give you a shot or two of alcohol with breakfast lunch and dinner.  I was surprised  )

[nurse_K]

Review of reduced risk drinking as viable treatment goal.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269881113495320

snip from the conclusion:
"This review also shows that RRD as a treatment goal is feasible and probably just as effective as abstinence-oriented approaches at reducing alcohol dependence and alcohol-related harm, at least for a subgroup of people with alcohol abuse or dependence. Moreover, the patient’s choice to select RRD as the preferred treatment goal seems to be an important determinant for a successful outcome. Most of these findings have also found their way into national and professional guidelines and in the policy of important agencies such as the NIAAA and EMA. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about the long-term effects (> 2 years) of RRD interventions, and more studies are needed.
 

[MoeMentim]

day two no alcohol.  Went to an aa meeting to & will probably go to another tonight.  I've been sober/clean via aa before so i know the ropes.  I doubt I'll jump in with both feet, get a sponsor etc... but I think it'll be good for me to go to meetings.  presently my social life is non-existent besides my sisters family and my dog.  Oh, and you guys, how could I forget that.  Anyhow feeling pretty good about my resolution right now.  Sure that'll change a bunch of times until I'm solid but I think I'll be able to get through those times now, so fucking sick of alcohol.

[Opi-ette]

I'm pulling for you MoeMentim. I'm glad you aren't putting so much pressure on yourself and you realize that there are ups and downs. I think sometimes saying "no way never ever again" can do more damage than good. And perhaps making a friend or two at the meetings will be good for you.

Please keep us posted

[Z]

Hang in there man.  I'm cheering for you too.


I definitely agree about being gentle with yourself.  You can't change a lifetime worth of habit overnight.  As long as overall you are getting where you want to be then I think you are succeeding.

[MoeMentim]

thank you both, that's advice i'll try to take.  i do tend to be very hard on myself, especially when i "mess up."  i think that's common for a lot of us.

[MoeMentim]

haven't been sleeping well (like at all) since giving up the hooch.  so today i'm taking a cocktail (pun intended) of otc stuff for sleep.  a couple bowls of purple urkl, melatonin, some other sleep aid, and soon some nighttime tea.  I am certainly relaxed if not tired yet.  I also take 10mg olanzapine every night which helps sleep.

but - i also got a couple boxes of candy & a 12 pack of 7up to replace the beer & whiskey.  i am sensitive to whatever chemical crap is in that stuff & it usually keeps me up so we'll see what happens. ill sleep eventually.  my record for no sleep was 11 days, a cold turkey kick from an h habit.  was at a treatment place of sorts.

[bignasty]

I have heard that in some hospital detox settings that they will actually treat alcoholics with small amounts of alcohol for the initial withdrawal along with benzo's, lithium etc.  Like they will literally give you a shot or two of alcohol with breakfast lunch and dinner.  I was surprised  )

my pops drinks about 6-9 beers a night except on Sundays (with no problems) and was hospitalized for heart problems a few years back. He had a bad reaction to all the medicine they were giving him and the doctors blamed it on DT's. They asked us what he usually drank and started bringing him a 16 oz Miller Lite with his supper every night. But he refused to drink it because he didn't think his problems were from alcohol withdrawal but a bad reaction to some of the medications they were giving him. thought it was crazy for a hospital to get someone to go to the convenient store nearby to get a beer every night for my dad.