I recently visited my doctor and after a number of tests it seems I have a fatty liver and (occasionally) high blood pressure. As a 34 year old man I know this isn't a good sign. I am already taking 10mg Citalopram a day for anxiety and I'm not stupid - I know that the anxiety is probably linked to the booze I drink (between 13-25 units daily in the evening) and I know that if I don't do something about the drink now it will only get worse. I have been a heavy drinker for 15 years. I never drink in the morning and very rarely during the day.
I'm getting little help from my GP in terms of withdrawal decided to cut the amount I am drinking as I know that completely stopping isn't something I am going to do straight away. To do this, I've found a low alcohol beer (1.2 units a can) which means that I'm reducing my units down to 4.8 if I only have 4 cans a night. I know this is still above the recommended daily amount but it's a start. So:
Sunday night: I drank 4.8 units
Last night: I drank 3.6 units
This is dramatically less than I have been.
I managed on this and was able to sleep without any sleeping pills but the problem is that I feel so groggy in the morning - I can't wake up (after 8 hours of sleep) and I feel really 'heady' today. I just find it really hard to get going.
Can anyone give me any ideas has to what is causing this feeling?
Raymond,
I can see your primary concern,but four cans a night is NOT over doing it.
Depends on the cans and alcohol volume you didn't specify this.
Some people on here kick the day off with a Bottle of Vodca !,I was that person.
Yeah you did specify that you drink 1,2 units per can,hardly a travesty.
Hey good luck.
Thanks Joshua.
It's not the amount I have been trying to reduce to (from 20+ units a day) it's the way it makes me feel the next morning when I haven't drunk much.
Basically, I feel worse the morning after a drink a little, then when I drink a lot!
Hello Raymond, you are doing very well. I think perhaps you reduced a little too quickly and have been suffering alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Reducing is very difficult, as is coming off alcohol altogether, using alcohol itself to detox. Most people find it easier to have a detox using Librium or similar because alcohol consumption can easily creep up again. However, you have made the choice to do it this way and deserve congratulations for achieving what you have, so far. The grogginess will go away over a few days if you can avoid your consumption increasing again. Good luck!
Paul,
Librium/diazepam are more addictive than alcohol.
Ramond I advise you to see your Dr at the outset,he will script you the above drugs.Benzodiazepines do more harm than good !
These drugs are very addictive so a short course would be advisable.
Good luck
Librium (Chlordiazepoxide) and Valium (Diazepam) ARE highly addictive and should not be used, as Joshua says, on a long-term basis. However, they are very effective over a short period of about a week, on a reducing scale, at combating alcohol withdrawal symptoms, making it possible for an alcohol detox which is safe and comfortable. You won't get addicted to either of these drugs in a week while doing a detox.
Going cold turkey from alcohol can be seriously dangerous, it can even kill, so these drugs, if used correctly and with supervision, can be life savers.
Thanks. I tried Diazepam once before, but ended up just taking them with drink to get more of an affect. I've a history of mild benzo abuse from my late teens so I need to avoid them.
Yes, that does complicate things Raymond and medical staff would be reluctant to give you benzodiazepines which could be misused. However, if there is a way, in your area (it's a postcode lottery) to have a supervised detox, it wouldn't be ruled out because of your past issues with benzos. You are doing ok so far with your current approach so see how that works out before thinking about any other approach. You may not need to consider it.
Raymond... You r only kidding yourself.....alcohol is alcohol no matter what the content. 
I'm not kidding anyone - I'm being sensible. It makes complete sense that going to 3.6 units a day from 20 is going to have health benefits such as reducing stress on the heart, reducing damage to the liver and reducing the risk of stroke. It's also within UK government guidelines as "safe".
Nevertheless, thanks for the encouragement 
Could be expierencing withdrawl?
Of course u r being absolutely sensible by cutting down. That's right the alcohol isn't that how u are in the health mess UR in now?
So cutting down has all the health benefits unlisted so did u add the health benefits of eating wet rocks too! Smart choice.! U said UR not stupid then go into rehab that's the smart choice.
u spend so much on booze then spend it on getting well. Invest in UR life UR family UR future.
Ud probably be better off just accepting that this isn't just UR life UR making choices for, it's UR whole family. They love u and don't want to watch you self destruct and suffer any more. Can u not for once stop letting the addiction control UR decisions, but make decisions to find sobriety. How many times in the past have u cut down on UR alcohol intake? And how long did it last? What is UR rate of success? There are so many others who luv and want u to be sober so bad that they would gladly change places with you, just to give you a healthily alcohol free life.
If you only knew.....
Hi Paul I have just joined this website and have read some of your comments I am really scared I am due to have a home detox on Monday the 10 the Nov I have got to go and get my blood work done tom it is not till late afternoon and I know that I would of had a few pints of cider by then as I can not go all day without a drink I am also being started on a tablet the same time as the detox to help with the cravings after detox not only scared of detox I am scared of facing reality if that's the word I lost someone very close to me a couple years ago now and I have not been outside my home in all that time just been drinking myself into ablivion I have also got alcohol neuropathy which is very pain fall I can't feel my feet and my coordination is bad I have muscle wastage to as I have done no physical exercise for a few years due to not leaving my home I have not eaten for a few days now and I am scared that the not eating and alcohol will have a impact on my blood work I can't eat as the thought of leaving my house to have the test is making me very anxious in deed can you please help me thanks
Hello jsvkie 
Sorry to hear that you have been going through a difficult time the last couple of years.
As long as you don't go for your blood test drunk and incapable, don't worry about it. The blood test is NOT to check your current level of alcohol but to look at various aspects of your health such as your liver function. Those results won't be any worse because you have had a few ciders. The purpose of the blood test is to get a picture of your current health. If you had serious irreversible liver damage, your skin would be bright yellow and they wouldn't have agreed to do a home detox. You must not try to stop drinking tomorrow, but try and keep it to what you need to avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
With regard to your recent poor diet, I would expect that your doctor will give you some vitamins along with your detox medication. That is normally the case.
With the correct level of Librium (or an equivalent drug), alcohol detox is very safe and comfortable. You should feel no physical withdrawal symptoms at all. Your anxiety will also be alleviated by this medication and you should feel more relaxed than you have in a long time.
I imagine that the ani-craving drug is something like Acamprosate (Campral) which helps to reduce your craving for a drink after detox itself.
Try and see the positives. You are doing something to start fixing your problems, alcohol detox is easy, you WILL feel massively better in yourself within a couple of days of starting alcohol detox (everyone is amazed how much better they feel) and the blood test is just to get a snapshot of your current health, not to check up on you (you have already told them you have been drinking too much, they know that.)
Most of your physical health problems will be alleviated by a decent diet and the alcohol out of the picture. When you feel better, during or after your detox, please post again so that other people can see the difference in you. It can be quite miraculous.
I wish you all the luck in the world with it
Thank you Paul for your reply I feel a little easier now I know what to expect at my gp appointment I will post again when I feel up to IT
Not heard from u in awhile. How's the cutting down coming along?
What system are you doing to help cut down ?
HOPE4CURE
Hi Paul. I've tried to kick drinking 4 times now. A lot I know. Embarssing actually. I know Librum is the go drug for alcohol detox. In 2009 i went to rehab for 30 days but they have Librum. They gave the patients there klonopin which I'm already prescribed. Then i went to a 7 day detox they only gave you phenobarbital. If your heat rate was over 100 they would give you Librum. Then I went to er they admitted me. For 5 days and gave me all sorts of stuff. Ativan Librum and Klonopin. I'll admit klonopin is one pill I wish I was never prescribed been on it for 9 years.