Hi everyone, hope no one is suffering and in pain. If you are, just remember that most of the people on this site want you and me to get well again. Some people just get sober straight away( lucky them) though the majority of us, it takes time. So please stay on the forum and don't ever feel you're a failure and give up. You can get well again..
Due to certain circumstances, I now have to face sobriety without diazepam. It's going to be hard but I've done it before and survived. So I intend to start Monday. This isn't about me me me..this is serious stuff. I will try to explain in little bursts as sometimes our posts get moderated. I am going to ask for advice, no plugging anyone or anything. So please bare with me x
I can't go into details but I now have to face the withdrawal symptoms with just faith that I will be okay. Luckily, because I'm taking naltrexone as advised by the good people on this site, it's probably not going to be too difficult. Because I now take naltrexone properly, thanks forum advisers, I don't really exceed a bottle of wine ever now( last night I may have kicked off but I only had just a little more. So I know I will cope. Thanks for everyone's positive advice, as always xx
Good luck PF,I'm using Nalmefene but can still drink up to 2 bottles over the course of a day.
Onwards and upwards
So I need advice regarding my struggle with alcohol and detoxing. So basically, and if I come across as stupid then sorry. But can anyone in the know tell me whether taking diazepam for detoxing has advantages, rather than just getting through the symptoms of AWS? This has always puzzled me. I can cope with withdrawal as I've been through it very many times but it would be nice to know if it holds any advantages apart from those first 3 days, just to make that journey to sobriety easier?
I'll let others talk about the benefits of using benzos for withdrawal, but it might be good to know how much you've recently been drinking per day (such as you'd have withdrawals from it).
Best luck, Paper!
Hi Paperfairy and all who are following this discussion,
I haven't posted anything for about three months but have been following your posts regularly. I switched from Selincro to Naltrexone (half a tablet), in March. I have managed to drink responsibly on both medications, but the Selincro made me feel very ill, and really disturbed my sleep. Although I am still drinking, albeit responsibly (no incidences, no drunkenness for two years), I know I still have a medical problem. I just wanted to share this with you because this forum is important. It helps me keep things in perspective, and reminds me of the hardships we face as alcohol-dependent members of society.
Ah! I see above you've been drinking about a bottle a day. Is that 750ml or about? What % alcohol is in it?
And finally. The Sinclair method ( me with naltrexone ) has totally changed my life, in that I don't drink more than a bottle mostly. Wow, it may have and has probably saved my life. Amazing !
But I suffer with depression and horrible insomnia. I wake up feeling rubbish and so (after an hour) I hit the bottle again mid afternoon ( only recently) as I'm so depressed. This is why I wonder If selenco may be a good step forward. I have done weeks, months sober and they were the best times over the last 4 years. I don't know, I just find myself running around in circles. Sometimes I think AA is the only way( as i was brainwashed by an ex, or is it yoga, meditation, exercise? Please can people give me some advice please. No more arguements as hoping we are all a big happy family once again. Lots of love to everyone xx
Usually, Selincro side effects are worse than Naltrexone's (from what I hear).
Is the depression a side effect of the Naltrexone?
Congratulations, Jacqueline! Keep it going!
Thanks for being there ade, J and nicole. So ade it's 13 percent white wine. 750 ml. I used to drink 2-3 bottles in the past so it really is a miracle( thanks Joanna who percevered with me, and Paul). Maybe I'm being a little selfish and should feel grateful for coming this far which would have been impossible several years ago. But I know alcohol is a depressant and I suffer with or without alcohol. It's been a major problem on both sides of my family unfortunately. But alcohol, even 1 bottle of wine, I wake up very depressed.
So, went off track regarding my initial question. Does taking benzos for 4-10 days stop the depression and cravings? This what I'd like advise on.
Yes J and Nicole. You are making progress so well done. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say !!!
I basically want to know, when I detox on my own, am I missing out on something that diazepam would give me, apart from making the journey easier? God, sorry, I'm so annoying and sorry. Im annoying myself now !!!
No, I think you're posing a valid question that desierves a good answer, Paper.
I've never used diazepam and even when I was drinking 3 bottles of wine I could not drink anything the next day and not get any withdrawal symptoms.My key worker was actually amazed that I don't even get the shakes ect.
Hopefully someone will be along soon that had some experience of this
I used Diazipam on a sliding scale for 5 days as instructed by the GP. After if helped a with the AWS, I did find that it helped relax me enough to drop off to sleep, tiny dose at bedtime.
I also take a first generation Antihistamine and to be honest that helps relax me as well and sleep better than a small dose of benzo.
Well done on sticking to the TMS routine. There certainly is some really useful advice and support on this site.
Paperfairy, I totlly relate! We want to get off this dependancy but for the time-being, I've surrendered. The Naltrexone seems to help (not really in an obvious way, but just the fact that I take a half pill at least an hour before a drink), that delays my indulgences. I also am now able (with a lot of willpower) to stop after two or three drinks. I hope I can continue in this way.
Sorry I've just messed up my post. God maybe I've now killed too many brain cells. When I said selenco I meant Campral. I'm sorry. I'm such an idiot. No hope for me really x
Agree about the antihistamine.
dormidina are OTC sleeping tablets I buy here in Spain are that and work a treat.
Today I had a lorazepam at lunch time to help with the depression, and will have a dormidina to get to sleep soon.
Good luck to you all xxx
'So, went off track regarding my initial question. Does taking benzos for 4-10 days stop the depression and cravings? This what I'd like advise on.'
No to both. What it does, is let your central nervous system relax. It does what alcohol does, but without the ethanol. When you stop drinking, your system (CNS) goes in an excited state and all the sysmptoms that go with it. Benzos stop it getting excited, so you can sleep at night, not have the shakes et al.
You will still have to deal with depression and craving, which is why coming off alcohol is a two stage system.