I can't drink - what now?

[nictak]

I can't drink - what now?

Hi kimberly,how you are feeling is exactly how i feel.What do you do if you dont drink.Its been so long i cant remember.
I see you are in the uk.Hoe easy was it to get antabuse from the doc because i think thats what i need but feel they wont give it to me... feel the docs are always thinking about money

[Guest]

I can't drink - what now?

I don't think cost is the first thought a GP has regards AB. AB is a dangerous drug and some people do still drink on it. Given the nature of alcoholism they have to be 100% sure you will not drink on it, otherwise they are potentially prescribing something that could result in someone being VERY ill. Not something a GP wants on their records. Of course cost can come into it because we only pay ?7.20 for our prescriptions, and a lot of medication actually costs around 10 times that amount. They aren't going to prescribe willy nilly, firstly for health reasons(GPs have been told off many a time for over prescribing too), and secondly for professional responsibility. Generally if your GP believes it will help you, that there is honestly no risk you would say "sod it" and drink on it, then you should have no problems obtaining it.

You can always request a private prescription I believe if you want to rule out the cost factor.

[nictak]

I can't drink - what now?

Do you think they will give it to me straight away or need some sort of proof of my alcoholism?

[Guest]

I can't drink - what now?

I presume your doctor doesn't know then?Well of course they will need you to tell them all about your drinking, how much, how often, things you've tried, how you feel about it, current position. Any decent GP won't prescribe medication without checking everything out, and considering all options. They'll need to take into account any other medical history since AB isn't recommended for those with liver problems.

So you will just have to go see, but you will have to explain what the problem is and they'll ask you questions about it.

[nictak]

I can't drink - what now?

In the last 5 years ive been to the docs 3 times telling them i think i drink to much.Had 2 liver function tests.To be honest i think they thought i was overreacting.
They just told me to cut down ect

[Seethepony]

I can't drink - what now?

I don't really like taking meds but have chosen to go on antabuse to give myself a clear run at being sober and dealing with life on those terms. I don't really know what Bac does or how it works.

Well, if you are reluctant to take meds, why did you chose the weirdest one? The one that does nothing to address your yearning for booze, the one that holds a gun to your head and says "go ahead, punk, make my day?" The one that will really hurt you if things go wrong?

I don't know how Baclofen works. All I know is, you take it, and you don't think about booze at all. I find it bewildering that so many good and smart people on this forum spend hours each day talking themselves out of drinking, posting on this forum about ways of avoiding the off-license when the sun goes down, ways of avoiding temptation. The way I see it, if every other thought revolves around alcohol and how to avoid it, you are still a prisoner, albeit an uncooperative one. Taking baclofen has released me from not just alcohol addiction but also thoughts about the topic. I cannot recommend it enough.

To pick antabuse over baclofen looks nuts to me!

[nictak]

I can't drink - what now?

Well if its not recommended for ppl with liver problems then that probably rules me out.Ive not had a bad liver test but i know that its not in good shape.I get pain in the liver regeion and the skin around my face has taken on a slightly darker hue as have my eyes.... although if i ask anyone they say it all looks normal to them

[nictak]

I can't drink - what now?

Seethepony;988065 wrote: Well, if you are reluctant to take meds, why did you chose the weirdest one? The one that does nothing to address your yearning for booze, the one that holds a gun to your head and says "go ahead, punk, make my day?" The one that will really hurt you if things go wrong?

I don't know how Baclofen works. All I know is, you take it, and you don't think about booze at all. I find it bewildering that so many good and smart people on this forum spend hours each day talking themselves out of drinking, posting on this forum about ways of avoiding the off-license when the sun goes down, ways of avoiding temptation. The way I see it, if every other other thought revolves around alcohol and how to avoid it, you are still a prisoner, albeit an uncooperative one. Taking baclofen has released me from not just alcohol addiction but also thoughts about the topic. I cannot recommend it enough.

To pick antabuse over baclofen looks nuts to me!

But ive heard thing like it makes you drop stuff and have jerky movememts now and again,i cant have that in my job

[Guest]

I can't drink - what now?

You also then become Bac dependent, I know it's not the same but obviously you have to be prepared to revolve around remembering to take your meds.

The way I avoid alcohol is just to accept it's there, and that I cannot have it. I CANNOT avoid walking past an off-licence every day - unless I were to build a tunnel. I just don't specifically go anywhere just to be around drink. For example I will not go to a pub to sit watching people drink, there has to be a legit activity for me to be there, such as because I'm going to a really nice restaurant, or to see a show. I'm not avoiding it because I've not legit interest in sitting with people just getting pissed. It's blooming boring.

Anyway nic, you need to go talk to your Dr only they have the answers for the help they can offer. Just tell them everything and they'll tell you what they can or cannot do. Some will refer you to specialist Alcohol teams who can assess better, others will be more direct. Mine knows I'm experienced in that I've tried most things and would prescribe me whatever help I need, but that's because she knows I'm pretty sensible and clued up in this area, also that I know it's a complex problem and I won't be necking any medication in sight.

So go talk, only she/he can provide the answers.

[Seethepony]

I can't drink - what now?

its not recommended for ppl with liver problems then that probably rules me out
I refuse to believe that the daily ingestion of 75 mg baclofen harms my liver more than 5 liters of Sternberg export...

But ive heard thing like it makes you drop stuff and have jerky movememts now and again,i cant have that in my job

The only side effect I've had on baclofen is relentless sleepiness, and that has passed. I'd prefer that sleepiness to a thudding hangover, any day.

[nictak]

I can't drink - what now?

Its a big step talking to your gp,although i have before about my alcohism.
Also im slightly worried that they will inform social services because my kids are only 11 and 14.But i will go despite this worry

[Guest]

I can't drink - what now?

GPs only inform Social Services if they believe your children to be in danger, which is only fair enough. If not then they won't.

[Seethepony]

I can't drink - what now?

You also then become Bac dependent, I know it's not the same but obviously you have to be prepared to revolve around remembering to take your meds.

Yep. I have to remember to take my baclofen, twice a day. That's a real deal breaker.

We're talking about an end to alcohol addiction! And, best of all, freedom from "I must have a drink but I can't oh, but just one, no I mustn't" type bullshit thoughts.

2 pills, twice a day? I'm in!

[Guest]

I can't drink - what now?

I'm not arguing over Bac at all. I'm just trying to give some useful comments on this thread. I'd heard you become dependent on bac, that from what I read on other sections of this site you can have withdrawls from bac if you come off it.

I struggle remembering things like medication sometimes, I have some things I'm supposed to do as part of physio and often I find myself part way through my day wondering why I haven't done them.

I don't expect however to have the P taken out of me. I've come back recently to contribute after a relapse, am trying to use this forum as intended - to support each other and all I've had is criticism.

Thanks.

I'll support anything that helps people not drink, but there are several options. And quite a few other options also involve not struggling with that thought - simply just accepting it's there and not having a drink I never really had the thoughts you describe I simply wasn't interested any more because I just "didn't drink". Something I was doing very successfully for quite a while and hope to do again.

I'll go away again and keep my ignorant, stupid mouth shut.

[nictak]

I can't drink - what now?

Didnt know you'd had a relapse ukblonde.Not been on in quite a few months