im on the 2 getting somewhere!

[Guest]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

Rachel,
If it`s chlordiazepoxide/librium, that`s what doc. prescribed me about a month ago. He gave me 14 tabs. -they were 10 mg and he told me to take 1 or 2 at night. Idea of them just freaked me out, so I didn`t take them-I went cold turkey, but was only drinking 1 btl. of wine a night. My doc. said they would make me sleepy, but I see other people on here are saying they`re `heavy stuff`, so be careful with them. He also said he wouldn`t repeat the script as they are addictive. Just thought I`d tell you the little I know about them.

Am really proud of you for confiding in your doc. You deserve all the help you can get, and rest assured, no doc. will regard you as an unfit mother, when he sees you are committed to becoming free of the booze.

I really feel for you, as you say you drink very heavily, but you`re here, trying, and we`re all here with you and for you.

Much love,

Starlight Impress

[Guest]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

Sorry Rachel,
I think it`s another pill that is heavy duty..........the one Simey is talking about. My doc just said chlordiazepoxide/ librium would make me sleepy, but please check with people who have taken librium to see how they were when taking it. Think perhaps beatle may know.(sorry if I`m mistaken beatle)

Starlight Impress

[rachel28]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

morning, didnt post last night as yes u guessed it i was drunk, bf came home early with beers, i fell asleep on sofa again!! i think the tablets do sound like librium, i ve explained to bf that im gonna b knocked out, an not to bring beers bk nxt week as i need 2 do this, i have been as honest as poss, i think i have took them b4, for fun! i had a friend who well basically, used to inject the most ridiculous things into his system,when he ran out a drugs, i cant belive he is still alive, but he used 2 come with hanfulls a pills for me to wash down with beer , for added effect, i cant belive i did that, this time tho, im looking at it that they can make me better if i stik to it, an take right pills 4 right reason, dr has to look at my blood results to decide if they r suitable b4 he gives me anything, im gonna call em c if they can bring it forward mon seems ages

[beatle]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

I'm a little confused about the medication, Rachel. Are you supposed to stop all drinking and take the medication for the withdrawal symptoms? I don't think you should be taking librium and drinking at the same time.

Anyway, if you are going cold turkey with the help of medication, you will need more than 2 days off work. In fact, the third day AF is supposed to be the most dangerous in withdrawal (i.e danger for siezures and other really bad stuff). I think it is generally agreed that you need at least 5 days AF to be safe, maybe even more in your case. Most detox centres keep people for a week. Also, almost all doctors and alcohol-abuse specialist have been saying the only way to quit is to go cold turkey but some doctors are now looking at gradually cutting down as an option for chronic heavy drinkers. I know this is controversial, but the doctors who advocate this say that although it would make the physical withdrawal much longer, it would be more comfortable and less dangerous. Problem is that most chronic heavy drinkers cannot control their drinking to the extent that they could steadily reduce their intake, so it would have to be done in a controlled setting, like a hospital.

I think I'm rambling here. Just wanted to get a clearer picture of what your plan of action is.

[rachel28]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

2 b quite honest im really not sure? he wasnt very specific an i wish i could rember the name, i think it was the long chemical name 4 librium, he never said if i had to go cold turkey or not, i think i was a bit shocked an stunned that id just said out loud that i had no control, i keep thinking of the questions i should a asked? mon when i have the blood taken i will ask, i tried ringing but receptionist said he s 2 busy to take my call, ! he did say he has to check my results to c if the meds r suitable, so i guess he will assess how much i been drinking an decide, i wish i asked more questions, r u an hubby ok , ?

[magic]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

Hi Rachel and Beatle---

Agree completely with you Beatle but just to clarify *cold turkey WITH medication*, never just cold turkey and certainly no alcohol with meds meant for withdrawl.

Rachel, one step, one day at a time.

magic xx

[beatle]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

yeah Rachel if you are going to go cold turkey with the meds, be sure someone is around you all the time in case you do have a siezure and need to go to the hospital. I don't mean to scare you, but it might happen (though the meds will reduce the chances and also will make the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms a little more bearable even if you are a zombie for a few days.) Anyway, the real danger with a siezure is the harm you might do to yourself by falling down or hitting your head. If you are in bed, it won't be so dangerous to have a siezure. Also if someone is around you all the time they can protect you if you do have a siezure. I'm surprised the doctor did not warn you about this and did not give you very clear instructions on what to do. Maybe he will do that on Monday. I hope so. I hope he is not underestimating your problem.

[rachel28]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

yes i just been checking out librium on website, sounds quite horrid! i think i just scared my self,WERNICK KORSAKOFFS that sounds like me, my memory is the 1 thing thats really been worrying me, thats why i found this site, i know from amount i drink i should expect blackouts etc, but my boss can ask me to get a bag a chips when i waklk past the freezer an 2 secs later im bk no chips etc, i m worried now, an worried if they give me librium ill get hooked on that, y y y do i have to have such a problem with anything addictive, ex used to give me valium as he was reducing his script an i had the left overs i even got addicted to that, i didnt realise till we split up that i had a habbit, oh

[rachel28]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

mon im gonna have to get head around this n ask some bloody questions, an mayb tell him a bit more of the real amount, i drink, mayb not all, oh i feel quite useless now, i dont want to swap 1 crutch 4 another , i just want to b the real me, although i have no idea who that is, i ve been hiding behind 1 substce or another or several together since i was 13, thats a long time to b a zombie xxxx

[rachel28]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

got to go work, feling sick as a dog, my fault 4 gulping beer cos im late AGAIN roll on nxt week xxxxx

[Guest]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

Love reading your posts Rachel, theres a bit of everything in them ,humour , drama, worry, concern, intrigue and most of all they make very good reading!

[beatle]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

Rachel, you will not get addicted to the lithium if you only take it for a few days. It takes a few weeks before you can get addicited and the doctor will probably only give you a prescription for a few days. You can also ask for a different medication that won't make you such a zombie, for example Ativan, which is also an anticonvulsant so it works against seizures. That is a benzo and also highly addictive but not unless you take it for several weeks.

They also use anti-siezure drugs that epileptics take to ease you through withdrawal safely. I know one that is called carbamazepin and it is not at all addictive. It is also supposed to have a calming effect which is useful when you are withdrawing, but it does not make you a zombie. Ask you doctor about the options.

[Guest]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

Be calm about all this Rachel. Just right down everything you want to ask to feel confident about the librium before you go to the doc.`s on Mon., then ask away. Think we always forget something we want to ask doc., then are kicking ourselves after we`ve left the surgery, so best to jot down your queries beforehand. Just think, sure, it ain`t gonna be easy, but anything worth having/getting seldom is. You`re gonna be like a brand new woman!!!

Starlight Impress

[ScoobyDoo]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

Rachel, good girl!

My advice is to have trust and faith in your doctors advice. Use these tablets that he's prescribing... it is worth it, and these sorts of drugs are not addictive if you take them for only a few consecutive days.

The long term brain damage caused by alcohol is irreversible, but that thing where you are forgetting the chips that your boss asks should get better really quickly.

Talk to your doc again on Monday about the true levels that you are drinkign, and ask him to assure you that he is not going to report anything to UK Child Protection services... just to reassure you. If he's a good doc, he will recognise that you are doing something to help yourself and your child/children. You need to be able to fully trust this doctor, and if you feel that you can't then there are plenty of other doctors who will specialise in Drug & alcohol addictions.

Do you live in London or another major city with a good level of health services?

You are already sounding better Rachel!

Scoobs

[beatle]

im on the 2 getting somewhere!

yes I agree with Starlight, write down all the questions you have and don't give up til you get them all answered to your satisfaction. And take a pen so you can write down the answers so you won't forget them and you can jot dowm questions that come to your mind while you are talking with the doc.