Importance in going to right doctor for meds

[jimbo]

I'm new to the forum and have been reading the threads and receiving a lot of good info from many of you concerning use of meds, dosages, withdrawal problems, etc. I've been a a closet drinker for 14 years, drinking 14-16 oz. of hard liquor daily. In the end, I was exasperated, like many of you, not knowing what to do, or who to turn to. My family physician asked me two years ago, "you don't have a problem with alcohol do you"? With a question stated like that, I said "well, not really", and that was the end of it.

Fact is, most GP's or family doctors deal mainly with sniffles, sneezes, aches, and pains, with only a very small percentage being alcohol addicts. Nine out of ten, they just don't know what to do. Obviously, that is why I am reading threads and responses of some of some of you trying to buy these meds online. I'm not sure that is a very good idea.

For God's sake please try to see a specialist in the area of alcohol addiction. I knew I was at the end of the barrel when, over the past year and one half, I had to take xanax to ease withdrawals during the workday just so I could make it to the bottle at night. I opened the phonebook to yellow pages under alcohol addiction and found a doctor who specialized in outpatient detox. My life has changed for the better by doing just that one thing.

After taking a blood test to rule out liver disease and such, the doctor prescribed a myriad amount of medication in the beginning to deal with both withdrawals and cravings(with some being off label): Xanax XR, Valium, Neurontin, Namenda (these were to prevent withdrawals and possible seizures), and also Topomax and Campral for cravings. He also gave me information about the once a month injection of naltrexone called vivitrol. And I didn't have to ask for any of this stuff.

I am also seeing a counselor once a week for a period of time to help me determine what triggers my "need" to drink. All of this without inhouse rehab or the 12 steps. Not to say that this is wrong - just pointing out that even a hard core alchy such as myself can kick it with the right kind of medical help.

Bottom line - Please see the right kind of help for yourself - see a specialist in alcohol detox, even if you have to travel a ways to get it - your life is worth it!

jimbo

[nancy]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

hi jimbo

thanks for posting that encouraging message. I think it is very helpful. I have always suspected that general doctors are not up to the task of prescribing experimental meds.

Can you say generally what part of the world you live in? was this covered by insurance?

Tell us more.why are you here? did all that stuff not work for you? or are you adding this website to all of the treatment you describe above.

curious,
nancy

[jimbo]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

Hello Nancy!
Thanks for your questions. I'm from the northwest corner of Louisiana in a metropolis of around 300,000, so not that huge. I'm here because I downloaded Roberta Jewell's My Way Out on my computer over a year ago (in a drunken state by the way), printed it, read it, laid it down, and didn't bring it back out of my drawer until a few weeks ago when I was about as low as I could get. It became part of the inspiration for me to become permanently sober.

You see, a little over three weeks ago, I stepped out of my shower in the morning with a cold sweat, head swimming, heart racing away, and other terrible withdrawal symptoms of which you may be aware. I had been taking more and more xanax to make it through the work day (believe or not, I had only missed 5 days of work over the last 10 years) to keep the withdrawal symptoms at bay until I could get home after the evening activities and hit bottle hard (16 oz. bourbon typical). I was at the point of no return. I couldn't legally take more xanax and the only other way to relieve my symptoms would be to drink at work. No way! So I had to seek help.

I knew that Roberta's situation was not nearly as desperate as mine, so I knew I needed more than supplements and Topomax to get me through the initial stages of withdrawal, that's why I seeked out a specialist. For the most part I do not believe that a GP is the answer unless you just get lucky with one who happens to have an interest in the subject.

I've been sober now for two weeks and 5 days with almost no withdrawal symptoms so far. This may not seem like much, but you must understand, this is coming from a person who did not have a single sober day for nearly 14 years!

Which meds are working or not working? Out of the above, I'm not sure. At least one is or all are, not sure. One thing is for sure, I do not crave alcohol one single bit. Rather than sitting around in a stupor, saying and doing stupid things, I'm jumping on my bike, or working out with weights, like the old days.

I'm not saying I'm out of the woods, I'm just out of the woods right now. I believe this message board is great support for someone like me. The supplements sound great for someone longterm. But getting meds should be administered by professionals, so that it is done right and safe. That's why we get off the drink, to be safe and sound, right?

I guess everyone has different insurance that pays in different ways. I happen to have pretty decent insurance. If memory serves me right, all the meds above cost me 65 dollars out of pocket.

I hope I'm making decent sense in writing because when I talk the words seem to fumble out all wrong, which is why I'm staying kind of quiet in the real world - must be the what, Topamax?

Thanks,
jimbo

[lushy]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

Welcome Jimbo and what a great success story. Look forward to hearing more from you! :welcome:

[Determinator]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

thanks for the great post Jimbo and welcome/congrads to you!
I was lucky to find a GP that specializes in alcohol treatment and even owns a detox center in town so he knows his stuff.
What's really frustrating is a doc that thinks they know alcoholism but really doesn't have a clue..frustrating to say the least!
be well and welcome again Jimbo

[jimbo]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

Thanks, Determinator, Lushy, and Nancy for your welcome. I will use this board as part of my therapy for battling the alcohol demon. Right now, because this particular section is of interest to me since I'm newly on the meds. As a matter of fact, I'm getting ready to make a post on the naltrexone thread. Thanks a bunch!

jimbo

[dotsgirl]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

hello Im new to this Ive read the book and want to try the treatment but am anxious about approaching my doctor.I live in the UK can anyone help me? Do they prescribe topomax in England?

[adagirl]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

Thanks for posting your experience w/this. I think it will be helpful for a lot of people. I agree that the majority of GPs may not be equipped to address alcohol problems very well. Personally, I did not want to bring it up w/my regular doctor. Just something about him made me uncomfortable. But, there was a female doctor in his same office that I had seen a couple times and somehow I felt like I could tell her. Just a different vibe I got off of her if that makes any sense. Well, I looked up some tips RJ gives on this site on how to find a doctor and one of the things she mentioned is that as far as GPs go, doctors of osteopathy (sp?) might be more open to new ways of treating alcohol abuse/addiction. Well, low-and-behold, I looked up more info on this female doctor that I liked and turns out she is a doctor of osteopathy. I made the appointment, admitted my problem, and got a Rx for Naltrexone (which is what I requested). Turns out her father and brother are alcoholics. I could tell she was genuinely happy to help me and that made me feel so much more supported in this whole effort. Between the Rx, supps/vitamins, hypno, and exercise (all recommended on here), I have totally been able to turn my life around. I am so grateful. Without the alcohol, its like a depression has been lifted from me and I feel like I can do anything. I caught myself singing to every song in the car today and remember I used to do that all the time before I became so dependent on alcohol. I didn't realize how much I missed the old me until I got me back. I am rambling as usual, but Yes, everyone, find a good doctor to help you. It is sooooooo worth it!

[nancy]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

Welcome Jimbo! Sounds like you will make a nice new member in the MWO community.

I am glad you and Adagirl have found such good care.

To dotsgirl: In the US and the UK, topamax is not approved for alcoholism. But doctors in both places can prescribe drugs for things other than what they are approved for. This is called off-label prescribing. Also, the member adagirl who posted above me has successfully been taking naltrexone, which is approved in both countries and more acceptable to doctors. You can read her threads for more information.

As you see in the messages in these medication threads, it can be challenging to get topamax from a general doctor in either country, so best advised to see a specialist. I advise downloading a copy of the book My Way Out. Author advises printing out a copy of the Lancet article (british journal) with positive trial results for topamax.

Also, a lot of people order from online pharmacies and if you look through the medication threads, you will find all the information you need. If you take this route, investigate all side effects and find a reputable company.

Good luck,

[Breez]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

Hi Jimbo~

Very insightful. I, too, was lucky to have a found an Internalist (GP) that introduced Topa to me & I found MWO after googling just exactly what Topa was/did.

I echo your words too since many people here do not seek a Dr. & only depend on advise given here. We are not Drs. RJ even mentions in her book to seek medical advise.
After being given Topa, I started the supps., and after my bloodwork came back it showed my vit. B levels were very high (my body wasn't getting rid of the excess). One symptom is tingling which I just blew off as the Topa side effect. I was told to just take a multi vit. & I was ok.

Working with a Dr. helps you not give up. I tried Campral yrs before that & when that wan't working I went back to my Dr. & we worked together to figure out what the next step would be. I wanted antabuse (since I didn't know of anything else) & he suggested Topa. He was right. This is a battle-the more on your team the better the position you are in getting the right treatment. And if one thing doesn't work, you try something else.

Congrats, Welcome & I wish you success in your journey.

[Doggygirl]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

Hi Jimbo. Sadly, I believe the health care system in the USA has some deep and gaping holes. For people who plan to work for an employer at a company that will always provide health insurance as a benefit, it ain't too bad.

For people like me and my husband who finally achieved our dream a few years ago of having our own business, it's positively frightening. As a husband and wife team, our ability to qualify for group insurance is questionable and expensive. Individual insurance is downright scary. I won't get into more detail unless someone really wants more detail, but let's just say that insurance CAN and often IS a deal breaker for the Classic American Dream of having your own business.

No way will I jeapordize a lifetime of work by putting "alcohol problems" on my medical record. I'm willing to suffer lots of consequences before I will ever go there.

Just wanted to throw in that perspective. For me anyway, it's not about personal embarassment or anything like that. Consulting a physician could have much more severe life consequences. I'm willing to take what I believe are calculated risks outside of that.

Fingers crossed that I will never regret that decision!!

DG

[chrysa]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

I agree with you 100% doggygirl. Unless you have an unusual safe policy from the government, military or corporation for life -- you cannot take the chance. You seriously run the risk of no future coverage & this risjk gets higher every year. Someone on this board was just recently turned down. It was an eye opener & we need to be be careful. Fortunately I think my one dr put migraines as diag for Topa. But a second did not. I will not refill topa or campral thru insurance or registered pharmacy.

Jimbo, that being said I am thrilled to hear about your story. It is great hope and what the entire medical profession should be doing. My brother is retired Navy & this at some point may be fantastic news for him.

[gracie29]

Importance in going to right doctor for meds

I have been very fortunate with my GP and nurse practioner in presenting the whole program to her. Last week I went in with the literature and she perscribed valium to help withdrawals - she wanted me to cut my drinking in half which I did. She read up on everything, ordered a bunch of bloodwork and I'm on my way. I was told that she was going to document that I was aware that the topa wasn't created to treate the symptons that we are treating it for,etc. which I was fine with. I felt that my gp & nP were excited to be part of this research and very supportive. Unfortunately as RJ says that our society has very little treatment for alcoholics but yet we have every kind of treatment for heart disease - a lot of these people aren't any better than us -they still eat bad stuff, take medicine but yet it's ok:-) Most people are embarassed to ask for help as RJ states so the cycle repeats itself.