Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

[GingerDust]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

Congrats, Dosage! I'm hope the trip down is an easy one.

[spacebebe01]

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I was refering to what bleep said Dose when I asked that. Well done it sound like things are going well for you, I love to see people getting sober and their lives getting better

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

Dosage0;1275314 wrote:
....... But I had no desire to drink. I had no craving to drink and that was my goal, I wanted to be indifferent. I did go to a bar with some friends -- but I think that is counter productive. I am sure my solution is to just abstain and with Bac I see no reason why that cannot happen. I have dropped to 320 broken up 4-4-4-4.

Just for shits and giggles -- yesterday I tried my usual 16 pills but further broken up into 2 pills every two hours and it seemed to work fairly well. I think I'll keep seeing what works best for me.

HI! WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Isn't that a bit of a party? The whole experience of not drinking because you don't wanna?!!

Ed and I made a commitment that when we celebrate we don't do it with booze. It's been interesting. We have no problem with the occasional glass of whatever, but celebrations and tragedies? Those are off limits...I thought it would be a big deal, but like everything booze related after indifference it simply isn't. And birthday dinners are remarkably cheaper than a fancy night out!

Which brings me to the point! I think it really helped me wrap my head around not being an alcoholic-drinker-type because I abstained for a while shortly after reaching indifference. (30 days. Which turned into much longer--6 or 7 weeks, maybe?) There were two reasons. The first is that I got drunk once a month. (Pretty sure that was hormone related, so not exactly relevant. ) Still. Getting drunk on bac can SUCK. The second is that it really scared me when I drank. (Am I relapsing? Can I do this? Is it for real? Will it last???) I wasn't chomping at the bit after the thirty days and so I was a little more comfortable with the idea that I didn't have to drink against my will anymore...(I've gotten drunk a couple of times since then. The last time was in October 2011, I think. Very, very unpleasant. The whole thing. It's just not fun. I'm pretty sure I don't have to try it on again. And I'm pretty sure I don't care!)

And then it simply took more time. Each monthly baclo-versary brings some new revelation. Usually it's on the order of "Oh! Wow. I haven't thought about booze at all. Let me reflect on how shitty it used to be. hmmm. Naw. That sucks. Move on."

Time. The great equalizer.

At the end when I was taking 300mg++ I was taking it every 2 hours too. I think it helped. And, um, going down? How far? Over how long? To what end?

Congrats, Dose.
I hope it brings you as much rebellious titillating joy as it has me!

(btw, I hesitate to speak for bleep, but I happen to know that he made a decision to stop drinking. As did I. There are others who, like you, just...switched.)

[Dosage0]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

Thanks for the well wishes... I am not sure how far down I will go? Right now I am at 320 and that seems to keep drinking off of my mind, but I feel the daily amount is still to high. I think I'll drop to mid 200s and see how that fairs. Right now I am doing every 2 hours 40mg 8 times a day.

Any suggestions? I was thinking about just dropping to 7 times a day... then 6... dropping 40 mg at a time.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

I am going down 10mg every week. I still notice a tiny bit of difference. Mind you, I have taken dips and gone back up in substantially larger increments.

Here's what I've noticed in myself and by listening to others when they go down:
Depression
Return of anxiety
Return of SEs
Return to daily drinking

I think it takes some time to get used to not drinking. I didn't 'switch' so much as meander around the idea of not drinking when I realized I didn't have to drink against my will anymore. Then I sort of reveled in the fact that I could drink irregularly for a while. Now it has absolutely no bearing on my decisions/life. It took time, though, to get used to it.

The other three? They're particularly dangerous. In part because I, and others, don't necessarily attribute the symptoms to the drop in bac, but I've seen it happen A LOT that people get depressed and anxious and sleepless at the same time that they're titrating down.

Once when I went down pretty dramatically (40mg maybe?) I found myself on the couch watching tv and unwilling to just get up and on with it for a week or so. My close friends kept suggesting (shouting) that I was depressed. I didn't believe them. I went back up a bit, after a while, and lo and behold I was back to the old New Me. Awake 16 hours a day, and bummed when I was too tired to keep going! Instead of asleep or morose through most of it...

My point is, pay attention. No harm in going down and finding a comfortable place, but don't ignore stuff that seems unrelated or "normal". It wasn't possible for me to know what normal is (for me) for a long time. Having a drink occasionally? Isn't going to derail the whole experience. (imho) But finding yourself thinking about the wine you'll have with dinner (or jaeger you'll have instead) at noon? Those should sound the sirens. Sleepless for a couple of days? Who isn't? But awake in bed all night fretting about what you did when you were 19 that really screwed up your life is a different beastie altogether. Ya' know?

Also, if every couple of hours is working, I'd stick with that and drop some off of one (or more) of the doses. Think about it in terms of maintaining a consistent amount in your body. (there is some scientific evidence that indicates this is less of an issue after you've been on it a while. But I disagree with those pesky scientists on this matter.)

Congrats again, Dose. Keep us posted.

[Dosage0]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

Ne/Neva Eva;1277228 wrote: I am going down 10mg every week. I still notice a tiny bit of difference. Mind you, I have taken dips and gone back up in substantially larger increments.

Here's what I've noticed in myself and by listening to others when they go down:
Depression
Return of anxiety
Return of SEs
Return to daily drinking

I think it takes some time to get used to not drinking. I didn't 'switch' so much as meander around the idea of not drinking when I realized I didn't have to drink against my will anymore. Then I sort of reveled in the fact that I could drink irregularly for a while. Now it has absolutely no bearing on my decisions/life. It took time, though, to get used to it.

The other three? They're particularly dangerous. In part because I, and others, don't necessarily attribute the symptoms to the drop in bac, but I've seen it happen A LOT that people get depressed and anxious and sleepless at the same time that they're titrating down.

Once when I went down pretty dramatically (40mg maybe?) I found myself on the couch watching tv and unwilling to just get up and on with it for a week or so. My close friends kept suggesting (shouting) that I was depressed. I didn't believe them. I went back up a bit, after a while, and lo and behold I was back to the old New Me. Awake 16 hours a day, and bummed when I was too tired to keep going! Instead of asleep or morose through most of it...

My point is, pay attention. No harm in going down and finding a comfortable place, but don't ignore stuff that seems unrelated or "normal". It wasn't possible for me to know what normal is (for me) for a long time. Having a drink occasionally? Isn't going to derail the whole experience. (imho) But finding yourself thinking about the wine you'll have with dinner (or jaeger you'll have instead) at noon? Those should sound the sirens. Sleepless for a couple of days? Who isn't? But awake in bed all night fretting about what you did when you were 19 that really screwed up your life is a different beastie altogether. Ya' know?

Also, if every couple of hours is working, I'd stick with that and drop some off of one (or more) of the doses. Think about it in terms of maintaining a consistent amount in your body. (there is some scientific evidence that indicates this is less of an issue after you've been on it a while. But I disagree with those pesky scientists on this matter.)

Congrats again, Dose. Keep us posted.

Thanks Neva, I am trying 40mg 7 times today. Once every 2 and a half hours. Just to see how I am at that level. I'll keep updating

[Dosage0]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

well 280 didn't work for me right away because I wanted to drink straight away. I think the drop was too far too fast from 380 to 280. I am sticking at 320 for a while. Been hanging out at 320 for a bit -- still not drinking. Still feel a bit light headed / dazed feeling, but I am hoping that with time I will be able to drop further without issues.

I have absolutely no desire to drink at this level and have gone to a few parties and bars without drinking. 320 8x a day 40 mgs.

[Dosage0]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

Nothing much new to report.. still at 320 mgs.. changed to 4-4-4-4 and sleeping ok. Would like to switch to 5 1/2 - 5 - 5 1/2, we'll see. Right now my sleep gets screwed if I switch to that.

[gratitude]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

hey dose,
hows the drinking at this level?

[Dosage0]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

gratitude;1286475 wrote: hey dose,
hows the drinking at this level?

At 320 I have no desire to drink. I can sometimes feel like I want to get blotto, but its very short and only during the time where I would normally get drunk. In a week and a half I've drank once and it wasnt much compared to normal.

I do find I eat lots more candy and sugar

[Dosage0]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

Trying again to drop to 280... will report how it goes. Taking 3 1/2 4 times a day today

[Dosage0]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

The drop to 280 went very well. I went to 3 and a half four times a day with good results. Looking to drop a bit further after I settle here for a bit.

[Ne/Neva Eva]

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I'm glad. When I saw the amount I shuddered. Dude! 40mg? But whatever. It worked. Do you feel better? Craving? I'm guessing you didn't like my last suggestions? lol. Sorry. Really...
Hang in there. My experience was that it gets easier until it becomes effortless. And then you gotta remind yourself all over again to take the damn pills. I missed 60mg yesterday. Would be nice if I could take my own advice.
Edit: out of 140mg!

[Dosage0]

Shotgun Opera Lock and Load

Hey all... still at 280 and doing alright. I take 3 and a half pills 4 times a day. Seems to do the trick and my SEs are minimal.

Dose

[spacebebe01]

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Thanks for keeping us updated