Switching from Alcohol to Valium

Rosie wrote:

Bryan,
Doctor's info was correct and I don't think he was trying to sell anything to you. I am in recovery (18) years and worked in the field of addiction.

My God, there is a lot of horribly wrong information in this forum.
First, a psychopharmacology lesson. Anything that comes on board quickly (ie reaches a high plasma concentration quickly) and has a short half life (leaves the system quickly) that effects the VTA (dopamine reward system of the brain) will be highly addictive. So as far as benzodiazepines go, Xanax and Ativan are extremely bad medications to give to people with addiction.. Even for detox. The best benzo for detox, in an inpatient setting, is Tranzene.
If you are detoxing at home, 25mg of Librium is the way to go. It has a long half life, an works quite well at managing the "DTs". Most people don't truly get delirium tremons; you'd wind up in the ER if you really got them.
If you have legitimate issues with anxiety, Klonopin is the benzodiazepine to use. It also has a long half life, and studies show its abuse potential is much lower than the other benzodiazepines. I would only use it for true panic attacks, since daily use makes it less effective. For daily management for anxiety, tricyclics (like Elavil), SNRIs (like Cymbalta), or an SSRI (like Paxil) are usually the best option. All three classes have their own risks and benefits that vary depending on the patient.
If you TRULY want to stop being an alcoholic, start taking an opioid antagonist (naltrexone) 30 minutes before you drink. For 60% of patients that do this, they either quit drinking completely or at least drink at levels that do not cause cellular damage. This is called the "Sinclair Method" and is an approved method of treadment for both alcoholics and alcohol abusers in the US. It is the SOLE treatment approved in Finland, because of its high success rate. If you are worried that you will not have the self control to take naltrexone EVERY time before you start drinking, you can get a once a month injection form known as Revia.
Whatever you do, if you are an alcoholic, DO NOT STOP DRINKING COLD TURKEY. YOU CAN DIE. This is because your GABA levels are not normal, and quitting alcohol abruptly will mean you will have no means of compensating for the effects of glutamate, which is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter. You can have seizures and go into cardiac arrest from this.
As far as AA, it works for some; about 2% of people. Oddly, that is also about the same percentage of alcoholics who quit drinking on their own without any treatment at all.
Regardless how you quit or reduce your drinking, PLEASE do so. Drinking a half gallon of vodka a day is killing you. Alcohol is a horrible drug.

I know I am late to the party here, but this whole thread is fascinating. I can read so much pain and struggle, it doesn't seem fair. Life should not be that way. But I'm certainly not going to tell anyone here that it isn't because it obviously is for many.

What I wanted to write is that there are a couple rather frightening misconceptions here that need to be clarified, particularly around withdrawal treatment. Points:

1. Alcohol withdrawal is a potentially life-threatening condition that if not treated medically, leads to severe complications in 15-20% of heavy users and potential death in 5% of users.

2. The ONLY thing that is remotely effective in waylaying the above effects is an alcohol analogue, specifically a GABA agonist.

3. The best GABA agonists are benzodiazepines.

4. They MUST be prescribed in the first week of withdrawal, in a graduated fashion. However any dr that then prescribes benzos longterm to a known alcoholic is unethical or stupid. the patient should then be placed on anti-depressants and or anti-convulsants if necessary.

As far as drug free, I think it's wrong to think this way. Anti-depressants, most of them, are beneficial and non-addictive. I think of them as medication just like insulin for a diabetic. A diabetic wouldn't take more insulin than necessary and I don't know of people abusing anti-depressants. The same cannot be said for benzos and alcohol.

One other thing, Cymbalta isn't a protease inhibitor, those are for people with HIV. It is a Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor. A newer version of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors like Prozac, Paxil, Remeron, etc. extremely effective anti-depressants.

I wish all of you all the best in the struggle. Some have greater burdens to bear, life is simply not fair. Still, through the pain of many of these posts, I see the determination to get past it and win. That's something worth being proud of and holding onto.

I am currently 33 and was drinking massive amounts on a regular basis for around five years. I could still somehow manage to come off drink even after hitting it hard, but after a few days being sober I would be back drinking again. I had been in touch with my GP before about this and they kept prescribing anti-depressant drugs and some had terrible side effects and made me feel even worse. When I decided to try and do something about it and I felt like a drink, I decided to take valium (non prescribed) and this completely stopped me from drinking. However, after a few days of taking this medicine I knew I had to taper off the drug because you notice you would get addicted to it very quickly. After a week of being dry from alcohol I went back to my GP and was prescribed an anti-depressant I had never tried before called Chlorpromazine. This drug seemed to work for me and I can maybe enjoy a drink once or twice a week now without going on binges. I realised it was depression that was making me drink so hard and made life so difficult to cope with. I think a lot of the problem with alcohol related illness is related to depression and that must be sorted out before it's too late. As for anti-depressant drugs, it's all just trial and error until you find the right one and keep talking to your GP if you feel one you have been prescribed is not working. Eventually you will find one that will work. I never told my GP about the valium, but it certainly worked for me and possibly because I only used it short term and tapered the dose day by day. To be honest it worked for me, but it's highly addictive and what I done was at my own will. I just wish everyone good luck and don't be frightened to speak to your GP about other meds. It really is trial and error and you need to find the right one or else you could end up drinking yourself into an early grave. Good luck..

anything is addicting so its better we just know the consequences

I doubt I could get a perscription for Valuim and if I did I don't think it would help

Today would have been one year sober for me. I went to rehab... I then relapsed many times. They gave us Valium to safely come down for the first 3 days.
I now take it when I try to quit. My last drink was 3 days ago so I've taken again the 5mg Valiums 4 times a day. I find I don't get addicted to them... I'm going to not take any today.
I'm back at craving for alcohol but I'm trying to hard to get my mind off of it.
There were days that I could drink a 40oz of vodka... Usually just a 26 a day. I get the shakes bad when I come down... And get depressed.
I'm a 32 year old female about 145 pounds.
I find when I go to the gym and stay away from certain people and places I stay away from alcohol but it never lasts long. This time I have to do it. I drop weight fast when I put the bottle down also.
AA meetings really help.
I'm very tired bc I took a Valium in the middle of the night because I couldn't sleep.
Good Luck to everyone :)

AA meetings help some but I think alot of it is just because of the fellowship. Find a good daily prayer book and ask God for help. AA people are like a clique and sometimes cult like, BUT its your call.

Actually you're right. AA doesn't really help all that much. I guess it's just hearing other people's stories that are in the same situation or have been in worse situations make you think twice about going back to where you were.
I ended up drinking again BUT I quit again last week. Today is my 9th day and I feel ready.
It's odd because my friend went to Mexico and went to a ceremony in an ancient cave. She said a prayer for me instead of herself.
I didn't know this until she arrived back home... But on the day she prayed, I quit. It feels different this time.
I can't explain.
I've been around alcohol in the past 9 days and I'm not even tempted.... Unlike before, if it was in front of me... I'd drink it.
So hopefully this is my time :)
I feel so much better!
It feels good not to wake up feeling crappy then drinking again to make it go away.
I'm hooked on a couple cups of coffee every morning again but I'd say it's WAY better than a 26 of vodka a day :)
BTW my comedown was the WORST this time around. I was vomiting for 2 whole days, shakes, sweats and headaches. It seems to get worse every time.
I'm sick of going through it. I did take Valiums for 4 days. They helped. Again as I said in my last post... I don't get addicted to them.
For someone with an addictive personality I find that odd. It's a good thing though.

I stopped drinking in 1988. I knew of a few people who had small doses of librium and/or valium the first few month while they were at an intreatment facility. I know of no one who has been on valium for multiple years. Could it be the doc is giving him a placibo so your dad thinks he is getting the drug?

jdmdusa wrote:

I stopped drinking in 1988. I knew of a few people who had small doses of librium and/or valium the first few month while they were at an intreatment facility. I know of no one who has been on valium for multiple years. Could it be the doc is giving him a placibo so your dad thinks he is getting the drug?

I do know people that have been on Valium for years and it is addictive as hell. The Doc would under no circumstance give him a placebo, that would be far too dangerous.
A little research helps to make informed decisions.
http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_arti...
BTW, if A.A. members read more that the F--king Big Book they might just learn they can get sober on their own.

Coming Clean wrote:

<quoted text>
I do know people that have been on Valium for years and it is addictive as hell. The Doc would under no circumstance give him a placebo, that would be far too dangerous.
A little research helps to make informed decisions.
http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_arti...
BTW, if A.A. members read more that the F--king Big Book they might just learn they can get sober on their own.

I agree. AA is a cult.