Advice

How did your assessment for depression go? My appointment is tomorrow so feeling anxious, however like you said all steps in the right direction x

Hi, my medication is going to be changed in 2 weeks. I have to keep reducing my sertraline so Ican start Mirtazapine. I explained my concerns re SSRI and alcohol cravings etc. The new one I am trying is a SSRN and works differently. We shall see how this goes.

i was also giving sleeping tablets for 2 weeks as ai haven't had more than 3 hours sleep a night for months and slept terribly for a long time.

Will keep you posted.

All of the best for tomorrow; make notes that you can refer to? I did and the doctor was amazed how much we got through, even if superficially to begin with. Somewhere to start and follow on from.

Thank you, I will. Making notes and little snippets of how your feeling def help. Not to sure on abbreviations but will google! I'm quite new and suppose lacking knowledge. Ive ignored my problem for so long! Hope you don't me asking but did your depression start before or after your drinking? I'm not still which way round mine goes?! Appreciate your feedback. Take care xx

My depression definetly started before drinking!!!!

I was never much of a drinker and I mean practicallly teetotal. The drinking came on gradually then  got worse. Dosage has been increased over time due to very stressful circumstances. It was only fairly recently that someone on this forum who PM me and asked if the drinking started after starting antedepressants that I began to realise the link and researched it.

i wish I had understood this when put on ante depressants, I could have avoided starting. 

Ah well at least know I have the knowledge I can address it.

Do let me know how you get on? Xx

 

Wow, that's interesting stuff. I have previously been on anti depressants after loosing my best friend to cancer and as soon as I left the surgery I felt empowered because I took a step forward. However this time they seem to have little or no affect at all. Since on them I've took a step back and have increased drinking. But I wasn't honest with GP so that probably didn't help! Really appreciate you talking to me. I hope you feel better soon

No problem. Keep in touch, it helps to have some to talk things over with. It took me a long time to be able to find the relevant research but basically it explains why the SSRI's cause the alcohol cravings...something to do with the receptor sites. I can't put the links on here or they may not allow this message. I will see if I can PM the links. I think that's allowed. Xx

Would appreciate it. How do you pm someone? I could give you my mobile no?! Xx

I just had to check to remind myself. You go on the persons name then press on message. I'll send you a hello to get it started and then tomorrow I'll check out the links to send to you. X

Hi have PM you links and messages. You need to go into your messages, symbol an envelope. X

Thanks for your reply. It's easier said than done to not beat yourself up! That part I'm finding hard. Well done for the last 6 months. I'm still drinking every day but have stopped during the day. I'm hoping to cut down further and am undecided yet as to whether I need to stop completely or regain a healthier relationship will alcohol x

Paul I was wondering if you have ever heard of someone using librium and gabapentine for detoxing. Just wondering if anyone had.

Yes, it can be but it is rare that a sufficient dose of Librium is not enough on its own.

Thanks. I'm just afraid that it is and I won't be able to sleep. I wouldn't take it during the day. Just before bed.

Normally, a drug like Zopiclone would be considered before Gabapentin to help you sleep.

Thanks paul. Just trying to work with what I have. I have one pill left of librium and I have to make it through the whole day and night then go to work tomorrow. Just hoping I equal out for the night. Thanks for responding

Thank you I've been reading lots and almost looking forward to seeing a councillor this week. Small steps.... I've looked at local aa meetings too. May sit at the back of one to start!

I think I was originally given it was the fear that after the librium I might have a seizure from withdrawal

If you are given the correct amount of Librium for the correct amount of time and don't drink, you are very unlikely to have a withdrawal seizure. AFTER a detox is complete, you will definitely not have a withdrawal seizure. These happen within the first 72 hours after the last drink. However, some doctors give anti-convulsant drugs as an extra measure against the risk of seizures. I personally think that is unnecessary unless the patient has had sezures during withdrawal in the past.

Thanks Paul. I ended up not using the Gabapentin and detoxed fine. Before getting the librium I started having some crazy thoughts and ideas though. Never happened to me before. Thought I was almost hallucinating. Landed me in the ER and got the librium. Doing good now.

Don't ever let yourself get to that point again, I71207. Those hallucinations are likely to be the start of DTs. DTs are NOT, as many people think, the usual shakiness associated with alcohol withdrawal. DTs (Delirium Tremens) is a serious life-threatening condition which leads to hallucinations, seizures and sometimes death. It is a medical emergency if your alcohol withdrawal symptoms reach that level of severity.

Glad you are doing well now though

Thank you again and for the the knowledge. I thought it was shakiness too. I'm doing great now and I was drinking very heavily everyday at that time. It was so weird. I thought I was dreaming and it wasn't always scary or frightening. Just kind of alarming. What I was considering doing is what surprised myself the most. I was ready to move away to save my wife and live a crazy life to do it. Now that I think about it I cant believe what I was considering. Thank you for the warning. I did not know the signs. Since I always had alcohol olin my system until getting librium each detox I didn't even cosnider dt's. Thanks

And I don't mean save her physically. I just meant save her from having to live with an alcoholic and hurt her emotionally over and over

good reply..u r on the right track