Alcohol Detox
Posted , 6 users are following.
I have drunk alcohol on and off since my diagnosis with epilepsy in 2014. I have tried two failed home detoxes. Last night I hit a whole time low I drank a lot of vodka which I have never done it I said always red wine and didn't have any in the house so resorted to something I really don't like. Today I have contacted a private inpatient detox, the guy I spoke with said 10 day detox, is this long enough £4000 is a lot of money. Has anyone had alcohol detox through the NHS. I don't drink until 5-6ish in evening and 22:00 if I have been working. I believe I am a functional alcoholic as I take care of the house, married and hold a full time job. I'm at a loss and need help. My Gp last time I had a relapse I was given chlodiazapoxide which helped with the physical symptoms and had a alcohol worker which I didn't find particularly helpful.
Any advice I will welcome gladly 🙁
0 likes, 4 replies
ADEfree leanne84685
Posted
Leanne, you might want to take a look at The Sinclair Method on this page:
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/useful-resources-487627
It's used while you're still drinking, but starts backing the process in reverse, decreasing your consumption month by month. Selincro is available on NHS, but there are hoops to jump through. Naltrexone and a private consultation will be less than 4k, maybe even far less depending on which route you go. I'm in the US and in an area where a doc that was familiar with it was easy to find, so it was dirt cheap and paid for itself quickly. I started out with a 12 pack every night and in about 6 months I was down to a 6-pack per month.
RHGB leanne84685
Posted
No, £4,000 is a shed load of money and a complete waste.
All a detox does, is stop the physical withdrawal symptoms, allowing you to stop drinking safely. It does not however stop the underlying problem that is making you drink. If you detox, you will return to drinking if you do not take any other action.
You need a medication after the detox (if you actually need a detox) - can you go a day without drinking or do you start getting the shakes?
The two possible medications are Campral & Selincro, they both work in different ways. Alcohol is a drug that has affected your brain and it needs a drug (medication) to put it back the way it used to be, so that you can live life not thinking about alcohol everyday and when you can have your next drink.
It is almost impossible to get a detox through the NHS, they will direct you to an ARC which is probably where your alcohol worker was based. All the £4,000 would be, is for a residential equivalent ot the home detox you have had, just room, board and some counselling included, plus monitoring medically. If you've home detoxed twice, you have a pretty good idea anyway.
vickylou leanne84685
Posted
Save your money, £4,000 is a lot of money and nothing different than you've done with two home detoxes before.
A detox will get you off the drink, but that's the easy part. You need to have a plan as to what you're going to do next.
RHGB has mentioned the two medications used following a detox, campral (acamposate (campral) and selincro). I used campral an anti craving drug which worked for me.
I would seriously research the two drugs and decide which one would be best for you. You've found that detox alone doesn't work for you. You need something for straight after, otherwise you run the risk of another failed detox and the loss of £4,000.
Robin2015 leanne84685
Posted