Alcohol Neuropathy

You'll not get addicted with one week's worth, which is all it really takes and I'm talking from experience here. I just can't understand the whole reluctance by GPs, they know most of their patients, they know who may get addicted, but even so, I'd say it is nigh on impossible to get addicted to diazepam with 28 tablets taken over about 5 days.

But the difference it makes to someone trying to come off alcohol is the world. Librium is a benzo, so you would get the same answer.

Of all the people I have heard on this forum, I am one of the people you could count on one hand that has managed to get (I don't mean 10 - 15 years ago) diazepam or any benzo from his GP. But I have known him for 15 years, he has sent me to hospital when jaundised for suspected liver failure and when a year later I had a relapse, and the alcohol recovery centre refused to detox me for 2 - 3 months, he understood it was better than watching me drink myself to death.

But that has to be the sort of situation before you'll get prescribed it. The funny thing is, I have my hospital patient records from my prolonged stay for liver and stroke at the same time and reading through that (over 100 pages), they didn't spare the Librium then, I think they were pumping it into me 24/7 for days.

Yes, I agree about short courses of benzos, as long as they ARE short courses. You've been very helpful to me on the other discussion about my husband's AUD and I would like to thank you for all the trouble you took to explain things which I did not understand. Things are much better now as I can empathise with what he's going through. Re - librium - he has had it many times, but not in a controlled setting - by which I mean that the GP has given him lots of them but my husband continued to drink while taking them, so a fat lot of good that was. Eventually he gave the bottle to me and as a long-standing benzo addict I was delighted. (This was about seven years ago)

I am now having treatment and very slowly tapering off.

Haven't had a ciggy for eleven days although I've had some strong cravings.

Husband seems to have calmed down, and I think it's because I've calmed down - you were very much a part of that - as I said, explaining what alcohol does and that it is a complex process to stop. I should have known, really, but I was very angry with him after a three day binge which ended up with him falling face-first against the corner of the radiator and sustaining a large gash to the head.

Anyway, you're right about the benzos helping people to come off alcohol and you definitely have to have a good GP to help with this.

Wishing you well and thanks again - and to all on this site struggling with addictions - don't give up. Keep trying. And use this forum to get support. it's the most useful I've ever done. Tess. x

Tess,I'm an alcoholic but so is my husband but he's sought no help.

About 2 months ago he was arrested for drunk driving and dangerous driving,will be convicted next month.I could absolutely kill him and I've wished him dead to be honest but hey ho ,life goes on and you have to deal with it.

People on here that know me prob don't know about this

So it was remarkably brave of you to write it in a public domain.

I'm sorry for what you're going through, truly I am. I doubt if I can be of any help to you but I always answer messages so if you want to get something off your chest, let me know.

It seems that we both want to kill our husbands at the moment. Not literally, but we are enraged with them. I'm an addict, too (valium) but I'm in treatment at last.

I hope you find a way to come off alcohol, Nicole. I cannot help except by replying to you when things are rubbish. |love Tess.

I'm sorry to hear that Nicole, not your fault but I bet it has been stressful and caused tension. The very sort of thing that pushes you into drinking more.

I'm glad that you and your husband have made 'peace' as it were. No doubt that will help with your addictions, with less stress. I know I used to use alcohol as a pressure relief or to blot out things.

'It seems that we both want to kill our husbands'

There's that Bunny Boiler gene shining through.

'we are enraged with them'

I sense anger management issues.

 

RHGB is correct in all that he says. A short course, even a week of diazapam/ Librium will definitely help. It is difficult to get benzos from your GP these days. I've found that if you say you need a short course and that the alternative is to carry on drinking, most will agree. I got six X 5 mg as I don't like flying and got them easily. A short course will help with anxiety issues and stop you drinking. Obviously dependant on how dependant you are on alcohol

I thought you were meant to be on holiday??????????

Tuh!

I am!!! and turning a lovely golden brown. I'd had enough sun and swimming, so came inside for a rest! Sad I know, but still watch soaps, but not Jeremy Kyle or judge rinder!!

Enjoy yourself! !  Who needs Jeremy Kyle, anyway - it's so depressing to realise that there are so many people with so many intractable problem.

I've never watched a soap, but I use it in the bathroom. Does that count?

At our local pub quiz, Perry Fenwick (Billy Mitchell) is a regular and quite often wins the jackpot. I asked him how he did it and he said "Coz I bring my well-clever mates wiv me, innit."

I give up.

No issues regarding anger management, but plenty of issues of managing not to drink so much that your wife becomes scared of you. That is a nasty feeling for the wife involved - but I know that you know that, RHGB.

You mentioned that you used to use alcohol as a pressure relief or to blot out things. I did the same with valium and X did the same with alcohol.

We both know that he will die in about a year if he doesn't manage to deal with his AUD.

He is drinking rather less at the moment and paying more attention to his diabetes. Maybe when he sees the Liver Specialist he will be persuaded to stay in hospital for treatment. I'll keep you all posted. T.