Yes it is common. During my drinking days, while I still had a home, I kept a bottle of Jack Daniels next to the bed with a straw in it. Yeah I know SICK! Then my last year and a half when I lived on the streets of Hollywood and slept in my car (typical 'alkie' car, all four corners dented and a coat hanger for a radio antenna) I had 'graduated' to Thunderbird and kept a fifth next to me that I could swig on if I woke up.
It is a 'progressive' illness.
Thankfully that was MANY years ago now.
What are you doing for you? Have you tried AlAnon? Also I found "Co-Dependent No More" by Melodie Beattie extremely helpful once I was sober and clean and then started working on my 'codie issues.'
Please keep posting and let us know how you are doing as we do care so very much.
Love and hugs,