Sloane

Hi Everyone,

I am feeling hopeless about how to attain sobriety from alcohol and benzodiazepines. Has anyone kicked one at a time? I know it would be dangerous to cold turkey from both.

I am currently drinking beer only, and only because I have some degree of control over how much I drink with beer. Not true with vodka. I take 2-3 mgs. of Klonopin per day, mostly at bedtime - but I do frequently mix alcohol and benzos.

I left a message today for an appt. with a psychiatrist specializing in addictions. I do not want to repeat my 2008 inpatient experience where I was taken off of everything (more than I am taking now) in a short time, and had a horrible aftermath.

Thank you for any feedback.

Anna

I wonder if the Klonopin you're taking is prescribed by a dr, and if so, you might want to talk to him before going off the drug.

As far as sobriety goes - I don't believe a person could be sober if he was using a medication not prescribed by a dr or if he was abusing an otc product. Stopping the drinking/drugging is only the beginning. Recovery is about the work that occurs at that point - the learning to deal with life as it is.

Sloane

Thank you, Anna. I really want to get to the place where I can begin the recovery you talk about; learning to deal with life as it is.

The Klonopin is prescribed by my current psychiatrist, and I am the one who has asked for dose reductions in the past. I used to also take Xanax and a higher dose of Klonopin prescribed through this doctor. He is very liberal with the prescription pad; likely the reason I have been seeing him for years.

Terminally Unique

Benzodiazepines are cross tolerant with alcohol, and if you are using them recreationally, they will accelerate your dependence to alcohol, and vice-versa. Your safest bet to avoid nasty withdrawal from both is probably to kick the alcohol by asking your doctor for a tapered Benzodiazepine withdrawal. The protocol is fairly standardized.