Alcohol Tapering to Quit
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 848
Alcohol Tapering to Quit
I thought I was far enough in recovery to just "taper" off with beer for three days then quit. I even got to two days completely free of alcohol. I've been sober for two months, so it should be easy after only a week long binge.
However what I didn't do is consult a doctor about my decision to "taper". Well long story short, I was at work today and noticed my hands shaking. I thought I "beat the man" by avoiding the doctor. Why are my hands shaking?
Well tapering didn't work.
After going to a walgreens and checking my blood pressure/heart rate, I was immediately terrified to see that my heart rate was 115, and my blood pressure was at 178/102.
I then immediately left work, called my doctor, and was completely honest. She then said "you need to get here now". She saw me as soon as I was able to get there, and told me to get Librium prescription filled asap. This is a GP doctor who doesn't even specialize in addiction. The doctor I usually see was "filled up" until late January.
So right now as I sit here, my heart rate is a cool crisp 73 beats per min and blood pressure is 129/80. (I'm an overweight alcoholic who hasn't eaten in three days so it's not perfect.)
That my friends, is the way to get clean in my opinion. If you can taper good for you, but man it's impossible for me.
However what I didn't do is consult a doctor about my decision to "taper". Well long story short, I was at work today and noticed my hands shaking. I thought I "beat the man" by avoiding the doctor. Why are my hands shaking?
Well tapering didn't work.
After going to a walgreens and checking my blood pressure/heart rate, I was immediately terrified to see that my heart rate was 115, and my blood pressure was at 178/102.
I then immediately left work, called my doctor, and was completely honest. She then said "you need to get here now". She saw me as soon as I was able to get there, and told me to get Librium prescription filled asap. This is a GP doctor who doesn't even specialize in addiction. The doctor I usually see was "filled up" until late January.
So right now as I sit here, my heart rate is a cool crisp 73 beats per min and blood pressure is 129/80. (I'm an overweight alcoholic who hasn't eaten in three days so it's not perfect.)
That my friends, is the way to get clean in my opinion. If you can taper good for you, but man it's impossible for me.
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 848
Yeah it's simple right: just quit. I have made up my mind after this. I have just went through the worst week of my life. I'm actually taking that last bottle, peeling off all the alcohol labels and framing it in my man room. I am pretty sure this last week is what hell is like.
I plan on posting about it when my head gets clear, but don't want to wine much.
I plan on posting about it when my head gets clear, but don't want to wine much.
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,666
Those libbies do work for withdrawals. I used to have them for a bit, I did appreciate them anyway. They work. I preferred it to 'gradually trying to drink a little less each night for a while', which can go either way.
All the best
All the best
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 848
Originally Posted by Dee74 
I'm surprised you went the taper route after seeing Drs all the other times Justin?
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 848
Originally Posted by SteveyEire
Those libbies do work for withdrawals. I used to have them for a bit, I did appreciate them anyway. They work. I preferred it to 'gradually trying to drink a little less each night for a while', which can go either way.
All the best
All the best
11.30.14
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: California
Posts: 401
Medical detox is the only way to go! I don't understand why/how people try and cold turkey or taper. Glad to hear you got Librium and probably a taper schedule from your Dr. Keep us posted on your progress.
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: baltimore, maryland
Posts: 463
Tapering does not work for most of us. It just prolongs the misery. After my last binge I had to call my doctor and he called in a script for the old Librium taper. Yea, I have been to him several times for the same thing over the years. I'm sure my welcome is running thin with him. The good news is....once you're finished with the Lib's, you don't have to do this to yourself anymore. I doubled up on my effort to control the beast in my head. I get my life back and the beast gets squat!! Justin, just keep remembering how you felt when the shaking started...the next time it will be worse...you can count on it! Best wishes to you.
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 848
No alcohol taper. Just take librium like prescribed. It's not that hard. The hardest part is realizing that in two days when you're off the librium, you have to have a plan in place that keeps you sober. In my opinion of course.
Librium makes it difficult when you have a mentally draining job. Writing software at the hardest place in Missouri is difficult in and of itself. Writing software there while taking benzos is extremely difficult. Just checking email is draining.
Librium makes it difficult when you have a mentally draining job. Writing software at the hardest place in Missouri is difficult in and of itself. Writing software there while taking benzos is extremely difficult. Just checking email is draining.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: baltimore, maryland
Posts: 463
Tapering does not work for most of us. It just prolongs the misery. After my last binge I had to call my doctor and he called in a script for the old Librium taper. Yea, I have been to him several times for the same thing over the years. I'm sure my welcome is running thin with him. The good news is....once you're finished with the Lib's, you don't have to do this to yourself anymore. I doubled up on my effort to control the beast in my head. I get my life back and the beast gets squat!! Justin, just keep remembering how you felt when the shaking started...the next time it will be worse...you can count on it! Best wishes to you.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 848
No alcohol taper. Just take librium like prescribed. It's not that hard. The hardest part is realizing that in two days when you're off the librium, you have to have a plan in place that keeps you sober. In my opinion of course.
Librium makes it difficult when you have a mentally draining job. Writing software at the hardest place in Missouri is difficult in and of itself. Writing software there while taking benzos is extremely difficult. Just checking email is draining.
Librium makes it difficult when you have a mentally draining job. Writing software at the hardest place in Missouri is difficult in and of itself. Writing software there while taking benzos is extremely difficult. Just checking email is draining.
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