oladam777

I hope this doesn't count as medical advice. I plan on seeing a doctor soon about this issue.

I've been drinking heavily for a little over a year now. I'm feeling committed to quit today but I'm not sure if I should do it gradually or just not drink at all today

Obviously I feel fairly bad/hung over and I know a drink would fix that real quick, but if I can push through it I'd rather quit cold turkey. Is there any danger in that??

Mattq2

I have no medical experience to answer your question formally. I quit cold turkey. I wish I would have done it with the advice of my doctor. If for no other reason maybe it would have been somewhat easier. I have read many times that withdrawal can be physically dangerous but it depends on the individual. Only you can make the decision. Sobriety is definitely worth the effort.

Dee74

I always recommend seeing a Dr.

I detoxed hundreds of times with apparent ill effect, but my last detox I suffered several mini strokes.

I'm not saying thats going to happen to you, but yeah - unsupervised detox can be dangerous, and can even be fatal sometimes.

Again, I'm not suggesting you'll die without a Dr, but seeing one really is the best option IMO.

D

kjimenez04

I quit drinking today as well and I just got back from the doctors. It's always a good idea to seek out a medical professional when sobering up we do a lot of damage to our bodies with this poison can never be too safe.

Hevyn

It's great to have you with us, oladam. I gradually cut down because I'd been drinking every day for a long time & didn't have access to a dr. - was afraid to just abruptly stop. It isn't recommended. In my case my blood pressure spiked dangerously. If at all possible please get professional advice.

I hope you'll keep reading & posting. You'll have a whole new life.

Anna

Welcome, and the thing with detoxing is that it's unpredictable. It's always a good idea to talk to your dr first.

PhoenixJ

yes- very. I had seizures. traumatic for all who are involved.

least

In the US, doctors will often give a small prescription (a few days) for a benzo to calm the anxiety, blood pressure, and danger of seizures. It helped me get thru the first few days when the temptation to drink to 'ease the symptoms of withdrawal' was greatest. After I got thru the physical w/d, it was easier to stay sober. But the withdrawal anxiety can be awful and a doctor can help to alleviate that.

I hope our support can help you get sober for good.

NoahJ

Again - it's not advice, just my story.

I quit cold turkey without Medical supervision. I ended up in the ER due to severe withdrawal (hallucinations and panic attacks). I wish that I had undergone a medically-managed outpatient withdrawal. But I also drank pretty heavily, daily, for 20 years.

You can always start by cutting back, but my recommendation would always be to see a doctor, or at least an addiction specialist.

August252015

I quit cold turkey from a SERIOUS vodka habit. As in, a handle every day or day and a half (plus drinks around that after work, most of the time).

I had serious withdrawal then subsequent PAWS. I went through a LOT - from leg seizures to hand tremors to dry heaves to incontinence. It was like the alcohol rolled from the top of my head and through and out of my body. Things like spatial relationship took awhile to recover. Nightmares then vivid dreams, the immediate need to sleep during the day, sweats and chills. I could go on.

I was just DONE drinking and made the choice to face an uncertain future or amount or duration of pain and suffering over what the dr told me- and I finally heard- was a certain death by drinking.

I did see my GP and psych during this time- and my new liver dr- and get all my tests done. Scary levels of liver enzymes, potassium and iron deficiencies and a need for extra Vit B evened out to normal by around 100 days. I could share more about my specifics - bottom line is that it was worth any risk to me to quit immediately once I decided to have that last vodka.

It never hurts to have dr help - I didn't seek pain and suffering, but I just knew that I had to stop, and THEN drs could help me. At the eve of 16 mo, I am healthy (I run and do yoga, and have an active job) and take a supervised med regimen that works well for me. We tweak as necessary but I have a sleep med, anti-anxiety meds (those are my two big self-care/flags/such), a mild anti-depressant, an anti-craving med (I have not had a single craving, ever) and a BPD-related med. It sounds like a lot to some people, I suppose, but it plus my dedicated AA program and my completely different life have led to my current success.

Take care and know that you can get sober, however you do it.

Verdantia

Hi, oladam. 12 hours after I quit cold turkey I began hallucinating--spiders, ants, demons, dancing trees, hieroglyphic writing on the walls, voices, strange musical tones, folded construction-paper clowns slithering through my bookcases--indescribable insanity. This was much worse at night and after 3 days of this torture I started in again, which only delayed the inevitable. A month later I checked into county detox (where I was treated kindly) but after a day had seizures, lost consciousness and spent a week in hospital. After that I got serious about sobriety. Given my experience, I would be leery about not having help at hand and medical supervision. I thought alcoholic hallucinosis wouldn't happen to me--and everyone is different so there's a good chance it won't happen to you-- but seizures and withdrawal can end your life. I didn't even have full-blown DTs so it can get much worse. Please be safe. Wishing you the best; sobriety is worth the fight.

PurpleKnight

Welcome to the Forum Oladam!!