adamlevine

I have been drinking very heavily for the last 4 months : at least 6 - 13 standard shots of gin almost every day. Sometimes more. Things just escalated and got out of hand. I was also smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, and usually finishing the night off with a couple of Tylenol with Codeine (8mg). I realize that I am probably lucky to still be alive.

I have stopped all the bad habits - no intention of going back to that place - but have a question about the detox process.

I am on day 6 and things have not been too bad, except for a little fatigue and insomnia and bad dreams which I understand is normal in this situation. I can get through this. But it is the onset of hypersensitive skin that is driving me nuts! Itchy skin that feels as if bugs are crawling over me at times. NO, I don't see them! Smile Is this part of the detox - does anyone else know of this experience? And how long do you think this could last!

I have had blood work done, and by some miracle everything shows up within range!

WoundedOne

I'm no medical expert but I did read that it might have something to do with your liver filtering the toxins out. Toxins of course are irritating to skin sometimes as they are released by the pores in your skin. Causing itching and maybe rashes.

Just my guess anyways

Seren

Hello adamlevine, Welcome to SR!

I think the itchy skin phenomenon is quite common. I have read many posts in the Newcomers to Recovery section of the board where a member complains about itchy skin.

I've included the link to the Newcomers section for you if you would like to post there (you posted in the Friends and Family of Alcoholics section). Good luck on your journey to sobriety!! Welcome, again!

https://www.soberrecovery.com/forums...mers-recovery/

Maudcat

H, adamlevine,
Welcome.
Agree with Seren, there have been several posts about itchy skin in the early days.
I had shingles last year, which involved itchy, tingly skin. I found aloe vera sunburn gel kept in the frig to be a calming agent.

dawnrising

For what its worth this happens to a ton of people with all sorts of things. (sugar, wheat, alcohol, medication) Its just like they say toxins being released sometimes a epson salt bath can help, but it also speeds up the release of toxins.

Supine

Some specialists think the itchy skin could also be part of a tactile hallucination from withdrawals.

Alcohol is a sedative, and when you drink for a long time your body tries to adapt to this sedation by increasing stimulatory receptors on cells and removing some of the receptors that cause sedation. This is the same way tolerance to alcohol develops, so you have to drink more to get a buzz. It's your body trying to get you back to normal.

When you stop drinking abruptly, your brain's biochemistry is out of whack, with way too many stimulatory receptors around and now not enough sedation. This is what leads to the hallucinations, which is the "bugs on the skin" feeling. Your nervous system is revved up.

Regardless of what's causing it, if you start to develop confusion, fever, rapid heartbeat or seizures please get medical treatment immediately (they'll treat you with benzodiazepines).

Delirium Tremens can surface up to 10 days after your last drink. Withdrawal can last for weeks in some individuals, and others go through it much quicker.

Always better safe than sorry, and alcohol withdrawal can be fatal for some people. Detox symptoms can change rapidly, so if anything gets worse call a doctor ASAP. You should definitely be with someone who can call for help if you have a seizure

Seren

Just a general reminder that we are not doctors and are not giving medical advice:

LovePeaceSushi

My husband gets restless legs when he is detoxing.

alwayscovering

My AH is on day 12 and hes freaking out over itchy skin. I ended up using my eczema cream and sarna lotion to calm him down. He is also having trouble sleeping and having weird dreams.