husband and prescription pills

Old 04-09-2014, 05:29 PM
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I doubt the Dr knows how severe he is but there are rxmeds to assist with detoxes. I have never seen a "home" detox just been around when there was an in-patient one. I am willing to bet your ah does not share with his Dr the extent of his drinking either, so try to keep the blame on ah, the man doing this stuff and causing your family pain.
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Old 04-09-2014, 06:06 PM
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Wow.

Just sending you hugs. That's a lot to deal with. I lived with my husband's untreated Bi Polar and it was about as fun as sticking a razor in my eye.

You must be a very strong person. Has your husband ever been in long term (30 Day +) mental health program? Would he possibly be willing to go that route?
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Old 04-09-2014, 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by maggies View Post
He has been diagnosed as being schzo-affective disorder. It is a great challenge for him to admit he is mentally ill. He would prefer to drink beer all day than take medication.
Denial and attempted self-medication are both very common with schizoid type mental illnesses. So common that they are almost considered hallmark symptoms of those disorders.
My mother suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and she used to self medicate with marijuana when I was growing up. She is in total denial about her mental illness, will not even entertain the idea that she might have a problem, though she has stopped using MJ. I can only imagine what a nightmare it would be if she was drinking on top of her mental illness.
So sorry your family is going through this. Glad you're doing the therapy for yourself. Take care. Hugs and strength to you maggies.
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Old 04-09-2014, 07:03 PM
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It's concerning the doctor would prescribe the meds if she knew he was drinking. I went to my AHs last appt with the psych. And she told him she would no longer prescribe for him unless he got treatment, it is too dangerous. He of course didn't. So I think he is without meds now. Every day he is gone gets better and better. I no longer have to worry about these things. I don't have to count pills, fills a weekly container, worry about refills, nagging to take them...he is an adult and can take care of himself. Whether he chooses to is up to him.
Take care of yourself.
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Old 04-09-2014, 07:24 PM
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cheslea, I once told him to get a second opinion and go to another doctor. But he got quite defensive of his doctor. For someone who is mentally ill and a alcoholic, he is still able to manipulate very well.
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Old 04-09-2014, 07:47 PM
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Yes they are so good at manipulating! I just read the article someone linked on alcoholic thinking...it fits my AH to a t!
I hope you are doing ok. I'm glad you are seeking support. I felt like I was on the verge of a breakdown before I made my AH leave...the stress and anxiety of living like that is so difficult.
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Old 04-10-2014, 04:38 AM
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My XAH takes Xanax, a benzo, and mixed with even slight alcohol has sent him on benders that is both dangerous and scary. Your husband should be in a dual diagnosis rehab facility, but thats up to him. One can have a mental disorder and not spiral out of control but it takes an amazing amount of self awareness and admittance each day in knowing what can happen if it spins out of control.

Please stay safe. God Bless.
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Old 04-10-2014, 05:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Chelsea1029 View Post
Yes they are so good at manipulating! I just read the article someone linked on alcoholic thinking...it fits my AH to a t!
I hope you are doing ok. I'm glad you are seeking support. I felt like I was on the verge of a breakdown before I made my AH leave...the stress and anxiety of living like that is so difficult.
Where was that article posted? I would like to read it.

Maggie's big hugs to you. I am so sorry. I don't have any advice just hugs for you.
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Old 04-10-2014, 06:16 AM
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Mental illness, ex felon, addiction issues...and you want to continue treating him as a young child by monitoring his meds, doctors, make sure he tells the doctors the truth. I just hope you are being fully honest with your therapist about all that YOU are doing in this mess. You talk about the idea that a doctor might be enabling him, and I sit here wondering if you realize how much you may be enabling him, just a thought though, I am not in your shoes and certainly do not know the full story here. I'd like to hear more about you than your husband. I feel like there is this incredibly strong woman juggling all these things for him because she has such an incredible ability to love, but is so busy taking care of him that she is lost in the fog of his addiction issues and mental illness. Meanwhile, what is she feeling, thinking, living outside of his issues and perhaps because of his issues? Are all her issues his issues? Again Maggie, big hugs to you dear woman, you are in a tough position for sure and my heart goes out to you. Glad to hear you made it into the therapy appointment and I hope it offers you some help.
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Old 04-10-2014, 06:23 PM
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Hope this works
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-thinking.html
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Old 04-10-2014, 06:44 PM
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Thank you for the link. I am wanting to take control of his prescriptions and put them in my safe where I keep my car keys. I feel like that gives me some sense of control. With him being on anabuse, he can't get drunk and I still find that pill reassuring.
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Old 04-10-2014, 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by maggies View Post
Thank you for the link. I am wanting to take control of his prescriptions and put them in my safe where I keep my car keys. I feel like that gives me some sense of control. With him being on anabuse, he can't get drunk and I still find that pill reassuring.
I think that his behavior is showing that he is willing to take another avenue to get his "fix" if this one is closed off. You give him antabuse so he can't drink, so he went and got a bunch of prescriptions. What do you think is going to happen once the new prescription drugs are under lock and key with you doling out the dosage? I think you might be too close to see this situation clearly. All those things may give you a sense of control, but that feeling is an illusion. The fact is, he is going to figure out a way to circumvent any safeguard you can put into place if he wants to drink/use. You're going to drive yourself crazy with stress and exhaustion trying to outsmart alcoholism. I've done it, and so has everyone here. And alcoholism wins every time.

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...-need-fix.html
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Old 04-10-2014, 07:13 PM
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We cannot control another's addiction. That is the hardest lesson to learn, but learn it we must. Unless he gets professional help, nothing is going to change except that he'll get more and more clever about finding a way to get his fix. I know you don't want to hear that, but it is the honest to God truth. If you have no problem living that way, then go on ahead and keep trying to control this runaway train. Let go or be dragged.
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Old 04-10-2014, 07:15 PM
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ativan... highly addictive

ativan is highly addictive just like xanax. even though were not allowed to give medical advice i know first hand what that drug can do and just how bad its withdrawals are.... worse then heroin withdrawals times ten... be very carefull
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Old 04-10-2014, 08:05 PM
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The meds are prescribed by a professional. He has been seeing her off and on for many years. She knows his history. I will just have to let him control the meds but I will keep an eye on for any suspicious high like behavior. I would like to share the fact about antabuse though. An alcoholic cannot drink more than a beer without getting violently sick. It works for my husband and I feel good when I am giving it to him every morning.
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Old 04-10-2014, 08:19 PM
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Im glad hes taking antabuse. My XAH's cousins funeral was tonight, she overdosed on benzos and wine. It can quite literally kill you.

Good Luck and God Bless!
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Old 04-10-2014, 09:08 PM
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[QUOTE=hopeful4;4583477]Im glad hes taking antabuse. My XAH's cousins funeral was tonight, she overdosed on benzos and wine. It can quite literally kill you.

I'm sorry for your loss. Yes, alcohol can kill. My husband once was rushed to the hospital with a bac level of .45 after drinking several bottles of whiskey in less than 12 hours.
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Old 04-10-2014, 09:27 PM
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My husband's dr and trauma/neuro specialist would NEVER give him benzos for at home use!!! He was on benzos to detox him under the strict care of the trauma center in the ICU for 4 days after his motorcycle accident because he was scoring high on the wasp scale for withdrawal after going on a 12 day bender with nothing but vodka. From date of motorcycle accident (7/3/13) til the middle of September, he ate zero narcotics. It was only after he had brain surgery that he had pain meds to control his pain due to having a hole drilled into his skull and he was only given (20) Oxy 5's that I gave to him so he couldn't eat them like candy.

His PCP told him no benzos because of how dangerous they are to him because he is an alcoholic. That IMO makes him an excellent dr.
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