Question about withdrawal, pls help
 

Hi. I've been alcohol-free for 50+ days. But I have some nasty withdrawal symptoms: headache, sleeplessness, depression, and panic attacks. About 3 weeks ago, I found cough syrup by accident. It's very relaxing and gives me calmness. I heard some scary stories about the Rx drugs that help deal with alcoholism withdrawal symptoms. I wonder if it is ok to use modest amount of cough syrup (i.e., DXM) to help me through withdrawal. Thank you very much. Love SR

Unfortunately cough syrup is making you feel better for all the wrong reasons, the very same reasons you are abstaining from.....alcohol. What helped me was taking stock of my angst at night (meaming expect it), find a substitute (herb tea), and just start inventoring my thoughts. same thing my mind was doing already, but slowing it down and not solving....just inventorying. Getting comfortable that life is about living, and living is about experiences we dont control or contrive.

Hi arhat -

Yikes.... Why not get help from a doctor or psychiatrist who can help you find real solutions to any ongoing problems you're having? You have to know you're playing with fire, moving from one substance to another, right?

I had a counselor in treatment who got off alcohol and got addicted to Nyquil. I hope you don't go down that road. Congratulations on your 50 days, by the way - that's a real accomplishment!

many thanks for your honest opinions Tx and Art. But what's difference between taking prescribed drugs (e.g., Xanax) and using some cough syrup to deal with withdrawal? I heard Rx drugs like Xanax could be addictive and hard to wean off.
But I'll definitely try the all natural ways to handle this nasty withdrawal.

I conclude the same about prescribed meds (for me anyway). I am all stocked up on crazy, but for now I refuse to use meds. I am detrmined to try and take stock of my issues and try and deal with them one by one. may take my whole life, may be never. But everyday I feel a.little better and a little more like a real person.

Withdrawal lasts no more than 10 days max (you're physiologically free of all alcohol in 6). Cough syrup is generally about 20% alcohol by volume (you're not sober whilst using it) i'd strongly suggest you consult your Doctor, and, or a Psychiatrist.

This makes me recall the House episode where the genius scientist/engineer became a habitual user of Robitussin, and successfully lowered his IQ so he'd better relate to his slightly less-than-average intelligence girlfriend.

Dooooon't do eet. ;) Choose your very excellent brain.*



*it's temporary, but only returns after you stop taking it.

Exactly.... if we don't know, we shouldn't be prescribing ourselves.

I think talking to a psychiatrist would be really helpful - at least it was for me. I've had insomnia for decades (now my mother tells me it's been since childhood). It's one reason I started relying on alcohol. My psychiatrist was able to put me on a non-addictive anti-depressant to take before bed that makes me drowsy. It works wonders for me.

p.s. I forgot to say - I have to commend you for coming here and talking about this!:c011:

What you may be having is PAWS: Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. All kinds of problems can occur after the initial physical withdrawal passes. And yes, at fifty days you are definately not still in withdrawal. Google PAWS for info. I had the same symptoms for a while but with time and continued sobriety they went away.:hug:

the difference is you are self medicating. you have to proven to yourself that you cannot drink alcohol responsibly. why would you think it is any different with cough syrup? find a doctor who specializes in an addiction before you take a drug of any kind. there are many in the medical community that can dispense very bad advice without the proper training

moderate amount??? anything other than exactly as directed is addictive behavior

Hi Arhat

I self medicated for years - I thought I was brilliant, 'listening to my body' and crafting my own solutions...

but I wasn't actually dealing effectively with any of my medical or emotional issues - I was just getting high.

we both know the price we have to pay eventually there.

Nowadays when I see a Dr, one who knows about my history, we work to together to find non addictive solutions to my medical and other problems.

Read around in the substance abuse forum a little for horror stories about DXM. It's not a step up.

If you have problems adjusting to life without booze, or up find you have problems without cough medicine, see a Dr., arhat.

D

the best natural way is not to drink not a drug not to self medicate. get plenty of sleep exercise and eat right. you have to remember that opium marijuana and alcohol are all natural substances but I would not recommend them as a plan of recovery. you drink for 20 years of course at 30 days there are going to be some issues. very unpleasant but not something that you cannot deal with or that will not go away with a little time

when I was in my second rehab met a DMX addict. after his third suicide attempt he was institutionalized. never found out what happened to him good or bad. sad but true

Cough syrup was not design to help with withdrawals. It's for colds and help with getting to sleep with a cold. Using coug syrup is like drinking alcohol with other meds in it. Not a safe way to go.

Headache, sleeplessness, depression, and panic attacks are normal when going through withdrawals. Its hard for the few days but it gets better if your withdrawals are not life going. Seeing a Detox Treatment Center is the best way to go. If they are not open or you don't have one, the ER is the next step. It's really up to you if you want to do it on your own or get medical help. Good luck and hang in there.

Withdrawals after 50 days? I didn't know that was possible so I really can't help with suggestions outside the norm. The norm being the ER, a detox facility, etc... Plus drinking lots of water, taking vitamins, eating well and getting enough sleep.

If I were you I'd see a doctor ASAP. My thought is that it's another medical issue and you're masking it with cough syrup (which is really just very bad tasting booze). Get it checked out!!!

shocked to find out i'm actually in another deep sh*t. thought i discovered a safe way to deal with all the symptoms. cuz read from some place that Rx like Xanax could be addictive.

Did talk to my PCP. His diagnosis was I'm "extremely depressive" and put me on Zoloft, which caused me all the side effects u can imagine. and I later learnt that it's not easy to wean off from that stuff, either. I stopped taking Zoloft 7 days after cold turkey. Doc prescribed me sth else and I declined to try for fear of all those hellish side effects.

No matter what I call what I'm experiencing now is withdrawal or other thing, I hesitated to take Rx drugs and thought DXM, as OTC, might be safer and easier to get unhooked. How silly that is.

After reading day and night here on SR, I trust Dee and other warmhearted friends. You've seen more and even suffered more than me. I know I will have to soldier thru all these nasty symptoms in a non-medicated way. Can't afford another addition in my life which is already falling apart.

Thanks. Truly.

It might be worth seeing another Dr for a second opinion arhat.

If you are depressed I know from my experience sometimes it takes a little research, not to mention trial and error to find the right med...and it can take a little while for them to work too.

Keep posting :)
D

Well I think your got the jist of the group. That your still self medicating...

So I hope you see a doctor about it and be honest. I was and she put me on non-narcotic's to help with anxiety and such..

And PAWS could be a issue. Which normal doesnt peak till at least 3 months of sobriety, but can last years. Good to see a specialist about this. Because it can be over-diagnosed.

Congrats on your non drinking days :)