hi ..been sober for 3 months now..went cold turkey .. still battling along though ..been on alzam for years but when i stopped drinking the doc said to up my intake of alzam to 6 p/d 1mg

also started me on prozac {lorien} 10mg for 1stweek and then 20 mg 2nd ifeel like shit on prozac so im stopping them today ..paranoia set in  ....reason for prozac was for heavy panic attacks..any advice welcome

-- Edited by steveO at 11:47, 2005-05-22

Welcome Steve!!!

Way to go on 3 months sober, that's an accomplishment, be proud!!!

I haven't had any experience with detoxing from pills. I'd really suggest getting a doctors opinion before going cold turkey on them. Its great that you were able to quit booze cold turkey, but if your docs prescribed these pills and your taking them AS prescribed, well, the best i can suggest is even ot get another doctors opinion.

Hopefully someone will be along here that has some experience with what you're going through.'

Keep coming back Steve!!

your friend in recovery, Wendy

Dear Wendy

Thanx for the ecouragement!!

im thinking about a second opinion... fist 1 was a pychiatrist.. il, speak to him again tomorrow

how long you been sober? all i know this is my second attempt at this ...the first was about 4 years ago  did well then ...for about a year ...blew it again   nows my second time this time its hard...havnt been to any meetings though my wife has been to alanon... shes been great and very supportive ..hope all is well with yourself and well done to you !!!!

Hey Steve Welcome

 3 months is good

keep it up one day at a time

The second opinion is a good idea. Try to find a specialist in the Mental heath and addiction field. Meds aren't a bad thing if you need them. I went cold turkey on the booze myself. I was on celexa and the doctor told me to quit. I did and got into a big mess. I was nuts, plain and simple. Thru the progam I found a new doctor, a specialist and he changed some things around and i feel like a new person. I was just thinking how god works thru people. I found a new good friend and he hooked me up with a wonderful doctor. It's a blessing. He also told me that god put ME in his life and how good it was, because his best friend died.  Hang in there.  It will get better  Much better.

Rick

hi Steve....i'm working on day 347...one at a time. but if you got up earlier than i did today then you have more than i do!!!

Well i have to say...i'm really glad you made it back alive!!!!! Lots of us don't!!!

I was just reading the other day about a man who drank for the last time...literally!! his family found him dead, laying on the floor. thats the true bottom to this disease, in my opinion...

I would strongly suggest going to an AA meeting!!! I can't live without them..literally. AA has saved my life...face to face support, experience, strength and hope. I can't explain the gratitude in my heart for the program.

Keep coming back Steve!!!

\\// Wendy

-- Edited by wantneeda at 12:27, 2005-05-22

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the board...glad you're here.

Please don't stop your meds abruptly...talk to your dr and let him know how the prozac is affecting you...perhaps you need a different med. Too many times people stop their medication and then the roller coaster starts all over again. I almost died because I thought I was smarter than my dr and did it(partly cuz I wanted to drink and knew it was dangerous to do so on medication). So I stopped taking the medication and went out and drank. It was not a pretty sight.

After finding AA, I came to the realization that the medication allowed me to turn off the stuff going on in my head long enough to find sobriety. I was sober for 2 yrs and talked to my dr about weaning off the pills...we did so, under the dr monitoring...but I also realize that if I do need to go back on them, it's ok. It's not weakness, it's just my chemical makeup.

Hope we see you here again...

Love, cheri

 

Hi Rick

pleased to meet you ...thanx for the advice really appreaciate all i can get right now..

IM off to AA TONIGHT!!! 1ST MEETING .....looking forward to it ,although a bit nervous

thanx to the replies here thats why im going...also going to see another sychiatrist..tomorrow

that should also help!!!

thank you for all

steve

Hi Wendy

well taken the advice and im off to a AA tonight....

it will be my 1st meeting..im also going to see another sychiatrist tomorrow..thanx for all

will let you know how it all goes ...what a great site!!

take care and well done to you its great going .......

your friend

steve

Hi Cherri

thanx for the reply ... got an early app with a new doc..

i think prozac may not be for me ...i dont really know..will see what the new doc sais tomorrow..

also off to AA tonight...!!!it will be my first time  thank u all so much ...would not have gone otherwise...

take care

steve

 

Good to hear back from u

Get to those meetings

I remember being scared years ago.

but after relapse and years back out in the battle field I had no fear of going back in

how humbling though!!

I can walk into any meeting and feel like I belong.

Where else can one do that???

take care Rick  Hope you get to feeling better

Hi Rick and All

last nite was my 1st nite at AA...!!!I was nervous  at first  and then started to settle down..

after poping half an alzam i was fine... and listened with great interest at the 12 steps

ect... it was  great to be able to hear i was not alone on this one....and also relating and identifying with all the people arround me....from all cultures and walks of life...wow it really reaches all ....this  boooze thing got no mercy...like the sea  its huge.

i really felt some warmth and took home with me  a great deal more understanding than before

i went!!!thanx to all who inpired me  to go ...

also went to my new doc today and she changed my med ...so things hopefully will start getting better now...she explained  more in detail about what  was going on with me ..she also wants me to tapper off the alzam...she put  me on cipralex 20mg+serequel 5mg p/d 3times p/hope all this  works ...however long it takes  ....

take care

your alcoholic friend

steve

 

 

((Steve)))!!!

i am soooo proud of you for going to a meeting!!!

Thats just awesome!!!!

keep going!!!! listen, listen and then listen some more!!

Also glad to hear that your docs appointment went well...things are looking up wouldn't you say??

Nope, this booze this has no mercy whatsoever!!!! Our addiction wants us dead!!! bottom line there!!

you are absolutely not alone!!!

however long it takes...as long as you keep that willingness and hope in your heart!!

just smilin' from ear to ear Steve!!! Way to go my friend!!

have a great sober 24 hours...you deserve it!!     \\// Wendy

 

 

-- Edited by wantneeda at 14:39, 2005-05-24

Hi Steve ... keep going to those meetings. Try to go every day if you can for a few months. It's amazing what that can do to get us back in balance. Try to make some contacts at the meetings and let them know you're just coming back, need help and would like some phone numbers. It's easy to drift in and out of meetings, not really get involved, feel good for a while, then end up back where we were (or worse usually). I've found that change takes some effort. Also, don't forget to eat well, exercise a bit, rest and if you're prone to anxiety avoid too much caffeine intake. Pick up some of the AA books and literature at meetings and read them. Get a subscription to the AA Grapevine, our "meeting in print". Just my suggestions. The changes made will be worth the effort and maybe even save your life. They saved mine and this is what's worked for me for 14 years. I was 31 when I started coming to AA. It's good to have you back