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Post Info TOPIC: New here...having trouble navigating
karinm


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New here...having trouble navigating
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Hi,

Finding I am having a hard time staying away from alcohol after withdrawing from benzodiazapenes (Lorazepam)...If I drink at all it is a very bad thing because my body has not recovered from the drug yet and I have been off since Aug. 3...

Doesn't look like there is much activity here..my chat feature does not work,,,I don't understand that either..

THanks..
KarinM

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Doll


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Hi KarinM

Welcome to MIP...... I find it odd that you say you're still withdrawing from Lorazepam. Studys show it only takes 18-36 hours for it to leave your body completely. However, it does have/give the same effect as alcohol, therefore, you may be experiencing alcohol withdrawal and not necessarily the Lorazepam.

I'd highly suggest you put the plug in the jug, see your doctor and check out an AA meeting.


As for the chat feature, sorry I can't help with that, but you can IM a Mod. They're located at the bottom left of the main page.


Hope you keep coming back.



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karinm


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Hello Doll,

Thanks for writing...Withdrawing from Benzos is serious...nothing like alcohol or even heroin or cocaine..I did a fast taper of 4 months,,it should have been 8 and I only took the pills about 10 weeks..

If you are interested in getting the right info you could look at www.thetrap.org.uk  and there you will get a great deal of knowledge regarding not only benzos but also anti-depressants...

I drank responsibly before the benzos but the cravings became very intense now because the symptoms are so difficult to deal with... what happens to the best of my understanding is that even after you are off the drug the gaba receptors throughout the body are messed up and drinking alcohol just mutiplies every protracted withdrawal symptom....

I am asking a good friend of mine to take me to his AA meetings...he has been sober many years now...

Karin

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Sick of being sick


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Start with going to a f2f AA meeting.  Stay with the  f2f AA meetings.  Pretty much as simple as that!  Wanna get sober and stay sober?  Keep going to meetings......

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Doll


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Lorazepam (or Ativan is more common in the US) is a very strong drug, highly addictive and gives the same affects as being drunk. The FDA has done studies on it since 1972 and according to their studies it completely leaves the body within 18-36 hours of ingesting.

I was put on Ativan after having major surgery, to keep the stress level down, I took 1 pill 2x a day for 3 days and experienced some mild withdrawal from that. Afterwards I did a little digging and that's when I learned of the alcohol type effects, etc.


Problem with alkies is we've altered our brain to a point that medications don't affect us as they should, they will a lot of times have an adverse affect but mostly they just trigger our craveing to drink. I don't know for sure, but would assume the opposite would be true also (that whole gaba receptor thing).

The medication  itself  did not cause you to now not be able to 'drink responsibility', you've just traded one addiction for another. Happens to a lot of us. 


Stop drinking, go to meetings.



-- Edited by Doll at 22:39, 2008-09-21

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StPeteDean


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Hi Karin, welcome to the board. one thing to keep in mind is the power of suggestion, when reading up on the withdrawal symptoms. I drank hard and drugged steadily for 18 years, dried myself out plenty of times. I takes what it takes. In many ways, it took years for my brain and central nervous system to operate "normally". It's not likely that you're going to cure yourself, by reading books and stuff off of the internet. If you're not going to meetings, or utilizing some other sort of support group, that involves talking with other recovering addicts/alcoholics, then you're probably wasting your time. Why does your friend have to take you to a meeting? Just look up the meeting schedule for your area on the internet (or call the local AA intergroup) and get going. smile.gif

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jonijoni1


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There is plenty of activity here in the way of posts.... sorry about the chat thing. Welcome!

I know you must be having a rough time, but keep in mind that we did not get sick and addicted overnight, so it will take time to get well. Looking forward to seeing you here again, and hope you are feeling better soon!

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karinm


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re: trouble navigating
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Doll,

It is when you take Ativan more than 2 weeks you run into trouble...You took it only a short time and it would not be a withdrawal problem...You obviously haven't looked at any of the information.

Alcohol withdrawal is NOTHING compared to benzos...the suffering goes on a very long time and it is immense...trust me...


I haven't had anything more to drink....you would do anything to take the edge off the anxiety and insomnia and tensions and pain all through the body,,and flu like symptoms..so manymore...but I can't drink because it makes the withdrawal even worse..

People here I guess just understand alcohol but take a minute to look into the benzos if you can..

KarinM

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karinm


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RE: New here...having trouble navigating
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Thanks for writing...I still don't have a vehicle and I am having terrible withdrawal still from the benzos and my taper ended Aug. 3...The alcohol I took for about 5 days in the morning and then not for 2 days and then got backinto it 2 days just revved up and messed with the gaba receptors and I am so anxious it is hard to do anything...I am living alone with no relatives and have a couple of frends but they have their own things to do too...I am super worried about money and need to work,,,my mother died last July and that hit me hard too...My insomnia is very bad ...mainthing is not to add alcohol in again..

Karin
ps....you understand about thedrugs...what did you take?

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karinm


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I was an accidental addict with the drug...and used alcohol a short time to try to get relief from the benzo withdrawal...

Horrible anxiety right now but not reaching for anything...makes it 1000 times worse...

Karin



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Doll


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karinm wrote:

Doll,

It is when you take Ativan more than 2 weeks you run into trouble...You took it only a short time and it would not be a withdrawal problem...

Wow! I wish I'd had this information then. I certainly would not have gone through it!

karinm wrote:

I was an accidental addict with the drug...



As if to say I planned to be an alcoholic? ! Anyone else become addicted 'on purpose' ? ! weirdface






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hills alive


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gday k, look i know what its like to have horrible anxiety, i would if i were you ,keep in contact with people as much as possible find groups that interest you, and dont go the struggle alone, there are GROW groups world wide they would help you greatly, for the time being stop telling yourself, how bad it was to be on this drug you are or were on, the more you obsess with it the more frightenned you will make your self.smile

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karinm


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Dear Hills,

Thanks for writing...

There isn't alot of activity here...not like the tranquilzer recovery site out of the uk...

Karin

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