Hello Stardigan, and welcome to the board.

You'll probably get better answers on the NA board.

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=52289

I wasn't making any kind of personal reference. Prescribed or not, drug withdrawal is more understood by NA. It's not just for narchotics as the name might suggest. Here' something that I found and would support a question. Don't you think that you should be under the supervision of a Dr. while withdrawing from these drugs that you mentioned?

"There is also an important piece of A.A. conference approved literature called "The A.A. Member - Medications & Other Drugs" that addresses these issues specifically plus issues of cross addiction. Some D.R.A. members carry copies of this pamphlet with them to help educate others when this issue is brought up. Here are a few excerpts:

"...A.A. members and many of their physicians have described situations in which depressed patients have been told by A.A.s to throw away the pills, only to have depression return with all its difficulties, sometimes resulting in suicide. We have heard, too, from schizophrenics, manic depressives, epileptics, and others requiring medication that well-meaning A.A. friends often discourage them from taking prescribed medication, Unfortunately, by following a layman's advice, the sufferers find that their conditions can return with all their previous intensity..."

"It becomes clear that just as it is wrong to enable or support any alcoholic to become readdicted to any drug, it's equally wrong to deprive any alcoholic of medication which can alleviate or control other disabling physical and/or emotional problems."

Reprinted from The A.A. Member - Medications & Other Drugs, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

Narcotics Anonymous says they have no opinion on the issue of medications that are properly prescribed to control the symptoms of a psychiatric illness. When asked about this issue, N.A. Fellowship Services, states that "The question of prescription medication should be decided between the member, their doctor, and the member's Higher Power. Our pamphlet "In Times Of Illness" and our 10th Tradition, make this abundantly clear. We strongly recommend telling our doctor's about our history so that when prescription medication is absolutely necessary they can prescribe it knowing that we are recovering addicts."

We also must keep in mind that few recovering alcoholics and addicts in these groups are mental health and treatment professionals. Almost all are certainly well-meaning. Many don't fully understand the difference between the usual depressions and anxieties most recovering folks go through in early sobriety and our psychiatric illnesses--nor should they be expected to. Some people may falsely think that antidepressants are "mood elevators" much like the street drugs they may be familiar with. These are understandable misconceptions, but can lead to poor advice even from some of the "old-timers".

It is clear that no one should play the role of doctor but a licensed physician or psychiatrist. Sponsors and other well-meaning Twelfth Steppers should not give medical advice. DRA members who seek sponsors in other 12 Step groups must weigh carefully the potential sponsor's attitude and understanding concerning medications and psychiatric illnesses. We can not expect them to fully understand, but an attitude of acceptance toward the the nature of our dual disorder and the place properly prescribed medications play in our dual recovery is key. Experience has shown us that honesty is the basis for successful sponsorships.

-- Edited by StPeteDean on Friday 29th of January 2010 05:53:56 PM

Hi There Nikki,

A big Welcome to this MIP site!

And good to hear that you stopped drinking 3 weeks ago.
If you are an Alcohol, I would say that you have come to the right place.

However, the withdrawals that you sound like you are really suffering with, sounds to me like you need to direct these questions directly with the Doctor that prescribed them.  This person is the one that should be informed of the "cold turkey" detoxing it sounds like you have made a decision on.

We can answer any question you might have about alcohol, and on the subject, do you attend AA Meetings, have you found a Sponsor....that would also be a good resource for helping you get to that same doctor,

Just feel strongly that any answer you might get in cyberspace as it relates to this almost miriad of different drugs, just not something I personally would trust, and it sounds like you are really in Need of some One to One
Face to Face sit down with your Doctor, he surely would guide you in a better direction.

So that's my take..And I just saw where Dean made that long very clarifying Post.  So hope so much you will read that and follow the guidelines of what is in there.

And making a change to what I wrote about Cyberspace. And Dean thanks, now I can see Nikki that in cyberspace there is help, thanks to Dean's quick reseach and response to you.

Wishing you the Best Nikki,

A Big Hug, Toni

Yeah, I have no money for drugs or doctor. Thanks.

Aloha Stardigan...That's the nasty way to do it and sometimes or maybe more it
will work if you don't let your head and emotions run away with what is happening
in the withdrawals.  Couple of years ago I decided not to listen to my AA fellows
and in the process of using a Psychiatrist (sp) finally said yes to prescription
medicine for severe depression.  I said a lot of noes and then yes.  I told him I
was a recovering alcoholic and chemically tolerant (my doses need to be at higher
levels to gain the expected results) and he was jolly and confident about it...you
do know that they invest with who they get their drugs from?  He personalized the
prescriptions "My drugs won't hurt or addict you"  LOL and so I started the use of
Zolof and then when that didn't work because it wasn't strong enough or had some
side affect I didn't want; Paxil.  Paxil came with a verbal summary from my wife;
"Do you notice how you're walking down the hallway?"  Funny how a drunk can walk
diagonally without gravity having an effect.  Bingo didn't notice and then didn't notice
lots of other stuff upon investigation.   Decided to take myself off the drug one night
and called my Doc in the morning.  Doc was upset..."NOOOOOO you can't come off of
it cold turkey."  "Well I'm gonna and I threw the prescription down the toilet."   What
a drama..."My drugs don't do that..." LOL.   Any how I expected the withdrawal and
all the symptoms which brought me to where you are at now.  I knew about the head
and emotion scifi stuff and the physical pain and all the other stuff.  

I waited. about a week after stopping I woke up in a hallucination and a headache
on my brain stem.   The drug was screaming at me for "effing throwing the pills in
the crapper and where the hell was the other prescription (back up)"  I went for an
asprin and headed back to bed.  Of course sleep wasn't gonna come but I know
how to rest and not react to withdrawals so I rested and let the dragon roar.  In
the morning I got up and had breakfast with my wife (wives are optional...mine is
great) and helped her off to work and then went into my bed room grabbed my
blankie and a book and went into the livingroom to sit cross legged on the sofa
wrapped in my blankie to wait.  Each day for 5 days it was a different episode maxed
out and on the 5th day it was probably the most intense neuro depression I have
been in for a long time but I knew it was all temporary.  I was willing to wait with my
blankie and my book and rest.  On the sixth day everything was good...I got up
went to a meeting and work and that's it.   I don't recommend it for everyone and
now that you are already in it I will be here with you to listen about whats going on
when you want.

How's your self confidence?

(((((hugs)))))

-- Edited by Jerry F on Saturday 30th of January 2010 01:24:12 AM

Really? It is much worse than getting off anything else, in my opinion. There are hundreds of websites devoted to the withdrawals. I was taking 300mg a day for two years.

No, Dr. won't even speak to me on the phone without charging. I am scared to death of more hospital bills. Most likely, I will end up in the psych ward, but I was heading there anyway. I'm taking 2/5 of my meds that are left. So far, I have severe brain shivers, mood swings, and mild hallucinations.

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and advice. I wish I had my Big Book but I lost it in my last move.

Nikki,
Welcome. You are always welcome here. If you are in any way a danger to yourself or others...get help.
I see you live in St. Louis, MO. That's a metropolitan area and I'm certain there is some kind of public health clinic if you're out of money.

I'm sure the prospect of filling out paperwork, finding your ID and whatever isn't real appealling right now, but if it's as bad as you say it is you may be fighting for your life. Get Help. I know you don't trust yourself right now and that is a spark of sanity. Your light hasn't gone out yet.

Here's a simple little exercise...sit in front of your blank TV screen and look at it. Imagine watching yourself on that screen as you are right now, in a movie. What would you say to that character? What would you want her to do to get to the happy-ending part of the movie?

Peace,
Rob

How are you suppose to get sober and deal with withdrawl from meds ?????

With God and the 12 steps of AA, as well as the fellowship of AA.