I HAD TO GO VISITING today. My friends live in flats. Downstairs. But no light on. Seemingly she saw me as the intercom crackled with her distinctive Liverpool voice: "wait a sec!" So I did. Then I thought I'd phone anyway and she sounded off-beam, like she hadn't just spoken to me a few moments before and I thought, That was odd.Then he comes out and I said "Did she just talk to me through the intercom" and he said "No, what are you talking about! That hasn't worked for years! What are you on?!"
And I said "Nothing," he said: "No you're on something." So I said, "No, I'm not drinking so it must be DTs." He looked at me carefully and said, "I'll go and get you a couple of Librium," so he did, he got me nine and said "Don't tell her."
I'm to take three every four hours, then they should hold me till next day. I don't know the milligrams but they're blue and white, like Prozacs. I took three as directed and barely felt anything.
So they probably make a good substitute for alcohol. Pills that don't do anything are easier to cut down on than drink, which I can feel something off.
Later on someone quite different asked me whether I'm on LITHIUM. Thanks so much, Friends.
I'm not on anything. I'm not taking gear, that's why I'm falling apart. I feel the fractures. It doesn't feel bad, it just feels bizarre. Quite fun though. I've been sleeping like a harvest mouse. Hibernating for hours on end.
O will I ever get off these drugs? Yes, because I have to.
Tomorrow I'm planning an expedition to Mr Temazepam (Mr Librium cannot go on sparing his partner's pills.) Mr Temazepam wants good dollars for his supply but as I say, if it's more "medical" than cutting down on just drink then I'm willing to go for it.
I got hooked on the feeling of drink. Now I'm without that feeling. So it's a step ahead already!
There is a significant risk of pharmacological dependence on diazepam and patients experiencing symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome if it is taken for 6 weeks or longer.
(Wikipedia: Diazepam) Being as I shouldn't be taking it for any longer than 10 days maximum, I ought to be fine ...
Can't you get your own prescription? Surely your doctor/drug worker understands that coming off both gear and booze is a trial and you need some help? Why pay when you could get them on the NHS? Anyway, I'm glad you're sticking with the program. 2011 could be your year honey.
ReplyDeleteI could, but by the time I've battled through the set-up process, which as far as I know involves a different agency (alcohol not drugs) I could have come off already!
ReplyDeleteHi, Gleds. Take care there and here's to a better new year. Love from Sicily. xx woof! from Simi
ReplyDeleteAnd A Happy New Year to Yous Both!
ReplyDelete(Woof-woof-boe!)
And A Happy New Year to Yous Both!
ReplyDelete(Woof-woof-boe!)
And A Happy New Year to Yous Both!
ReplyDelete(Woof-woof-boe!)
O shall I say that once more...?
ReplyDeleteAND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU BOTH!!!!
Happy new year Gleds! Here's to 2011 being Your Year. Did you know there's a project running to encourage people to blog every single day in 2011? Reckon you'd be perfect for it...
ReplyDeletehttp://oneadaybloggers.wordpress.com
Gem xx
Happy new year Gleds! Here's to 2011 being Your Year. Did you know there's a project running to encourage people to blog every single day in 2011? Reckon you'd be perfect for it...
ReplyDeletehttp://oneadaybloggers.wordpress.com
Gem xx
Hi gledwood,
ReplyDeleteI guess different meds & their effects vary by individuals.
Librium,I remember that it's one of the meds in Limbitrol which I'd been on a good while.
Now I'm on Elavil (amitriptyline)which really helps me sleep.They are also prescribed for migraines here.
I'm so glad the holidays are over. I'm tired of all that celebrating & drinking.
I know Valium stays in the system longer which can be good.Ativan wasn't for me at all, I was glad the doc agreed to that.
I agree with your not wanting to substitute one drug for another or alcohol, but can it be simpler to wean off alcohol at home? Without in-patient & all that?
I don't know.
All the best,
j.
Librium is a weak benzo. But, it is very week in comparison, to say, Clonopin. Librium is often prescribed by doctors for all kinds of withdrawal, and they always settled my nerves, without giving me a slight rush like xanex...which just left me wanting more heroin. I hear the kick from benzos is much worse than that of dope, but I think you have to use them a lot. I used to take xanex all the time, and I never experienced withdrawal. I never had a prescription, though. I say that if something can ease your pain in these early stages Gled, let it ease your damn pain! Alcohol withdrawal is quite dangerous, though...
ReplyDeleteI hope you can do this. Be aware that you are still self-medicating and should probably inform your doc of what you've done. He might set you up with the "right" stuff in case your experiment doesn't work. I'm not saying that I don't think it will work - I haven't a clue, but, by going through the channels, you will have a back-up plan in place right away and you won't lose motivation in frustrating waits.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping you know what you're doing Gleds. I so want you to get off everything and become a famous author. x
ReplyDeleteBeatifnik: thanks I'll have a look but I DO blog nealy EVERY single day anyhow....
ReplyDeleteTaffeta: the only problem I can see withe drink is that it tastes too nice and gives a buzz that benzos don't. Valium is by far the nicest one you've mentioned. I also like temazapam which I only just discovered is known as Restoril in the States... do you know that one? What do you think of it? Temazepam 20mg is just about thee most popular benzo in this country...
BMelons: Librium weak? You can say that again! I barely felt anything off it.
Typical puritanical drs, saying diazepam has a "higher abuse potential" (in other words you can actually feel it!) so is a drug of low abuse potential because it doesn't work? That seems to be their reasoning! I'd say zopiclone has low abuse potential (not available in the USA) because it's a sleeping pill that just makes you sleep and doesn't make you high first. Ie it's one of the best sleepers there is. Wonderful. Temazapem by contrast simply keeps me awake feeling rubbery for several hours until I have taken several,... which is, as far as I know, NOT the general idea. Xanax never did it for me. Valium worked WAY better. Thankfully Xanax isn't widely used in the UK... it was pathetically weak on me, really didn't hit the spot at all. Unlike Valium which works wonderfully!
Jeannie: those drs are a bit prissy. He might well approve off the record (yet wouldn't be allowed to tell me) I'm just fed up of the whole business. I'd rather switch to pills as I get the nasty solvent-stinking sugary drink out and AWAY from me. I don't like drink. So for that reason I'm more into benzo detox than alcohol reduction. Considering benzo reduction is what they do in hospital I'm more than happy with that
Akelamalu: thank you. I still have a good 5 book ideas... hopeuflly if they do 80 million each that'll be 400 million books sold!! (More per book than JK Rowling) .... well you gotta dream ;-)