Alcohol withdrawal?
5 comments so farMy brother is going cold turkey. He is a massive alcoholic and has been dry for 2 days. Is there anything (OTC/homeopathic/vitamins) that will help him? He is having major headaches, not eating, irritability, not sleeping and just feeling sick in general. No vomiting or shaking as of yet. Also, how long will he be having withdrawal symptoms?
His doctor said his platelet count is so low that he could bleed out at any time. His platelet count is 65 and he has started taking Vitamin K to boost his count so he doesn't bleed out.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Baby Girl: I don't know why. He does have high BP. I have no idea if that has anything to do with it. However, I am going to do some research about that medication.
Icewitch: I do have my suspicions, too. He lives 2 hours away, so I have no way of positively knowing. He called me this morning asking me about other possible OTC meds to help him with the symptoms he is having. My brother is exactly how you describe your partner and whiskey is his drink of choice - and lots of it.
He needs to be hospitalized like…NOW. Alcohol withdrawl in chronic alcoholics, need to be hospitalized right away. Alcohol withdrawl is more serious than any other drug. Years ago, When I had to wait for a bed at Brighton hospital, I was advised NOT to stop drinking until I was hospitalized. You can go into serious seizures and heart faliure. Get him in.
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 at 10:36 am and is filed under 8. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
5 Responses to “Alcohol withdrawal?”
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I know you've asked for OTC/homeopathic/vitamin suggestions, but in my opinion he's going to need to get an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety drug) from his doctor. Otherwise you risk withdrawal seizures. Plus taking the drug to lessen the symptoms will make it less likely he'll give up and have a drink.
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Why didn't the Doc put him on Ativan?
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I am worried by your question……….or more so the content beneath your question. My partner was a "massive alcoholic". I recognise "major headaches, not eating, irritability, not sleeping and just feeling sick in general. No vomiting or shaking". I wonder if the symptoms you think are withdrawal are just his way of letting you think he is not drinking. For sure, my partner made all sorts of excuses to disguise the extent of his alcoholism.
If he is a massive alcoholic it is simply not possible for him to go cold turkey. The minute he tries he is apt to go into seizure, get the DTs and have dillusions.
He needs medical assistance to detox safely…….if he is prepared to have it .
I suspect he may be still drinking but on the sly. My partner would even get up in the night for a shot of whiskey.
I really do hope that my suspicions are not founded……….and I wish you and your brother the very best of luck
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He needs to be hospitalized like…NOW. Alcohol withdrawl in chronic alcoholics, need to be hospitalized right away. Alcohol withdrawl is more serious than any other drug. Years ago, When I had to wait for a bed at Brighton hospital, I was advised NOT to stop drinking until I was hospitalized. You can go into serious seizures and heart faliure. Get him in.
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been thru it
I worked as a psyche nurse for years and have seen alot of alcohol withdrawal, DTs, and physical symptoms. I hate to say it but he should be detoxing in a hospital. They can start hallucinating and be completely unawhere of who they are or where they are. Lights should be kept on so they dont see any shadows that can set them off. Withdrawal can start as long as 2 weeks or more after the last drink, but usually withing 36 hours. I cant stress enough that he get help going through this. Trying to do it alone is damn near impossible. There is nothing over the counter that will help. If he goes into DTs, he will need to be medicated until is passes. Alcohol withdrawal is a medical emergency.
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