I quit 1 week ago today. Started on Antabuse so no chance of relapsing. The problem is I feel horrible. Severe Headaches, nausea, low back pain, etc. I am trying to determine if its the withdrawal, the medication or something else. If this is alcohol withdrawal how long will it last? I feel worse than when I was drinking. I am just a nicer person to be around.
What are the "common" withdrawal symtoms from alcohol?
- Asked
- 29 Nov 2010 by yubugen
- Active
- 2 Dec 2010
- Topics
- antabuse, headache, pain, nausea/vomiting, back pain, withdrawal, alcohol
Details:
Responses (5)
Anonymous
29 Nov 2010
Yeah, that sounds like it is wd, plus seizures, anxiety, u could get a bit depressed,shaky feeling. Our counselor practically ordered people coming off alcohol to eat ice cream or anything sweet. The people who did seemed to feel better. You will get better everyday. congrats, hope u feel better soon. PS If you haven't had a seizure, you probably won't, it happens in the earliest days after alcohol cessations. Have 2 mention that tho because it is a symptom of AL. WD.
Psyched
30 Nov 2010
Yubugen,
Those are definitely withdrawl symptoms. Other symptoms of withdrawls include any combination of: feeling frequent changes in temperature; feeling like sounds may be louder than they really are; having lighting hurt your eyes; feeling like your skin is tingling or bugs are crawling on your skin; feeling like you have the flu; and stomach cramps. You'll feel better each day, just be sure to drink plenty of water and juices and eat whenever you feel up to it. It's not an easy road to travel (in fact, it's much easier to just give in and relapse), but the rewards are great! I would suggest getting involved with an AA group (Alcoholics Anonymous) because the members will have much insight to offer to you as well as advice from those who have been in your shoes. Good luck and congratulations!
Sacosam
30 Nov 2010
Psyched: I'm really surprised that you would post that ... "IN FACT"... it's much easier to just give in and relapse. ! Neither you, nor anyone else should EVER say anything like that to an Alcoholic, because one does not quit alcohol, one surrenders,to it's power and asks a "Higher Power" for help in overcoming and recovery to sobriety.
Yubugen... first, get away from "Antabuse" as it can kill you, and you are suffering unnecessarily. Get some 10mg. valium to help you sleep. Follow your Dr's instructions with valium, or no more than 2/ 24hr. day. Let
htwooh
30 Nov 2010
Ditto on all the above - a long time member of AA myself I have been through it a few times before I too surrendered and "accepted" and only then will you be happy and get that 'serenity'. By taking the antabuse you are saying you must be forced to literally take a drug that will scare you so bad that if you drink anything with alcohol it may kill you. I would have died because I am the real sick kind of alcoholic that convinced myself that by swallowing a little listerine it wasn't really drinkingand I had 2 relapses that way.IF you have a Dr. advising you I don't care what your reasons. Do ANYTHING to keep you sober - worry about it why later when you have been sober for 30 years. Just getting there by any means and any reason necessary is the first step and we applaud you. Anytime you want to talk there are many here who will help you.kathy
htwooh
1 Dec 2010
I cannot quit thinking about you and your dilema and I am concerned that this is not withdrawal - it's been too long to have some of those symptoms but I do not know how long you have been drinking.. I re read everything and unbelieveably I see sacosam wrote about the aspirin and caffeine which is absoltely correct and then you said you found the fioricet. The fiorict has caffeine, butalbital and acetaminophen (fiorinal has aspirin) both are invaluable meds for headaches and especially migraines. It sound like you stumbled on the remedy however I just want you to be cautious with this med because the butalbital is addicting and only take it for a 'real' headache. I got addicted to it and anything you take for a headache has the potential for rebound headaches if you take it too many days in a row. It doesn't sound like that is what you are doing. I saw your latest post and it sounds like you are going forward.
Sacosam
2 Dec 2010
My Dear htwooh; ["LOL"! your handle cracks me up ! !] If I tried for 10 yrs., I could not say... IT... better than you just did... "So I ain't even gonna' try"! (;->)... You are a "TOP DRAWER LADY"! You're really wonderful Kathy... and so am I , and it's called Serenity... Wow! Bill
htwooh
2 Dec 2010
SACOSAM Thank you. It should have been a simple H2O but you know us alcoholics, we have to be unique so I made it long and hard to remember. My last name is waterbury so it's suppose to be h20bury. haha!!If nothing else, I am like you and I have to laugh at everything, especially my life!! Ditto on the serenity and all your other advise. I knew you were 'one of us' when you first started posting but then you got pissed at something I said so I was afraid of you (haha!) remember I called you 'sarcasmo' for sarcastic - now I don't know if you were actually saying something nice or being mean - never mind - it happened with Chris and I and we are good friends now. It's funny how things always end up the way they should when you keep trying - at almost anything. later H20
christineATU
2 Dec 2010
Hi yubugen. I only popped in to tell you that you are in excellent hands! Trust in what my friends tell you. Especially htwooh and sacosam. They have been there and have the battle scars to prove it. Let them be your lifeline here. It sounds like you're off to a good start. But like my friends say, it's a life long battle. It will get easier down the road, and you're right... one minute at a time! Before you know it, one day at a time. Hang in there and find comfort in knowing you are not alone. We all have issues we must deal with on a daily basis. This forum is the best place for support regardless of the problems we have. I can't tell you how much my friends here have helped me through the toughest times in my life.
Be strong!
chris
Anonymous
2 Dec 2010
Miss chris,
I concur !!
Having MAJOR PC problems, grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
SL
htwooh
2 Dec 2010
I urge you to immediately type in antabuse on this site and check out the drug and foods that cause problems while taking antabuse. They are marked by their severity but aspirin may not be good and there are too many for me to mention so I thought I should let you know to go check this out because you may be ingesting something that is countreacting with the antabuse. I know some topical things may not be good and certainly not things that you swallow but these other things may ring a bell for you.
Further Information
- Antabuse Information for Consumers
- Antabuse Information for Healthcare Professionals (includes dosage details)
- Side Effects of Antabuse (detailed)
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Great info patti !!
Lara