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What are the best anti-addiction medications, especially for alcoholism? I'm really struggling.

By Anonymous June 6, 2009 - 11:10am
 
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I am a chronic relapser and have heard that anti-addiction medications have helped many with alcoholism. I need this information so I can talk about this with my doctor.

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(My apologies for a late reply...)
Alison: Yes, it was easy to give up alcohol as when my hubby passed away, suddenly I was alone, other than his relatives & mine, who many of them were utter thieves, alcoholics & condesending miserable sods - I realized that I HAD BROUGHT THIS ILLNESS ON, by drinking for 25 yrs. Just because you're never drunk doesn't mean a hill-of-beans to your health. Moderate drinking is/was 2-3 stiff drinks per day okay ? Now, as of April /09 Canada BC Medical released information stating that research (? why didn't they just ask a ton of us ?), yes research showed that moderate drinking (stiff drinks) should be ONLY 1-2 per WEEK Maximum, in order to prevent (or so they think), prevent any illness from striking.
The five I was referring to are:
-Grand-Mal Seizures (Mine & Gary's)
-Permanent Deafness
-Permanent Blindness
-Heart Attacks
-Corroded Livers
Since trying to spread the warning, I've met & know personally some who have been hit - NONE of us have had any sufficient pre-warnings.
I started drinking at 16 yrs of age, when my Dad passed away & Mom had a struggle managing with his buriel costs + much more. My first job was at a TD Bank in town, after 1 week being trained as a Teller, the Manager said to me, if I wanted to succeed in Banking, I needed to smoke, drink coffee black & go for drinks at the Bar with my superiors. AND, so I did... AND was successful in the industry... Until Christmas Eve 1999 - BAM out of the blue I had my first seizure... blah blah blah, you know the rest.
So between 2 bad marriages that I hated, but didn't want to admit my stupidity + keeping a high paying job - I drank... Liquor was my best-friend... Always there when I needed calming... Problem though... while it settles your nerves almost instantly... when it wears off - your nerves return, WORSE than before... so...another drink etc etc etc - and so it goes...
Stress now is n/a...
There is none...
N O N E...
I literally ran back to mine & Gary's Christian upbringing & it was & is & will always be my strength, substance & endurance.
I've found that everything I was taught as a child, is PERMENANTLY SECURE in life - IF we choose the correct path, that being God's path & HIS alone...
Blessings to you all...
blessings !

January 5, 2010 - 11:12am
(reply to Sheila Joyce Gibbs)

Thank you for sharing your story, and I hope it will resonate with others who are currently struggling with alcohol dependency, that there are other alternatives to using alcohol as a coping mechanism.

I wish you the best!

January 5, 2010 - 2:40pm

The drugs I was put on, were truly rubbish, as they were of no help... & if anything, more of a burden on my health & journey into Widowhood WITHOUT drink.
I truly despise liquor of any sort/shape/form, to the point of starting to keep my opinion somewhat quiet... as it truly does not sink in with true lovers of alcohol, aka: Alcoholics.
Blessings to you & yours in this new year...
blessings !

January 5, 2010 - 10:44am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Greetings...
I've shared our story with the Malibu Clinic, spring of 08 & one of the Doctors there completely understood our problem, cause, reason, source etc etc...and as other Drs. have quietly off the record, told me, Government Legislation/Licensing is often/usually always, including a stern warning AGAINST bringing up these rare & secret, silent illness's, in any way shape or form. Why you ask...I've no freaking idea... Thus my continued campaign for mandatory health warning labels on all liquor containers, similar to whats been implemented with all cigarette packages.
Months ago, Alison asked me how I gave liquor up & I thought I'd replied, but can't find my 2nd message on here, so...
It was easy to abandon my preverted love of liquor, as I lost my best-friend/hubby from it & at 50, having worked in a high income career all my life, but having nothing to show for it, with knowing why & how EXACTLY it all happened with MY permission too... Yes, it was very very easy to drop it like a rotten smelly egg... Does that make it clear enough ?
If I may also add one more huge benefit... and that's my ridged Christian upbringing through my dear late Momma...which I abandoned at 19 as entering in my first disasterous marriage, then 20-25 yrs there after, always keeping my faith & my precious Lord & Saviour way way on the back burner...
So HE pretty much let me do my own thing, as Christ does not & will not ever, force Himself on anyone, even though we are quite capable of screwing everything up... So, when I went crawling back to Him...His arms were opened wide...And truthfully He has carried me this 29 month journey, which has been the most treacherous period of my entire life, yet, He has never EVER let me down, not once ! There's not enough room on this post to even begin to share with you the many miracles HE's given me, when I've been nothing but a dirt bag sinner all those years... He forgives & He forgets our iniquities... Just ask Him...
God Bless you all dear Sisters...

September 16, 2009 - 11:56am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

It is not easy to find the best type of treatment. But having top quality alcohol treatment is very important if you hope to get better from your life of addiction.As mentioned above it is all the psychology of the person that works.I have also heard my friends telling that medications for anti-addictions never work.So i would suggest that it is better to take some outpatient or inpatient rehab treatment in a good center.I came across some nice information in the following link,
http://www.cliffsidemalibu.com/alcohol-treatment/

September 15, 2009 - 11:22pm

Hey anon, thanks for your input. Are you currently seeing a psychologist? If so, have you found that some techniques work better than others? Are you in a support group? Could you share how you're receiving psychological/emotional support?

July 5, 2009 - 2:08pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

all of the above drugs simply work toward blocking or worsening the effects of alcohol. i've been taking campral for 2+ weeks and as far as i can tell it's complete bullsh*t. hasn't helped my cravings at all. still have crazy dreams. maybe i'm just that severe. whatever. personally. i think if you really wanna kick the dependency, it's 95% psychology. realize the truth and get it done with. before my first relapse from trying to quit i realized how bad it was. felt like i was tweeking and unable to concentrate and taking the medication too. sure, this is bad. but it's mental, too.

July 5, 2009 - 10:39am

The best thing you could do know, a thing you are probably already aware if, is checking few residential treatment programs and go for the one you think is most suited. Medications work but don't have a long term effect plus can cause certain health affections. What kind of treatment have you taken so far?

June 25, 2009 - 12:46pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I easily gave up my dependancy on Alcohol, very easily !
Simply through being hit with one of the 5 most common/current severe & permenant health afflictions, solely caused through moderate drinking.
To me, alcohol was a legal drug like component, that I used regularly to deal with stress. And stress that was 99% caused from 2 bad marriages.
Having perfect health, perfect lifestyle blah blah blah, does not prevent this scourge from destroying it all.

So dear Lady's, just think about what could be laying in wait. And they all hit without any forewarning signs nor, any cures at this date.

It's not worth the money you spend, and if you're anything like what I was, the stress is always there, just waiting for you, once you're sober !

Please be ever so careful !
Ever so careful !!

June 6, 2009 - 9:56pm
(reply to Anonymous)

Hi,
Could you explain your story, as I am confused and we could benefit from hearing about your alcohol dependence and recovery.

You said you "gave up" on your dependence to alcohol very easily? What type of dependency did you have? How long had you been drinking? You said you had alcohol dependence, but were only drinking "moderately" (I would have expected the word "excessive", for instance).

You were "hit with a common/severe/permanent health affliction"...what was this? How are you handling your diagnosis?

It almost sounded like "stress" was what you are referring to as the health affliction that helped you stop drinking? But, then it sounded like this is what motivated you to drink in the first place. Could you explain?

You said you choose alcohol because of stress and two bad marriages. How do you cope with stress now?

You are right--having a "perfect" lifestyle or health does not prevent alcoholism. No one is "immune" from alcoholism, and effects all economic levels, education levels, genders, ages, personality types...you name it. And, yes, there is no cure to alcoholism. Only treatments.

I hope to hear more from you soon.

June 7, 2009 - 6:09am
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