Posted by yxibow on March 18, 2007, at 0:21:30
In reply to Re: I'm considering alcohol to replace medications, posted by jealibeanz on March 17, 2007, at 18:04:42
> I didn't mean having a few social drinks with friends or beers or glasses of wine after dinner while relaxing and watching tv.
>
> I meant that since I need continuous axiety/panic relief, I'd be drinking consistently, all day. Like, taking a shot when I wake up... putting some liquor in my coffee, mixing vodka w/diet coke and take sips on the way to university classes and in the bathroom, then continue mixing when I'm at home.
>
> I'd have to do this in small increments and never drink in public or let the smell of the bottle be evident. I'd have to do mouthwash and gum.
>
> This sounds like something my classmates would try to do in middle school. Pathetic.
>
> I don't even like liquor, but I may try if need be. I usually only drink beer, and do so with friends, and it makes me happy. I go overboard and get grouchy easily with liquor. And I never drink alone. But I may start.
This is not a ad hominem attack for seeking self-medication by alcohol. Do realize that the side effects of alcohol, as you describe the quantities far outweigh their benefits. We can start with weigh gain, but that is the most trivial. Liver toxicity and cirrhosis are serious matters and while our bodies have a built in tolerance to an immense amount of onslaught on the liver unless we are born with a genetic disorder, there comes a point of no return. Transplants are necessary. Rarely, Tardive Dyskinesia can occur from alcoholism.You may feel you will be in control of this, and maybe you will, but depending where you are, you could be cited for drunk driving, drunkenness in public, and a host of things that I don't think you want to get into.
My psychiatrist, and that's only just one opinion, would rather have me use more benzodiazepines than alcohol because of its effects and the depression that it can cause, because alcohol does cause CNS depression. So can benzodiazepines, but there isn't a hangover effect. Which would probably prompt self-medication with ibuprofen, and more liver toxicity.
And then there's acute alcohol toxicity, which is an emergency room visit. Acute benzodiazepine toxicity is infinitely less fatal than acute alcohol toxicity.
I would seriously consider all of the above and discuss with your doctor a wide variety of options before you take matters in your own hands and self medicate to that point. But this is only my view.
-- be well
poster:yxibow
thread:741828
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070314/msgs/741904.html