When is it okay to drink again?

[[Gl...]]

I'm just wondering when you guys think it's okay to drink again.  I waited until 4 months after I quit benzos to drink again and it gave me bad insomnia for about a week.  I'm not really a major drinker but would like to be able to have some beers or liquor with my friends eventually on occasion.

[[...]]

I suspect that if benzos have been a problem, then alcohol may also turn into a problem. They both share the ability to calm the nerves, and one can easily become dependent. Life and your experience with alcohol will answer the question. I learned a long time ago that "normal" drinkers don't like the way it makes them feel when they begin to get a little tipsy. If you like the way it makes you feel--be careful. Alcohol, unlike benzos, definitely has a social aspect, which you mention, and the reality of that is that most of the hard drinkers you know will abandon you if you don't partake. I've been down the alcohol road, and it too has some terrible consequences. Good luck. That doesn't answer your question; it just poses some more questions.

[[Gl...]]

I do like the way it makes me feel when I get tipsy, but I never really had a problem with alcohol.  For some reason, before benzos, I was able to drink as much and as often as I wanted without any real problems, though I didn't drink all the time.

 

My main problem with drinking now is the insomnia that I get from the benzo withdrawals still.. I don't ever see myself getting dependent on alcohol.  The last time I got insomnia, I drank too much and got a hangover off of cheap rum so that could have figured into it.  Maybe if I just drank beer it would have less of an effect sleep wise.

[[Ho...]]

The first time I came off benzos it took 4 months to heal. I started back drinking after about 10-11 months off and never had any problems. I never experienced any protracted symptoms like this time though.

[[sm...]]

At 18 months off, I still can't.  It's not while I'm having a sip, it's the next few days that are pure anxiety hell.

 

I sure miss my morning cup-O-joe too.

 

I test the waters once and a while to see if I can handle them. Coffee isn't quite as bad as it was but still not doable.

 

 

[[Gl...]]

Thanks for the responses.  I had to completely quit caffeine too.  I really miss soda and coffee, and energy drinks.  I haven't tried drinking caffeine since I quit and probably won't for a long time because my insomnia is so bad.  My friends always blamed my insomnia on me drinking a ton of caffeine but I still have it bad without caffeine.

 

The last time I drank it wasn't the first day either, I seemed to get insomnia a couple of days later.

[[Fl...]]

Glyn, we have to consider that both benzos and alcohol act in GABA receptors, albeit in slightly different ways.  I don't plan to drink again as I don't want to further compromise my brain.

 

It's teetering as it is! LOL

[[Gl...]]

yeah I know what you mean, I guess I just miss having it as an option

[Guest [Pf...]]

I have the same question Glynn

 

My thought is that I will not even consider it until I have been symptom free for some time -- at least 3 or 6 months where nothing serious has been bothering me. 

 

Once that is the case, I may decide I want to try to drink in moderation.  What I plan to do is then try a very small amount of alcholol, probably 1/4 of a beer at home and then see if I am symptomatic.  Then wait two weeks and try half a beer.  Then two more weeks and 3/4 of a beer and then up to one beer.  I see no reason to drink more than that.

 

That way, since I was free of symptoms, I would know if the alcohol rev'd things up.

 

One thing that surprises me is that people who have refrained for a couple of years then go out and have 2 or 3 drinks.  Why start there?  If you have had anyting to drink in a long time, 2 or 3 is a lot to have anyway.  And if your CNS has recently recovered, why not see how it reacts before going in with two or three.

 

 

 

 

[[Fl...]]

  is this what we call the tapering up protocol? LOL.

 

I know, guys, my husband makes the most delicious wine. We have 500 hundred bottles, at least and to think I can't sample it is ouchy. 

[Guest [Pf...]]

LOL

 

NOt tapering up in terms of getting used to it.  Rather, testing the waters to see if one can tolerate it.  There seems to be variation as to how people do with moderate drinking after being off.  Everyone is concerned about trying it and setting off symptoms.  It seems reasonable to see if a small amount sets off symptoms before trying more.  If you get some syptmos with 1/4 of a beer, then you would probably get worse symptoms with 1 or 2 beers.  So try the 1/4 and only proceed to the next step if you do OK with that 1/4 beer.

[[WT...]]

I think I'll wait a couple of years after healing before I try drinking.

[[Ga...]]

It's tricky. My social life has always revolved around the pub and I miss it. I have every intention of drinking again but I'm going to hold off until 6 months earliest. I don't think I'll be going back to previous drinking levels, but I'm alright with that.

[[Gl...]]

Pfeff - yeah I guess it would make more sense to start slower.  The first time I drank after 4 months, I had 3 beers and a bunch of Bourbon.  Then the 2nd time 3 or 4 beers and a bunch of cheap rum.  Lol.  I guess I just wanted to drink enough to feel the effect.

 

I think I'm going to wait a while before I drink again and maybe drink only a couple of beers and not drink any liquor.  I can see the advantage of drinking only 1/4 of a beer to assess if you have symptoms or not, but I wouldn't feel anything from that.

 

I think it will level off eventually and I will be able to drink again without having any adverse effects.  For now it's not really worth the risk to drink much.  The next time I try it, I'll only have 2 beers and I'll see how that effects me.  If I still get insomnia, I'll hold off for a longer period of time. 

[[Tu...]]

All this talk of alcohol is stirring up a thirst, hey fliprain post me on a few bottles of vino please lol

On a serious note, alcohol does rev up my symptoms but only for a couple of days, so if I find myself in a situation that there is alcohol and a good night on the cards i will drink and deal with it! I know i always regretted it during my taper when I drank and  i'd say never again, but I want a  normal life and will continue to try and have one no matter how bad I feel. 

[[Un...]]

My favorite topic.  Every single day I think of beer and how much I miss it.  My friends, who are beer lovers, always talk about the latest greatest they have sampled or are brewing.  I can't touch any of it.  I have not had a drink since August.  I would not call myself an alcoholic, maybe denial, but I was a daily drinker of beer.  At least 2-3 beers a night.  Have not gotten drunk in many years though except on RARE occasion.  Just a few beers with meals  and at hangouts, but none of that binge stuff.  I absolutely LOVE drinking beer.  I am not talking coors light and miller light etc.  But nice, expensive beer. 

My friends keep asking me when I will drink again.  One brought me a single bottle of Belgium Monk brewer tapestry beer that can only be found at their monastery.  It goes for somewhere around $60 a bottle.  It has now made a home in my fridge as I can't drink this wonderful elixir. 

 

At 7 months off I still do not feel comfortable to drink.  I have tried a fourth of a glass of champagne on new years.  I started feeling anxiety building even after that tiny amount.  Maybe it is in my head.  I do not know.  But I won't risk it...yet.  Try drinking a little and see how it goes.  I am sure everyone reacts different.  Sadly, I know my reaction is bad so I will not touch till at least 12months.    :'(

 

Oh, I would also like to point out if you have sleeping problems, alcohol is NOT a good answer for insomnia.  Sure, you might pass out good, but expect to wake up a few hours later.  Alcohol and sleep + anxiety just doesn't work right.

[Guest [Pf...]]

I see some people talking about drinking several drinks so that you can feel it.  If it takes that much to feel it, you probably drank enough in the past that you had built up some tolerance.  Remember that now if you have not touched any drink in a while that your tolerance has probably gone down, and you will not need as much to affect you.

[[WT...]]

I personally think it would be wise to wait till one has been recovered for a while (like a year or two) but that is just me.

[[Sa...]]

During My previous c/t, when I didn't know that benzo withdrawal existed, I was drinking every other day throughout the whole withdrawal process.  I ended up pretty much healing in roughly 1.5 years.  I took 2 doses of ativan which sent me back to day 1.

 

That being said, I do still have a beer(or 2, maybe 3) now-a-days but once a week or less.  I completely cut alcohol out of my diet my first 6 months of withdrawal. I found the withdrawals way to intense the following 2-3 days. One day around 6.5 months off I decided to go to a party, and I ended up drinking a good amount.  Right before I hit the bed that night I remember thinking how horrible I'd feel the next day.  To my astonishment I woke up feeling a little crappy, but no where near as crappy as I previously felt after drinking. I'm not encouraging anyone to drink. The benzo brain craves alcohol because of the loss of Gaba so I have experienced OCD thoughts craving alcohol a few days after my last beer. I've never been an alcoholic or have had even a minor problem with it, but since I have started drinking occasionally my brain seems to think about it a lot. It's kind of bizarre actually.

 

Good luck everyone

-Sam

[[Fl...]]

My friends keep asking me when I will drink again.  One brought me a single bottle of Belgium Monk brewer tapestry beer that can only be found at their monastery.  It goes for somewhere around $60 a bottle.  It has now made a home in my fridge as I can't drink this wonderful elixir. 

 

The good thing is if it's a high proof Belgian ale it will probably be even better when you do get around to trying it 

 

One thing to note- beer can have a very different effect than other types of liquor. I absolutely love beer but have to keep my consumption to a minimum because it has always made me lethargic and made me feel strange the day after. This effect seems to be intensified during wd. Most likely this is from the hops. I am pretty sensitive to any kind of sedative or stimulant and hops are said to have sedative qualities. The fact that all I want to do is fall asleep after two beers seems to confirm this.

 

 

[[JO...]]

While I know it is not recommended . I have a glass of wine with dinner on occasion. Maybe once a month or so. It is usually a pairing with some dish . Like a Pinot Noir with and a grass fed filet or a glass of Pinot Gris with salmon. I don't believe it has affected me negatively . I don't care for beer or hard alcohol so haven't had it in years. I also can tolerate caffeine on occasion . i guess we are all different .

[[ka...]]

hi guys i have red that you should wait one year to drink an even then start with wine just to test the waters im at 7 months benzo free an cant wait to have a glass of nice cold red wine but ill wait

[[Bi...]]

I would wait until 2 or 3 years out. I guess everyone is different, but that's what I would do.

 

Billy.

[[ve...]]

I made the mistake of drinking at about a month out.  It was maybe 3 glasses of wine twice over Christmas holidays.  Not to scare anyone, because my immune system was under a lot of stress from other things besides ending my taper (my father had been hospitalized and almost died right as I finished my taper back in 2009), but I got Shingles a few days after the wine, at about 5 weeks off .

 

The next time I tried alcohol was at 5 months off and it seemed ok (2 glasses of wine twice that month around Easter, 2010).  By summer, I was feeling about 80% and decided I could go back to a couple drinks once or  twice a week for about a month.  My first major setback occurred when I got back from that summer trip (at 9 months off valium) with cog fog, elevated bp, insomnia, GI issues... it was too much.  I had also gained 10lbs that summer from too much junk food which alcohol seems to stimulate me to eat .

 

By a year (November 2010), things were stable again and I tried to keep it to no more than 2 drinks (usually wine).  Beer never agreed with me (must be the carbonation and/or hops, often would end up with acid reflux or sinus problems within a few days of drinking beer, even pre benzo).  Hard liquor (whiskey) sometimes did the same, when mixed with coke.  I tried not to have hard liquor that first year to year and a half until last summer, 2011. 

 

I did try a few martinis at around 18 months and seemed to be fine and had a couple martinis a few weeks ago (am now a little over 2 years off).  I was also able to have a few during the superbowl this year without problems.  If I had to do it all over, I would have waited a full year before having that first drink though. I'm not encouraging anyone to drink.  Some might find that abstinence is the way to go.

 

Vertigo