Does alcohol slow healing?

[[Ca...]]

I understand that alcohol revs w/d symptoms BUT does it slow healing?  Please can anyone tell me?  Going on vaca tomorrow...wud like

 

to drink but obviously dont want to screw up my 5 months of healing and go back to day 1. Candy

[[Sa...]]

Hi Candy

 

My personal experience with alcohol and withdrawal is that it IS very possible to heal while drinking on a regular basis ( a couple times a week ).  My first c/t I made it out to almost complete healing while drinking more then I should had. At the time I didn't realize what was wrong with me, and didn't know what benzo-withdrawal was.  Like you said; alcohol will rev up symptoms, but that's my biggest worry when drinking--that I will feel like crap the next day or two. Some people swear that alcohol impairs healing greatly, but that wasn't my experience.

 

Good luck

-Sam

[[Fl...]]

I would be afraid to drink so soon. Alcohol and benzos both act on the GABA receptors, making drinking a really bad idea for you at this point.  No reason to go on a vacation and lose a couple of days due to the mother of all hangovers.  My vote is don't drink.  Enjoy yur vacation with a clear head. 

[[Fl...]]

Since alcohol acts on the brain in a manner similar to benzos some people are quick to jump to the conclusion that alcohol consumption prevents healing, but I don't think there is a shred of evidence that backs this up. And it most certainly does not rev symptoms for everyone.

 

Think about it this way. If you go to alcohol detox they will probably give you a benzo to prevent seizures. If benzos are medicine for alcohol wd, could alcohol be a medicine for benzo wd? I'm not condoning anything....this is just food for thought. The way society views alcohol and prescription drugs and the different ways in which each is "acceptable" is really screwed up so you aren't likely to hear other people talking about this but I think it is a valid point.

 

Don't get me wrong.....this is a slippery slope and I honestly believe that my stint with clonazepam caused me to drink like a fish, BUT, I also feel like alcohol in moderation has actually helped me deal with the wd process.

 

Ultimately this is a choice you have to make for yourself. I don't think anyone has ruined 5 months of healing by having a few drinks but you might want to start out light and see how you tolerate it before diving in head first.

[[mi...]]

I don't think you could go to day 1 with alcohol. Does it slow healing? I don't know but my personal opinion is that moderation is key.

 

I can now have 2 drink (have not tried more) without any negative effects.

 

My wedding will be when I'm almost 7 months off and i probably will drink but will try not to get drunk LOL.

Same goes for my honeymoon.

[[su...]]

Hello Candy,

 

BENZODIAZEPINE DEPENDENCY AND WITHDRAWAL

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) file from benzo.org.uk

 

WHAT ABOUT CONSUMING ALCOHOL DURING WITHDRAWAL?

 

Alcohol consumption, even in relatively small amounts, is not advised during benzodiazepine withdrawal. Many people report that alcohol, a sedative that should cause a reduction in anxiety, actually heightens withdrawal symptoms, particularly those of derealisation and depersonalisation.

 

Even if you find that alcohol has a calming effect on withdrawal symptoms, regular alcohol use creates a toxicity that will almost certainly prolong your recovery process. And even if you are able to withdraw successfully from benzodiazepines while consuming alcohol on a regular basis, which is unlikely, you will have probably substituted one addiction for another.

 

 

 

Here is the link for this information from The Tranquilliser Recovery and Awareness Place (TRAP)

http://www.non-benzodiazepines.org.uk/benzo-faq.html#Question8

 

Question: Can I drink alcohol during or after withdrawal?

 

Answer: No. You should not drink any alcohol. Alcohol is cross tolerant with benzodiazepines and is benzo like. Many people find that alcohol usage causes a return or worsening of withdrawal symptoms the days and weeks after exposure to alcohol. This becomes even more of a problem once a person is low down on benzo dosage or in withdrawal. If you want to recover from benzodiazepines it is strongly advised that alcohol is avoided entirely and for quite some time after full recovery.

 

I hope this is helpful,

Summer

[[pr...]]

This is highly variable for people. Some people have no real problems with alcohol and others take one drink and are thrown for a loop for weeks.

 

I think if you want to experiment you might want to start with a very small amount, just a few sips, and see how it affects you.  Certainly don't take more than one drink the first day.  Once you see how your own body reacts you can decide for yourself.

 

 

[[je...]]

All I know about alcohol and benzos is that it makes me feel like a total zombie...Since I have been on xanax and tapering...I really can't drink because I feel like Im dying...My eyes get soooo dry and i get really tired....I don't really have a choice anymore because I feel that I physically can't drink....even 1 beer im dying

[[re...]]

I know an alcoholic who c/t 20 years of  Valium. She was in wd for well over a year. She drank heavily all through it. SHe got sober 3 years later. She healed from both.

[[be...]]

Thank you for posting this. It is helping me to give more thought to my alcohol consumption.

 

Generally speaking, it is a BIG MISTAKE for me to drink. I feel zombified and really regret the 3 glasses of wine I had Friday and two on Saturday. Tuesday and Wednesday I feel far away. I feel completely exhausted.

[[ve...]]

I was able to have a couple glasses of wine at about five months off.  I would not recommend drinking every day while on vacation.  If you are taking a week vacation, you might be lucky to not have a reaction to a glass of wine once or twice. I agree that you might try a small amount to begin with, perhaps half a glass of wine.  Also, have it on a full stomach (after you've had some appetizers or something) to minimize a very strong reaction one might have on an empty stomach.  Also, I'd avoid hard liquor or hard drinks with lots of sugar and carbonation which can speed up the delivery.  It also depends on your own history and where you are in the healing process.  Are you still having many withdrawal issues?  By five months off, I was doing quite a bit better whereas some are still quite symptomatic.  It's always a risk that alcohol could trigger some withdrawal symptom, so I do agree that if you can avoid it, it's probably best.

 

Vertigo

[[Ro...]]

Well this is my experience....I was 4.5 months out when I went to an all-inclusive resort in Cuba.  I definitely took advantage of the free drinks and with the exception of one night of rough sleep (from reeeeeally overdoing it all day long in the sun) I was pretty okay the whole time.  I had more of a wave a few weeks beforehand when I took some neocitran when I was sick...it almost made me cancel the trip.  All in all, it was a great vacation. 

Obviously, I know everyone is different and I'm not encouraging anyone but I just wanted to share my experience.

Take care and have a great vacation, however you spend it!

Rose 

[[sp...]]

My personal experience is that alcohol revs symptoms to a degree that makes it unwise for me to consume it, but this is also my second taper, and I definitely drank moderately through my first one (and smoked pot...) and didn't feel at the time that it was harmful.

 

If you're going to do it, I'd say start with half a drink or something and see how you feel a couple hours later. Ashton says clearly that she doesn't think it's especially problematic to consume small amounts of alcohol, and I believe her.

[[An...]]

Being 23 when I started my taper- it was very difficult for me to stop drinking on the weekends. In fact, the moment I started taking klonopin back in 2010 I started drinking a lot more on the weekends. In w/d I knew if I went out with my friends I would have to drink or I would be too ramped up and anxious. I'd have anywhere from 5-8 drinks every weekend. I would be in pain for the next few days- bedridden, on this forum posting about it- so yes, I do think it impaired my healing, I think I could have tapered a lot quicker without the drinking. It's weird, now that I'm off K I don't crave alcohol and drink nearly as much. The alcohol I have consumed since the end of my taper gives me these sensations, (Only f I drink a lot), that I've taken a klonopin. I know that sounds really strange but I can almost taste  and feel it.

 

Anyhow, I think anything is okay in moderation- but I wouldn't add alcohol to the mix until you're feeling 100 percent and then I'd slowly reintroduce it.