benzodiazepines

[mike1963]

44 year old male, overall healthy, I go on drinking binges usually 2 days, followed by 3/4 days sobriety, use valium to ease hangovers (within 20/30 mg range) and chain-smoke - all this only during my binge. Now, this rather odd behaviour has been going on for so many years, that I simply cannot "stabilize" on any of those substances and take them in any sort of orderly and regular and "human" fashion,  like become a so-and-so many cigarettes/day smoker and stop alcohol, turn into a regular benzodiazepine user of some set dosage but stop alcohol altogether, or become a non-smoking benzo-free, let's say, "heavy drinker".

Now, all my friends, doctors and all other "normal" people advise me to concentrate on quitting one subtance of abuse and deal with others later. This, however, due to some unexplained mechanism in my sick brain is just plain impossible. I've been warned of fatal seizures and psychotic episodes. I am determined to quit everything at once, because I simply see no other way. I would just like to know how often are these seizures really fatal, and what are the symptoms and possible repercussions of a "psychotic episode".

I am aware of the fact that there is no way of any accurate telling of how things will "turn" for me, but if there is any kind of statistics, any kind of way of roughly assessing my chances, perhaps by a person who has had an opportunity of dealing with more of such cases (since I've only dealt with one: myself) - that this would surely calm me down. I mean, it would calm me down even if the news were "bad". I'd rather know what's around the corner, even if its the Grim Ripper, than not know.

Sorry for this rather lengthy post and I hope someone actually managed to read it to the end and am looking forward to getting some advise.
Mike

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Everyone has to do this there own way, but if you want to avoid seizures, the best way to do it is to quit drinking and smoking, those are the addictions, while staying on valium for a while.  Then kick the valium habit slowly over a three week period...then you will be safe, but you must consult your doctor about the possibility of substituting a anti-seizure medication for the valium if you are determined to do it all at once...even then, decrease the valium slowly.  One caveat.  If your doctor thinks you need hospital detox because he or she determines there is a significant danger in your case, do that, be safe, you won't enjoy have seizures.

[Jennifermarielib]

I can feel for what you are going through as I'm 15 days out of detox for a lot of pain med.'s and benzo's.  I was put on anti-seizure medications , phenobarbitrol,  in the hospital unit and monitered very closely for about a week.  I had started to drink some with the benzo's and when I went to see my Dr., I knew I wasn't able to leave and continue the way I had been.  It was the only way I could do it,  trying to cut back on one and not the other just didn't work for me.  Just know that the hospital does monitor closely. And keep after them!  Good luck.