Question about coming off of alcohol..

My mother is an alcoholic and has been ever since I was a small child. She's recently decided that she wants to stop drinking. She talked to a therapist and a drug counselor, and they told her that she can't just stop cold turkey or it could kill her, so she is still having SOME alcohol every day... just not nearly as much as her body is used to. The councelor also to her that she might have mild hallucinations and aches. Anyway, my question is this. When do you know the hallucinations are getting out of hand for someone trying to stop drinking? I mean, we were told that they would be mild. She is hallucinating badly. Is there a time when she should be taken to the hospital? I'm just not sure what to do at all. Thanks for reading this.. any advice would be SO appreciated.

Jenn

Jenn, if she's hallucinating, she needs to go to the hospital now.

(((((((((((( Jenn )))))))))))))))

Hugs,

Jan

I've never heard of that approach, so I can't tell you what to expect. I've only heard of people stopping drinking cold turkey. There is a period of withdrawl, and with heavy drinkers, the DT's. I've only heard of people going to rehab and spending a week in detox. I've never heard of tapering with alcohol.....I know for me, being the alcoholic that I am, that would have driven me nuts, to only have a few a day, like dangling candy in front of a child. I hope they've given her sound advice, but I would most definetly be concerned.

Yeah I thought that was a weird approach myself, Rayna. Maybe we'd be better off getting advice from a different source. I'm beginning to think so. Because this just isn't working. I just didn't know what to think when they talked to us about the tapering off method, because I don't know much about this. Thank you so much for replying. I really do appreciate it.

Jan, I believe she needs to go to the hospital. She refuses to go, though. She keeps saying she can do this all on her own.

Here's US Government medical advice you might be able to trust?

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/FAQs/General-English/

Yeah....I would definetly seek a second opinion! You might even call your local AA hotline for some local numbers to call. I work the hotline here, and we refer family and friends to the appropriate places. I don't know...but if they want to taper her, I would think it should be in a supervised environment with an IV drip or something.....not telling an alcoholic "we want you to drink a little". I'm not a doctor though, but it sounds very very strange.

Jenn, what if she hallucinates and accidentally hurts herself or someone else? Please call another Dr or someone.

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this.

Hugs,

Jan

Jenn--go to this website right away.

It will help you understand a bit better.

I have seen this happen to both my brothers so many times.

Depending on the severity, they either dried out at home or in detox.

She needs help ASAP.

http://alcoholism.about.com/od/withdraw/a/aa040604.htm

Well first she will have these for quite a while. If at all possible are there any places that can take her in through the first Three days They would give something to prevent detoxifing even a local hospital or a drug and alcohol I say this because I have seen people die from this even if you do not have any ins. go into detox for her sake. I wish you Luck