Good on you for 30 days, that's fantastic. I can't comment on the meds as I didn't take them in the process of getting sober. For me it was cold turkey and then white knucking it until enough AA sunk in so that the compulsion to drink was removed, which for mewas early on. Different for everybody.

But I can comment on AA and say that it did and continues to, save my life, 11 years sober now. So I would encourage you to get to AA meetings - multiple meetings a day if they are available to you. Forget about Christmas and doing everything to pease others, if that's you way. Absolutely flood yourself with AA and that will be the best Christmas present you could ever give those you love or yourself.

Great on 30 days! Instead of taking pills for the craving try AA. They showed me how to stop craving a drink.

My sons father was on Antabuse back in the 80's. It only worked as long as he took it. Once he slipped on it and became extremely sick. Don't drink on it or you will find out how awful it is.

I use AA and my compulsion to drink was lifted and is still gone. Pills are only as good as your willpower to take them. My sons Dad died of alcoholism at 37 and it didn't work for him.

Well, everyone is different. You certainly could benefit yourself by not drinking over the holidays-and if this will prevent that, do it. It is not a long term solution for most, but perhaps it will get you over the holiday hump.

Deena, I'm PB, usually tend to be manic. Although I can't advise you one way or the other, it is MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE that whenever I'm off my meds, my grandious thoughts tend to make be believe that I am cured, or at least that I can "control" myself. That always leads to relapse for me.

deena congratulations on your 30!!! they are the hardest. Campral wasn't helpful for me but glad it seems to help you. I finally caved in and did the AA meetings and that has worked pretty good so far...18months and counting

Havn't had either, but well done on 30 days. Looks like you've got a plan there with outpatient and meetings. Talk to the Doctors about your desire to go off the medication, and they should help with that. Keep reaching out Deena, and continued action keeps the momentum moving forward.

I was on Campral for three months and it worked great..but, I did get any additional help and that was my downfall. I didnt take any other meds with it but your "symptoms" sound familiar to when I stopped taking the campral. When I stopped taking campral I got paniced and anxious and had a hard time sleeping. My advice would be talk to someone asap at your outpatient program.

Thank you all for your comments and advice. I do understand this time around that I need to pull out the big guns, not just modern medicine, but group therapy, safe friends and family support, less expectations of myself and letting go of what's not important. I'm glad that I found this site which is another piece of the puzzle to help put me back together. I'm also looking forward to getting into some AA meetings soon too.

LG73 - Just wanted to say thank you for sharing that you felt nervous and anxious when you stopped taking the Campral, I'll keep that in mind when I decide to stop taking it. My addiction Dr. did say that it has a calming effect, so it makes sense that a person might feel agitated when going off. Tapering would probably be good. I'm seeing my Dr next week and will discuss how much longer to stay on it.

I am on antabuse. It works great, but yes the key is to take it. I would recommend a trusted family member or friend help you with taking it. Just adds the element of accountability.

What it does is psychological. Since we know that we'll become violently ill if we drink while on it, the decision to drink is removed. You simply can NOT drink on atabuse. That in itself was a relief to me... just not having that inner battle. The other thing I notice with it. is it buys time to re-think a decision TO drink. I was enfuriated one night and got the f-its. Had I not been on the antabuse I would have drank that night. I decided to stop taking it so that I could drink in a couple of days. So, I sat and stewed all night. The next morning, I looked at the pill and took it. I had time to re-think my decision to drink and thought better of it.

One last comment. The downside is also psychological... I knew I couldn't stay on antabuse forever and felt as if I wasn't staying sober on my own. That started the thought... will I drink when Im off antabuse... which morphed into I can drink when off antabuse. Sure enough soon as it was out of my system I relapsed.

My husband is now in charge of administering the antabuse.

Oh... I had no side affects and I also attend AA. Get a sponsor.

Best wishes

The Camprel is quite safe and not addictive! I was on Camprel for the first 6 months or so and I thought it worked great for the cravings! I have lots left over if anyone wants some! :-)

I think the irritability u are having is more of a dry drunk type thing! Just go to alot of meetings and you will be just fine.

Good Luck!