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Suggest Effective Ways To Quit Drinking
Question: I am a 54 year old female and have been drinking approximately 1 bottle of wine a night; not every night but I would say 4-5 nights per week. My doctor told me I have a fatty liver and I want to quit. I don't think I need medical help but I'm concerned about whether I'm at risk for D.T.'s or any other danger from withdrawal?
Brief Answer:
Not Likely to have D.T.'s but may need doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX, this is Dr. Chintan Solanki here. Thanks for using healthcaremagic.
It is really good decision to quit alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms depends on type of alcohol, daily quantity of alcohol, duration of drinking, nutrition of the person as well as genetic make up of alcohol metabolism enzymes in individual.
You have narrated well information in question but I would like to know,"since when are you drinking, your bilirubin and SGPT level (Called liver function tests) if done so far and is there any previous attempt to quit?"
As you are drinking wine which contains 10%-15% alcohol, there is less or no withdrawal symptoms in your case than the persons who takes whiskey which contain 40%-45% alcohol.
As well as your drinking pattern is not continuous , there is gap of a day or two in a week. So if you are good motivated and quite determined to quit, there is less withdrawal symptoms like some sleep disturbance or tremors for a day or two.
You should quit by decreasing daily intake 10 to 15% and you may not have any withdrawal features and you can be free from wine in a week or two. However you quit totally at once or even in gradual stopping if there is alcohol withdrawal like much sleep disturbance, tremors and uneasiness which you can not tolerate, you should go to psychiatrist/ deaddiction specialist/ or any doctor for treatment of that.
You have fatty liver, you can prevent further damage by stopping wine.
Delirium tremens is severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms and medical emergency which generally occurs in heavy drinker with poor nutrition, so you need not to worry.
I have tried my best to answer your query. You can ask about any doubt in your mind if there.
Thanks & Regards.
Not Likely to have D.T.'s but may need doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX, this is Dr. Chintan Solanki here. Thanks for using healthcaremagic.
It is really good decision to quit alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms depends on type of alcohol, daily quantity of alcohol, duration of drinking, nutrition of the person as well as genetic make up of alcohol metabolism enzymes in individual.
You have narrated well information in question but I would like to know,"since when are you drinking, your bilirubin and SGPT level (Called liver function tests) if done so far and is there any previous attempt to quit?"
As you are drinking wine which contains 10%-15% alcohol, there is less or no withdrawal symptoms in your case than the persons who takes whiskey which contain 40%-45% alcohol.
As well as your drinking pattern is not continuous , there is gap of a day or two in a week. So if you are good motivated and quite determined to quit, there is less withdrawal symptoms like some sleep disturbance or tremors for a day or two.
You should quit by decreasing daily intake 10 to 15% and you may not have any withdrawal features and you can be free from wine in a week or two. However you quit totally at once or even in gradual stopping if there is alcohol withdrawal like much sleep disturbance, tremors and uneasiness which you can not tolerate, you should go to psychiatrist/ deaddiction specialist/ or any doctor for treatment of that.
You have fatty liver, you can prevent further damage by stopping wine.
Delirium tremens is severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms and medical emergency which generally occurs in heavy drinker with poor nutrition, so you need not to worry.
I have tried my best to answer your query. You can ask about any doubt in your mind if there.
Thanks & Regards.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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