Bottle of wine 5 nights a week

[user1478188491]

My best friend has been a wine drinker up to a bottle a night (11/12%) 5 nights a weeks with two days alcohol free here and there. She drinks of an evening 8-11pm and on Sunday evening this week she had her last drink and decided enough was enough and hasn’t had any wine since. I’m really proud of her and want to be there to support her. Last night she said she had trouble sleeping, and her heart rate was a little higher than usual at the start of the night. Other than that feels fine, no shakes tremors or anything else and feels refreshed.

My question is, do you think she is ok to just not drink anymore based on her drinking habits or should she cut down first over a course of a few weeks? Ie miss a day yesterday then have a drink tonight? Miss tomorrow and Thursday and drink Friday?

I’m a bit of a worrier and I am worried that she might get a seizure or something.

Is the insomnia and raised heart rate normal for stopping alcohol and should she stick at it if she feels good?

Any experiences greatly appreciated

Thanks

You said your friend already has two days off in an average week?

Anyone alcohol dependent should seek advice about stopping, but I really don't think you should advise her, you're not medically trained.

Giving up anything causes symptoms, it's a big change.

I'd advise her to speak to a doctor about any worries, and advise you to accept you can't advise her on this.

She will be absolutely fine to just stop. At 5 bottles of wine, 5 days a week, with 2 days off, she will not experience serious physical withdrawal.

She will still experience the effects of detoxing from alcohol and these can go on for weeks or even months, things like poor sleep, heart palpitations, anxiety and depression, digestive issues. But this is normal and perfectly safe.

I was drinking a lot more than 1 bottle of wine a day and had no serious issues with withdrawal. I think though it’s very easy for people to convince themselves of ways to keep drinking a little bit. This isn’t going to end up well long term. For everyone except the most physically addicted folks who do need support through the initial detox, stopping cold turkey and staying stopped is the best and safest approach.

I agree with @mindutopia - on her level of drinking, serious withdrawals (including seizures) are extremely unlikely.

Everybody knows about the toxic effects of alcohol on the liver but its effects on the brain, bowel, kidneys, heart and other organs are less known among the general public.

Her body has got used to a level
of alcohol in her blood and changed as a result. Certain brain chemicals will be altered and her nervous system will be recalculating and adjusting. Same for bowel, kidneys, heart etc.

Keep encouraging her and supporting her - how she is feeling is normal but it will get better.

For real chronic abusers - people who constantly have very high levels of alcohol in their blood and have had for months/years - tapering off may be required. That involves still drinking every day but in ever decreasing amounts - not two days on, one off type thing.

Drinking plenty of water, maybe some supplements/vitamins (even just for placebo effect) and some walking in the fresh air might help with feelings of unease and get your friend feeling more positive about treating her body well/staying off the drink. There are lots of free apps to help people with insomnia - I struggled with insomnia for years and found the calming, talky sleep apps quite helpful.

Good luck to her and you sound like a great friend 💐❤️

Has she started drinking something else as a replacement? If so does it have caffeine?