Bottlebin, I just wanted to address a couple of things you mentioned previously. The thing about counselling, yeah, it doesn't work for a lot of people because talking therapy in itself without reaching any conclusions or getting to the roots of the behaviour is actually quite dangerous. What's the point in disinterring all of this stuff if it's just going to be swimming around your conscious thought?
For any deep rooted issues, traumas, I would suggest going to see a GP and getting a referral to a psychiatrist who could then refer you on to a relevant trained therapist. There are a lot of 'counsellors' out there these days who do more harm than good.
That's the other thing bottlebin, I agree with what everyone says about anti-depressants and alcohol, they're just not compatible. Take it a wee step at time. After a while of abstaining from drink then you'll feel such a difference in your outlook anyway. I can guarantee that.
I would also say go to a GP for a general health check because drinking affects absolutely every organ in the body and it's not always obvious from the outside. I would say though in response to Lizzie that if your friends LFTs (I am assuming the numbers you're quoting are gamma GTs) are that high there is already significant inflammation of his liver. If this becomes cirrhotic then he's on his way out, there's no going back from a liver this badly damaged. BUT, he can arrest only if he stops drinking. Total abstinence should really only be advised I think for someone with this serious a problem.
Is he perhaps only telling you half the story? What he says about not stopping abruptly is true, the medics will tell you to either stabilise your intake or remain at the same level, but usually this is followed by a medical detox and/or rehab. He may like the sound of stabilising the addiction but not be ready to do the giving up part, therefore its easy to not tell you the whole truth. Either that or he's lied to his doctor and minimised the problem anyway. It sounds like he's still in a bit of denial. By the way, when my GGTs where up around this level, I became jaundiced and bloated pretty soon after so he won't be able to carry this on indefinitely no matter how much he's kidding himself. The other thing I had was acute pancreatitis, and he'll know all about that if he does get it.
However, the decision has to come down to him . I know how frustrating it is to watch an alcoholic slowly killing themselves but you sound like a good friend. He's lucky to have you. If you can be there to support him without affecting your own life too much then that's probably the best thing you can do for him right now. You could also contact Al Anon to seek support for yourself.
Welcome back hairybiker!
Fio I did realise it was you but I thought you may be trying to post incognito so I didn't want to make you searchable on here.