Withdrawal advice needed

[cas222]

My husband decided 4 nights ago that he was ready to stop drinking and start recovery. Too embarassed to go to Dr in his state though. He had been drinking about 1 qt. vodka daily for over year - really taking toll on his body and mind and obviously on our relationship, etc.
At this point I want to see him through withdrawals and will go to al anon for first meet on Monday (I have info).
Question is: he is having hallucinations and paranoia. Thought there were people in house yesterday moving stuff aorund, seeing animals in house, etc.
Also physical symptoms of sleeplessness (2 days??) and chills alternating with sweating. He has eaten a bit and he is drinking gatorade and water a lot.
Should I make him go to ER? Can we wait it out? Is this the DT's I've read about.
Feeling like he can make a meeting on Monday - he has been before - 20 years ago and was dry for 20 years but obviously not working program.
Sorry this is long! Cas.

[dsny]

I would take him to the ER if things are getting that bad.Alcohol w/d's can be dangerous and there is a risk of him having a seizure in the process.He should be under the care of a Dr through this process.They would prescribe him meds for his blood pressure,sleep and something to prevent seizures.Good Luck

[Brenda1953]

I am not a doctor but in another life I worked in a halfway ward for substance abuse in a hospital. It sounds like your husband is having DTs. That is not good. He can have a seizure.

Patients were never properly detoxed before they were sent over to us and I saw lots of the alcohol addicts having seizures.

They were usually then put on a combination of dilantin and valium.

I'm not trying to scare you but IMO a wd syndrome that severe requires medical intervention. You don't know what else is going on. Has he been eating properly? If not, brain damage can occur due to thiamine deficiency. Is his liver involved? He may be risking cirrhosis.

He needs to be evaluated.

And even more importantly, he doesn't have to go through this. You don't win points by suffering. At least, unlike a lot of drugs, alcohol wd has a standard treatment protocol.

Brenda

[cas222]

Thanks for advice - I'm going to try to get him to calmly agree to go to Dr. He is scared of ER but a regular DR may be non-threatening.
I'm not looking for points myself - just to get him help since he seems at this point to want it and to have asked on his own.