Addictions Archives - Jeffrey Sterling, MD

From the Health Library of SterlingMedicalAdvice.com: "How can I get alcohol out of my system quicker?"

It’s a frequent misconception that there are a ton of remedies you can take to help you eliminate alcohol quicker or get less drunk. Alcohol is eliminated by what’s called zero-order kinetics. This process means that a fixed amount of alcohol is eliminated from the body at a time. Nothing you’re doing, including coating your stomach, eating (including a cheese tray) or drinking coffee is going to make you less intoxicated (referral to the legal definition of how much you have in your system). Now being less dehydrated helps the blood alcohol concentration, and drinking coffee (which is a stimulant and can counter the depressant effects of alcohol) may make you feel more alert, but my best remedy for you is to sleep it off (unless you’re intoxicated to the point that you need medical attention).
Bonus question: “Does vomiting help?”
Vomiting is only of value in eliminating alcohol that hasn’t yet been absorbed into the bloodstream. Once the alcohol is in your system, it needs to be eliminated as discussed.
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Straight, No Chaser: Depression Quick Tips – How to Avoid It, When to Get Help

As a physician, I’m not willing to advise you on how to ‘care’ for yourself at home if you’re clinically depressed. I can discuss how to avoid depression (to the extent possible) and what warning signs should prompt emergent access to care. If you’re good at accomplishing the items listed below, you have less of a chance of being unhappy and clinically depressed.

Avoid alcohol and other mood-altering drugs.
Eat healthily.
Exercise regularly.
Get enough sleep.
Remove yourself from negativity, including your choices in friends, mates and work environments.
Surround yourself with positivity, including your choices in friends, mates and work environments (Please note this is a different consideration than the previous bullet point.).
Learn how to relax and where to go to relax (These considerations include such things as yoga, meditation and your religion/spirituality, not the business end of a bottle or drug use.).

Look out for these potential warning signs for suicide: Remember that approximately 30% of suicides are preceded by the individual declaring intent. Be alert for the following additional considerations:

Increasing levels of depression, withdrawal, reckless behavior, alcohol and other drug use, and/or desperation.
Notice activity that could be a prelude to a suicide attempt, such as obtaining knives, firearms or large quantities of medication.
Changing one’s will and settling one’s life affairs in the midst of depression
Ongoing comments about lack of worth and desire to end it all.

The following considerations should prompt an immediate visit to an emergency room or other treatment facility.

You have a compelling, overwhelming feeling that you want to hurt yourself, with or without an actual plan.
You have a compelling, overwhelming feeling that you want to hurt someone else, with or without an actual plan.
You hear voices or see things or people who are not there.
You find yourself crying often and uncontrollably for no apparent cause.
Your depression has affected your activities of daily living (work, school, consistent forms of recreation or family life) for longer than 2 weeks.
You think your current medications are affecting you abnormally and are possibly contributing to making you feel depressed.
You have been told or believe that you should cut back on drinking or other drug use.

I wish you and your loved ones all the best in avoiding and/or dealing with this disastrous condition. I welcome any comments, thoughts or questions.