Alcohol Problems

Help for problem drinkers @ Regent Street Clinic™

Private, discrete home detoxification service

We offer a specific alcohol-related assessment aimed at identifying those with problem drinking and alcohol dependency.

Often people have realised that their alcohol intake has exceeded healthy limits and it is sometimes difficult to know where to turn.

Our clinics in Nottingham, Sheffield, Leicester, Birmingham and Derby offer a range of interventions aimed at helping problem drinkers make a positive and long-lasting change towards leading a healthier life away from alcohol.

Our doctors are specially trained in primary care level interventions for excessive drinkers and offer a sympathetic, caring approach to tackling this issue robustly.

How the alcohol service works:

  1. An appointment is made with a private doctor to undergo an alcohol screening assessment (AUDIT).
  2. Blood tests are taken to check for signs of liver damage and other health-related issues emanating from the excessive intake.
  3. A brief intervention is undertaken for those felt to be below the threshold for heavy/severe alcohol intake or alcohol dependency.
  4. A home detoxification (detox) programme is initiated followed by CBT (cognitive and behavioural therapy) for candidates assessed as having a severe and harmful intake. Such clients must have alcohol dependency and be deemed by the doctor as being suitable for a home detox. These clients must warrant to undertake the CBT maintenance therapy as a way of achieving long-lasting behavioural changes.
  5. Consideration will be given for an in-patient stay at one of our private rehabilitation units across the country for those with alcohol dependancy who are not suitable for a home detoxification. Typically a stay will last between 2-4 weeks.

Home detoxification service

Home detoxification with the help of your private GP

Our GPs are happy to prescribe for a home detox from alcohol.

A common plan is as follows:

The doctor will prescribe a high dose of medication for the first day that you stop drinking alcohol. The medication most commonly prescribed is chlordizepoxide at a dose of 10-20mg four times per day.

You then gradually reduce the dose over the next 5-7 days. This usually prevents or greatly reduces, the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

You must agree not to drink any alcohol when you are going through detox. A breathalyser may be used to confirm that you are not drinking.

The doctor will usually see you quite often during the time of detox, usually every other day.

Also during detox, support from family or friends can be of great help. Often the responsibility for getting the prescription and giving the detox medicine is shared with a family member or friend. For example, a partner or parent of the person going through the detox.

For further information please call us and ask to speak to Dr Bobby Ahmed BMedSci BMBS MRCGP DOccMed FRSPH (Fellow),who has a special interest in helping problem drinkers.

A small step towards recovery is giant progress