Thanks for the reply. I understand what you're saying about 'alcohol withdrawal'. Before this happened I was also of the opinion that it could only happen to chronic alcoholics. The first doctor I saw also didn't seem to believe that's what it was, but when I described it in detail to the second he agreed that that was what it sounded like. It's really the only thing that fits the symptoms - severe headache for a couple of days, followed by the worst of it 48-72 hours after stopping drinking. I had very high levels of anxiety, did not sleep for two days, had racing pulse and high BP, sweats, and shaking so bad my teeth were chattering. I believe I've suffered what is called 'kindling', in that my repeated binges followed by abstinence caused enough change / damage in my brain that having the alcohol influencing the GABA receptors for a weekend was enough to cause effects of withdrawal. I'm aware of the difference between a hangover and a proper withdrawal - but what I went through definitely fits withdrawal. That was most definitely not in my head!

Checked the supplements I have and the magnesium is indeed oxide. The B1 is Thiamin HCL. The B12 is cyanocobalamin. Sounds like those are all the wrong kinds?

I've been on the Zoloft now for almost 4 months. I had issues with it in the beginning but since I've stabilised on it I haven't had any side effects whatsoever. These kinds of parasthesias can be caused by it but I don't see how they could begin now after I've been on it for such a length of time.

I'm very aware that alcohol is the cause of all of this and I feel quite a bit of shame about having done this to myself. It sounds like you aren't convinced that my symptoms are typical of neuropathy?