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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Depression And Alcoholism

My mother (who lives in NORTHERN IRELAND)a few years ago fell down the stair and banged her head which caused her to lose her taste and smell.

it has been about 7 years now since then and i left the family home to move to my boyfriend in england in this time. Then my father left my mother on christmas day last year because for a few years now my mum was drinking. When she does she can drink it like water because she cant tasted it but she only does it for the kick but she doesn't crave it. But now there is nobody near her she is really down and depressed but i feel the moods swings are very strange as she can be great for a week and not touch a drink and get on with things then suddenly with in a hour (a few times) she sounds like a different person and goes into herself.

I know my dad checks on her just to make sure shes alright but i don't think it helps.

I feel like she has been manic depression and then the situation has worsened in alcoholism.

Her doctor doesnt believe its depression but i feel this is the problem and if we get this sorted the drinking will stop.

Im trying to get her to help herself but its at the stage now she wont answer the phone to me or anybody and its got to the stage that she has brain seizures about 6 years ago (caused by very low sodium) and then 2 weeks ago (now cause of the drinking)

Im sorry for going on but im as the stage the doctor told me i my lose her before christmas .

What do i do?
Wed, 24 Dec 2014
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Psychiatrist 's  Response
Hello thanks for asking from HCM

I can understand your problem. She has developed loss of taste and smell sensation after a head trauma and now since many years she is taking alcohol on compulsive basis. She also take alcohol in binges. Due to her problem of alcoholism your father has left her. She is showing weird behaviour at times and remain depressed at times. Her mood swings and other symptoms are probably not due to depression but due to her alcoholism. In chronic alcoholism individual may start showing hostile behaviour. This is a common complaint in them to show abrupt mood swings. I would suggest you to take her to a psychiatrist for treatment of alcoholism. She developed seizure probably due to alcohol withdrawal.

In alcohol de-addiction medicines like Chlordiazepoxide, Lorazepam etc are used. These drugs prevent withdrawal syndrome and then the doses of these drugs are tapered gradually. Anti craving medicines like Acamprosate, Baclofen etc help to reduce craving. Visit a psychiatrist for prescription of medicines.

Thanks, hope this helps you

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Suggest Treatment For Depression And Alcoholism

Hello thanks for asking from HCM I can understand your problem. She has developed loss of taste and smell sensation after a head trauma and now since many years she is taking alcohol on compulsive basis. She also take alcohol in binges. Due to her problem of alcoholism your father has left her. She is showing weird behaviour at times and remain depressed at times. Her mood swings and other symptoms are probably not due to depression but due to her alcoholism. In chronic alcoholism individual may start showing hostile behaviour. This is a common complaint in them to show abrupt mood swings. I would suggest you to take her to a psychiatrist for treatment of alcoholism. She developed seizure probably due to alcohol withdrawal. In alcohol de-addiction medicines like Chlordiazepoxide, Lorazepam etc are used. These drugs prevent withdrawal syndrome and then the doses of these drugs are tapered gradually. Anti craving medicines like Acamprosate, Baclofen etc help to reduce craving. Visit a psychiatrist for prescription of medicines. Thanks, hope this helps you