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Question: my wife has had a dozen relapses for alcoholism over the last six years-as many detox stays and five or so treatment programs. she is now taking Librium prescribed after two days in a general hospital to prevent siezures that she has had before. She is disoriented, motor skills are terrible...hunched over walking and falling at times. She takes an antidepressant and seraquel to sleep. Any advice? Thanks so much, XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
several
Detailed Answer:
In the short run, get alcohol out of the house and start weaning off all sedatives/alcohol/librium under doctor's supervision. ALSO, one a day vitamin; lack of certain b vitamins in alcoholism is associated with deterioration of nerves. They grow back slowly. Also, maybe testing for b12 deficiency which seems slighlty higher in alcoholics but is still rare in the non-elderly. Thiamine and folate deficiency is NOT rare.
Then... the addiction issue.... There are triggers in the environment that make people use drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. Withdrawal is one of them. Then....
there are several ways one can deal with triggers. Fighting them.. not so good.
Avoiding them, is a much better way of dealing wiht them (alcohol out of the house, etc.). Substituting other things for the triggers.. but that depends on the individual.
12 step programs help overcome the trigger process.
And there are also medications taht can be helpful: Antabuse, Campral and naloxone are all FDA approved.
The antidepressant and seroquel are not bad in alcoholism.
several
Detailed Answer:
In the short run, get alcohol out of the house and start weaning off all sedatives/alcohol/librium under doctor's supervision. ALSO, one a day vitamin; lack of certain b vitamins in alcoholism is associated with deterioration of nerves. They grow back slowly. Also, maybe testing for b12 deficiency which seems slighlty higher in alcoholics but is still rare in the non-elderly. Thiamine and folate deficiency is NOT rare.
Then... the addiction issue.... There are triggers in the environment that make people use drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. Withdrawal is one of them. Then....
there are several ways one can deal with triggers. Fighting them.. not so good.
Avoiding them, is a much better way of dealing wiht them (alcohol out of the house, etc.). Substituting other things for the triggers.. but that depends on the individual.
12 step programs help overcome the trigger process.
And there are also medications taht can be helpful: Antabuse, Campral and naloxone are all FDA approved.
The antidepressant and seroquel are not bad in alcoholism.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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