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What Causes Poor Memory In A Person With Alcoholism?
Question: I have been Binge drinking and I feel for the first time ever I am not thinking straight and my memory is not good. I am very scared. This being the first time I have felt like this can I get some treatment to help me.
Brief Answer:
You need to be treated for chronic alcoholism.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Well, I have gone through your problems listed in your query. The features seems like due to chronic alcoholism / binge drinking. Chronic and binge drinking leads to vitamin thiamine deficiency which can result in poor memory (Korsakoff’s syndrome).
I am glad you planned to see a doctor tomorrow. However if you feel the symptoms are getting worse, you need to be hospitalised at the earliest.
To begin with and to prevent further neurological problem, you will need thiamine supplements. I prefer you receive Thaimine injections.
Besides that detoxification by substituting long acting benzodiazepines (like diazepam or chlorodiazepoxide) which are essential to prevent withdrawal symptoms may be needed. Your doctors may also prescribe drugs like Propranolol or Clonidine or Naltrexone to reduce the intensity of craving and relapse to alcohol dependence. Once your withdrawal symptoms are controlled the benzodiazepines will be gradually tapered off several weeks.
The need for other drugs will be based on how you react to alcohol withdrawal.
Hope the suggestions given above could be useful in getting the De-addiction to binge drinking.
Wishing you a smooth and successful recovery.
Regards.
You need to be treated for chronic alcoholism.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Well, I have gone through your problems listed in your query. The features seems like due to chronic alcoholism / binge drinking. Chronic and binge drinking leads to vitamin thiamine deficiency which can result in poor memory (Korsakoff’s syndrome).
I am glad you planned to see a doctor tomorrow. However if you feel the symptoms are getting worse, you need to be hospitalised at the earliest.
To begin with and to prevent further neurological problem, you will need thiamine supplements. I prefer you receive Thaimine injections.
Besides that detoxification by substituting long acting benzodiazepines (like diazepam or chlorodiazepoxide) which are essential to prevent withdrawal symptoms may be needed. Your doctors may also prescribe drugs like Propranolol or Clonidine or Naltrexone to reduce the intensity of craving and relapse to alcohol dependence. Once your withdrawal symptoms are controlled the benzodiazepines will be gradually tapered off several weeks.
The need for other drugs will be based on how you react to alcohol withdrawal.
Hope the suggestions given above could be useful in getting the De-addiction to binge drinking.
Wishing you a smooth and successful recovery.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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