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What Causes Severe Weight Loss After Consuming Alcohol?

Posted on Wed, 18 Mar 2015

Question: Hello, I need to ask for my husband he is 40 years old, weight - 55 kg and height -5' 3. He is an alcholic and has never been able to follow any doctor's medication completely. He comes with me to the doctor takes medicines for a few days then stops. He eats very less. He drinks only in the evening and after drinking goes to sleep does not each much which is causing him to lose more and more weight. I was thinking of giving him some weight gain supplement. He has liv-52, antoxid, becosules and rinifol every morning. None of these seem to increase his weight. What do I do?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Fluoxetine can help in long run, need to stop alcohol

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I can understand your concern for your husband.

Please note the point that if he continues to take alcohol, no supplement or medication will improve his health and weight.First of all try to motivate him by professional counseling for alcohol deaddiction. He should be treated in hospital set up initially and aversion therapy like disulfiram can be started for alcohol deaddiction.

He has been on right medicines which are also useful for appetite and weight gain but alcohol intake is the culprit.

To increase weight he need to eat well and for that alcohol must be stopped.
With height 5'3'' , 55 kg is not much lower. Fluoxetine can help him to increase appetite ,keeping calm after stopping alcohol and help to increase weight by that way. These effects will be seen after 4 week of duration.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (6 hours later)

Thank you for your quick reply. I checked about disulfiram treatment and it is not supposed to be given without the patient's concern. I believe this is the medicine even our doctor had asked my husband about she had said I have a medicine which will make you averse to alcohol and it will cause vomiting when you drink alcohol. But he said he wants to try the other medicine and try to stop himself first. Now he just isn't ready to go to the doctor. Can I try to give him some similar medicines?

I also checked that Fluoxetine is available in labels like PROzac, PROzac Weekly, Sarafem, Rapiflux, Selfemra, PROzac Pulvules. Can I start giving him any of these medicines for appetite?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
start fluoxetine after informing his doctor,but motivate himfor deaddiction

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for follow up.Sorry for delayed response.

Yes his doctor has mentioned probably about disulfiram. He has denied that tablets. This suggest he is not motivated to quit alcohol by his will.It is also the reason that he is not ready to go to doctor.

Please understand whatever the medicine or supplements will be used are going to in vain if he continues alcohol.You need to motivate him for deaddiction through help of doctor.

Liv -52 and becosules are there for appetite but still he is loosing weight due to alcohol and its effects on liver.

Fluoxetine and topiramate are the drugs which have shown some effects on craving of alcohol and also help in weight gain. I often used in my patients after deaddiction. You can just ask his treating doctor about these medicines and get the prescription and start the same.

Hope this answer is helpful.

If still any query there, I will be happy to answer. If not, you can close the discussion and if feasible give your feedback so I can improve service. In future you can contact me directly on this site if you wish with this link: http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (9 hours later)

Thank you very much for your help. I shall speak to his doctor.

God bless you.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
you are welcome and best wishes

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

You are always welcome.
Best wishes and hope your husband will be ready to quit alcohol.

Take care.
http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki

Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar