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How To Overcome The Addiction Towards Gambling?
My brother is a gambler and has attended GA for a decade. He also collects baseball cards by the thousands and also goes through periods of shopping for cheap jewelry and ties and other objects. He is not a typical hoarder as the items are all organized and in boxes-not clutter. He is very distracted by what is in the boxes and can spend hours picking though the box but accomplishing nothing. Does he have another addiction or is he adult attention deficit disorder. He is angry with himself for his behavior but says he cannot control it. He feels desperate to control his behavior but doesn t know how. He has a good job but had a stoke a few years ago due to stress. Can you help?
Thu, 1 Sep 2016
His symptoms point towards a neurotic condition probably obsessive compulsive disorder. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, images, or doubts that repeatedly appear in patient’s mind. Compulsions are repetitive activities that patient do. The aim of a compulsion is to try and deal with the distress caused by the obsessive thoughts and relieve the anxiety.
Advice
1. Fluoxetine 20 mg daily per oral in the morning for 3 months. Fluoxetine causes insomnia so take it in the morning only
2. Alprazolam 0.25 mg at bed time per oral for 3 months
3. Family and social support is needed for total cure of your brother. Your affection and love towards your brother is all which is needed
Dose of fluoxetine might have to increase to 20 mg every 12 hours if your brother does not respond to 20 mg daily. Consult a psychiatrist for better follow up as long term treatment is needed in this condition.
Thanks
Advice
1. Fluoxetine 20 mg daily per oral in the morning for 3 months. Fluoxetine causes insomnia so take it in the morning only
2. Alprazolam 0.25 mg at bed time per oral for 3 months
3. Family and social support is needed for total cure of your brother. Your affection and love towards your brother is all which is needed
Dose of fluoxetine might have to increase to 20 mg every 12 hours if your brother does not respond to 20 mg daily. Consult a psychiatrist for better follow up as long term treatment is needed in this condition.
Thanks
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