Sunday, June 08, 2008 Lillian asks

Q: how to cut down on my husband's drinking?I manage how much he drinks because he can't remember?

My husband,who is 76, has Alzheimer's and is taking 10 mg of Aricept once a day. The doctor wants him to stop drinking. However, when I try and cut back on the alcohol I give him, he gets really angry abuses me verbally to the point where I give in and give him more.

Right now, he gets about 8 ozs of brandy which I dilute half and half with water. So I give him those little 2 oz bottles about 4 times a day. I really want to wean him off of the alcohol but he gets verbally abusive with me. What can I do?

Lilllian

Answers (3)

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Dorian Martin

6/ 8/08 6:02pm

Hi, Lillian,

I tried to answer your question earlier this week. In case you didn't see it, here's the link:

http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/question/24023/29842

Take care!

Dorian

Carol Bradley Bursack

6/ 9/08 12:20pm

Has he always been a drinker, or is this something new? If it's new, he may have forgotten he had what you said he had, and be mad because you're "holding out." Then, it becomes one more Alzheimer's puzzle for you and the doctor to try to figure out.

If he's always been a heavy drinker, he is likely dealing with some withdrawal when the alcohol is withheld, so maybe the doctor needs to look at ways to help him through this. Watering it down, of course helps.

Even if the doctor can help him with physical withdrawal, he may also be "emotionally addicted." Alcoholism in elders is very difficult (as you know) because of the medications they take, because of their metabolism changes and their tendency to fall more easily. If this doctor doesn't fully understand addiction (and if this is a long-term problem just made worse by Alzheimer's), then you may need to find a different doctor to handle this part of your husband's illness.

jenny7oh

7/21/08 10:45pm

I have asimilar problem with mom. Only its with coffee. Coffee morning noon and night. Before I got her to drink tea part of the day. But now its coffee allday.I know liquor is serious. Sometimes I try to give her fruit and juice mixed with water.She is diabetic. Could you water down his drinks? I know they have this idea they are dying and they want to go out with a bang. They are tired of all the rules and meds.Could you water it down?He is going to complain,if you cant do it by switching with juice.Keep it in a locked cabinet,and you makethem.Its easy to say just throw the liquor inthe house out.Maybe you can tell him no more drinking period.I really don't know. Hitting you is abusive-and verbal abuse is just as bad. I will put you in my prayers-its not easy

Q: how to cut down on my husband's drinking?I manage how much he drinks because he can't remember?

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