Questions posted in the The Addiction Forum have been answered by Steven Adelman, M.D. and by Richard C. Bozian M.D. F.A.C.P. of Harvard Vanguard Medical Group.

Question Title: DT's in the Elderly

Forum: The Addiction Forum
Topic: Alcoholism

Posted by Lori Lewis on July 14, 1999 at 05:32:34

My father is 70+ years of age. He's been drinking heavily for 20 or more of them. He was at 1 litre a day. Now he's trying to quit after a serious binge. 3 days sober, the doctor prescribed CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE 25 mgs 4Xdaily. He's got serious shakes, confused, he walks, barely, very weak. In your opinion, is this going to get better? He still tries to move around I am worried he may hurt himself. Are there resources?

Posted by SA, M.D., - HVMA on July 16, 1999 at 12:59:48

Dear Lori,

Detoxifying a 70 year-old with underlying medical and/or psychiatric problems is often very tricky and is most safely conducted in an inpatient facility where there is expertise in the treatment of alcoholism. Confusion can be a very dangerous thing in anyone, especially an elderly person in withdrawal. Your father should be taken to an emergency room for a complete medical evaluation before things go from bad to worse.

DrSteve: http://www.drsteve.org

Keywords: alcoholism, detox, detoxification, withdrawal confusion, delirium

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