Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Does Drug Addiction Cause Brain Swelling?
Question: MY brother has been taking UP TO 8 Ambien/day, 2 or 3 Seroquel/day, and a few NORCOS/15mg Morphine when he can hustle them. He is a Supervisor of a large CORP. and avoids taking his meds at work.. (12hr shift).
This past week he began to have severe Stomache cramps and uncontrolled diahrea with Red Blood in it.
He leaves work, and takes a Serequel on his way home. His Stomache begins cramping so bad that he pulls over in a parking lot to let it pass/REST and decide to either Drive on home.. OR call his wife or my dad and I to come get him (after midnight).
The very next thing he remembers is a Deputy Sherriff is pulling him up and he doesn't know where he is or why they are doing that to him.. And he releases his bowels all over the OTHER 2 officers and himself as well. He DOES NOT KNOW HOW HE GOT INSIDE THAT BUILDING OR WHEN HE GOT INSIDE! BUT A 2nd security system saw him wondering around.. damaging 2 doors AND ripping a different security system off of the wall and trashing it for NO REASON!! HE WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL ON A P.R (PROMISE to return) because the D.A KNOWS us very welk.. the next day he went to the E.R and had a full check-up and they found "SLIGHT SWELLING OF THE BRAIN!"..
One Dr. says it's due to lack of Oxygen for AT LEAST 3 minutes or more.. another Dr. says it could be due to more than 10 yrs worth of Drug Addiction to Ambien, Amitriptyline, Sequel, Norco, Morphine, & Oxycontin.. (or the more than 12 hrs of WITHDRAWLS he was feeling from not having his meds yet that day)..Which he was Prescribed or Admitted to taking from others or otherwise obtaining at one or more times in the last 6 yrs..
MY QUESTIONS TO YOU ARE....
1). ARE HIS SO-CALLED "BLACKOUTS" A REAL THING?
2). CAN HIS BLACKOUTS BE CAUSED BY HIS DRUG ADDICTION?
3). CAN SOMEONE REALLY DRIVE AROUND, DO THINGS, AND NOT REMEMBER.. LIKE SLEEP WALKING BUT CAUSED BY AMBIEN?
4). CAN THE SLIGHT SWELLING ON HIS BRAIN REALLY BE CAUSED BY ...
A. drug interaction
B. long term drug addiction
C. drug withdrawal symptoms
D. or more likely a head injury from his arrest??
PLEASE HELP SHED SOME LIGHT!
MY LIL BRO NEEDS ME
This past week he began to have severe Stomache cramps and uncontrolled diahrea with Red Blood in it.
He leaves work, and takes a Serequel on his way home. His Stomache begins cramping so bad that he pulls over in a parking lot to let it pass/REST and decide to either Drive on home.. OR call his wife or my dad and I to come get him (after midnight).
The very next thing he remembers is a Deputy Sherriff is pulling him up and he doesn't know where he is or why they are doing that to him.. And he releases his bowels all over the OTHER 2 officers and himself as well. He DOES NOT KNOW HOW HE GOT INSIDE THAT BUILDING OR WHEN HE GOT INSIDE! BUT A 2nd security system saw him wondering around.. damaging 2 doors AND ripping a different security system off of the wall and trashing it for NO REASON!! HE WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL ON A P.R (PROMISE to return) because the D.A KNOWS us very welk.. the next day he went to the E.R and had a full check-up and they found "SLIGHT SWELLING OF THE BRAIN!"..
One Dr. says it's due to lack of Oxygen for AT LEAST 3 minutes or more.. another Dr. says it could be due to more than 10 yrs worth of Drug Addiction to Ambien, Amitriptyline, Sequel, Norco, Morphine, & Oxycontin.. (or the more than 12 hrs of WITHDRAWLS he was feeling from not having his meds yet that day)..Which he was Prescribed or Admitted to taking from others or otherwise obtaining at one or more times in the last 6 yrs..
MY QUESTIONS TO YOU ARE....
1). ARE HIS SO-CALLED "BLACKOUTS" A REAL THING?
2). CAN HIS BLACKOUTS BE CAUSED BY HIS DRUG ADDICTION?
3). CAN SOMEONE REALLY DRIVE AROUND, DO THINGS, AND NOT REMEMBER.. LIKE SLEEP WALKING BUT CAUSED BY AMBIEN?
4). CAN THE SLIGHT SWELLING ON HIS BRAIN REALLY BE CAUSED BY ...
A. drug interaction
B. long term drug addiction
C. drug withdrawal symptoms
D. or more likely a head injury from his arrest??
PLEASE HELP SHED SOME LIGHT!
MY LIL BRO NEEDS ME
Brief Answer:
The drugs possibly have a role to play
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. Let me try to answer your queries one by one:
1) Possibly
2) Yes
3) Yes
4)
A. Yes
B. Yes
C. Yes
D. Possible but not essential
His abnormal behavior could have been precipitated by the brain swelling and the drugs possibly have a role to play. It is hard to conclusively suggest whether withdrawal is involved. A closer look and a proper correlation is needed. That could be hard. Nevertheless, you should involve your brother's treating physician in this.
Regards
The drugs possibly have a role to play
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. Let me try to answer your queries one by one:
1) Possibly
2) Yes
3) Yes
4)
A. Yes
B. Yes
C. Yes
D. Possible but not essential
His abnormal behavior could have been precipitated by the brain swelling and the drugs possibly have a role to play. It is hard to conclusively suggest whether withdrawal is involved. A closer look and a proper correlation is needed. That could be hard. Nevertheless, you should involve your brother's treating physician in this.
Regards
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
