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How To Quit Alcohol While Suffering From Diabetic Periphial Neuropathy?
My husband has severe diabetic periphial neuropathy. He drinks some beer daily to relax his legs so he can walk on them easier. He wants to quit drinking alcohol and has asked me to see if there is a drug he can take that will give him the same relaxed feeling. He is already on an anti anxiety pill. I was researching librium. Do you have any recommendations I can approach his PCP with?
Tue, 11 Oct 2016
Hello.
Alcohol as well as diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy on their own too. Also, alcohol intake especially beer makes the blood sugars go high thus defeating any measures he may be making for diabetic control. You are right in seeking to stop his alcohol intake.
Librium or chlordiazepoxide is a good option and I have used it on many patients with satisfactory effect. It is given in the dosage of 25-75mg per day. It does have some interactions with certain medications like antihypertensive drugs, phenytoin (dilantin), rifampicin (TB drug), etc. but can be taken relatively safely if these are avoided.
Disulfiram (Antabuse) and Naltrexone are other possible options. Disulfiram causes very severe reactions if alcohol is consumed when on the drug. You can discuss the options with his physician.
Since your husband seems very motivated, these drugs might help him control his craving if he has any.
In addition to these, there are other drugs which are for neuropathy itself - for eg. Gapapentin, Pregabalin, Amytriptyline. These have a mild sedative effect by themselves. You can discuss these options with the physician and see whether there is any interaction with the medicines he is already on.
Hope this helps. Wishing him good health.
Regards,
Dr Geeta
Alcohol as well as diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy on their own too. Also, alcohol intake especially beer makes the blood sugars go high thus defeating any measures he may be making for diabetic control. You are right in seeking to stop his alcohol intake.
Librium or chlordiazepoxide is a good option and I have used it on many patients with satisfactory effect. It is given in the dosage of 25-75mg per day. It does have some interactions with certain medications like antihypertensive drugs, phenytoin (dilantin), rifampicin (TB drug), etc. but can be taken relatively safely if these are avoided.
Disulfiram (Antabuse) and Naltrexone are other possible options. Disulfiram causes very severe reactions if alcohol is consumed when on the drug. You can discuss the options with his physician.
Since your husband seems very motivated, these drugs might help him control his craving if he has any.
In addition to these, there are other drugs which are for neuropathy itself - for eg. Gapapentin, Pregabalin, Amytriptyline. These have a mild sedative effect by themselves. You can discuss these options with the physician and see whether there is any interaction with the medicines he is already on.
Hope this helps. Wishing him good health.
Regards,
Dr Geeta
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