Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

How To Treat Hallucinations And Poor Vision While Having Encephalopathy In An Alcoholic?

my boyfriend has been diagnosed w/ alcholic encephalopathy aka Wernicke Kaorsakoff. I brought him to th ER on sept 13th. he started huliccinating and having poor vision along with depth perception. he still is in the hosp. and has a few lucid moments but most of the time he speakes jibberish. he recognizes when I'm there. Having trouble as too how long his recovery will be once he gets more awake
Tue, 17 Oct 2017
Report Abuse
Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on the chronicity of his alcohol abuse, the severity of it, and which of the syndromes he has. Wernicke and Korsakoff are different parts of a syndrome. Patients with Wernicke syndrome generally start to get better within a few days to weeks with appropriate treatment (mainly high doses of thiamine). Korsakoff syndrome on the other hand is generally not reversible and the damage has been done. Ask his doctors which part of the spectrum they think he has.
I hope he starts to improve soon.
I find this answer helpful
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 
Loading Online Doctors....
How To Treat Hallucinations And Poor Vision While Having Encephalopathy In An Alcoholic?

This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on the chronicity of his alcohol abuse, the severity of it, and which of the syndromes he has. Wernicke and Korsakoff are different parts of a syndrome. Patients with Wernicke syndrome generally start to get better within a few days to weeks with appropriate treatment (mainly high doses of thiamine). Korsakoff syndrome on the other hand is generally not reversible and the damage has been done. Ask his doctors which part of the spectrum they think he has. I hope he starts to improve soon.