Alcoholic neuropathy is damage to the nerves that results from excessive drinking of alcohol.
Alternative NamesNeuropathy - alcoholic; Alcoholic polyneuropathy
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of alcoholic neuropathy is debated. It probably includes both a direct poisoning of the nerve by the alcohol, and the effect of poor nutrition associated with Alcoholism.
In severe cases, the nerves that regulate internal body functions (autonomic nerves) may be involved.
Risks for alcoholic neuropathy include:
Additional symptoms that may occur with this disease:
Note: Changes in muscle strength or sensation usually occur on both sides of the body and are more common in the legs than in the arms. Symptoms usually develop gradually and slowly become worse over time.
Signs and testsYour doctor will get an extensive description of the problem and will perform a neurological exam. Signs may include:
Neurological problems usually affect both sides of the body in this condition.
An eye exam may show decreased pupil response or other problem. Blood pressure may fall when you stand up.
Alcoholism often causes nutritional deficiency. This is because people drink excessively instead of eating properly, and because some vitamins and minerals are used up or lost due to the alcohol. Nutritional studies may show deficiencies of:
Additional tests may be done to rule out other possible causes of neuropathy. Tests may include:
Once the immediate alcohol problem has been addressed, treatment goals include:
It is important to supplement the diet with vitamins, including thiamine and folic acid.
Physical therapy and orthopedic appliances (such as splints) may be needed to maximize muscle function and maintain limb position.
Patients may take medication, if necessary, to treat pain or uncomfortable sensations. The response to medications varies. Patients are advised to take the least amount of medication needed to reduce symptoms, to help prevent drug dependence and other side effects of chronicuse.
Common medications may include over-the-counter analgesics such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen to reduce pain. Tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsant medications such as phenytoin, gabapentin, or carbamazepine may help stabbing pains.
Positioning, or the use of a bed frame that keeps the covers off the legs, may reduce pain for some people.
Some people may need to treat blood pressure problems, difficulty with urination, and slow gastrointestinal movement.
Light-headedness or dizziness when standing up (orthostatic hypotension) may require several different treatments before you find one that successfully reduces symptoms. Treatments that may help include:
Bladder dysfunction may be treated with:
Impotence, diarrhea, constipation, or other symptoms are treated when necessary. These symptoms often respond poorly to treatment in people with alcoholic neuropathy.
It is important to protect body parts with reduced sensation from injury. This may include:
Stop using alcohol to prevent the damage from getting worse. Treatment for alcoholism may include psychiatric therapy social support such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), medications, and behavior modification.
Expectations (prognosis)Damage to nerves from alcoholic neuropathy is usually permanent and may get worse if you continue to use alcohol or do not correct nutritional problems. Symptoms vary from mild discomfort to severe disability. The disorder is usually not life-threatening, but it may severely affect your quality of life.
ComplicationsCall for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy.
PreventionAvoid or minimize alcohol use. Avoiding alcohol entirely is the safest treatment for persons with alcoholism.
ReferencesShy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 446.
Alcoholic neuropathy is damage to the nerves that results from excessive drinking of alcohol.
Alternative NamesNeuropathy - alcoholic; Alcoholic polyneuropathy
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cause of alcoholic neuropathy is debated. It probably includes both a direct poisoning of the nerve by the alcohol, and the effect of poor nutrition associated with alcoholism. Up to half of all long-term heavy alcohol users develop this condition.
In severe cases, the nerves that regulate internal body functions (autonomic nerves) may be involved.
Risks for alcoholic neuropathy include:
Additional symptoms that may occur with this disease:
Note: Changes in muscle strength or sensation usually occur on both sides of the body and are more common in the legs than in the arms. Symptoms usually develop gradually and slowly become worse over time.
Signs and testsYour health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms. An eye exam may show eye problems.
Alcoholism often makes your body unable to use or store certain vitamins and minerals. Blood tests will be done to check for a deficiency (lack of):
Additional tests may be done to rule out other possible causes of neuropathy. Tests may include:
Once the immediate alcohol problem has been addressed, treatment goals include:
It is important to supplement the diet with vitamins, including thiamine and folic acid.
Physical therapy and orthopedic appliances (such as splints) may be needed to maximize muscle function and maintain limb position.
Patients may take medication, if necessary, to treat pain or uncomfortable sensations. The response to medications varies. Patients are advised to take the least amount of medication needed to reduce symptoms, to help prevent drug dependence and other side effects of chronicuse.
Common medications may include over-the-counter analgesics such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen to reduce pain. Tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsant medications may help stabbing pains.
Positioning, or the use of a bed frame that keeps the covers off the legs, may reduce pain for some people.
Some people may need to treat blood pressure problems, difficulty with urination, and slow gastrointestinal movement.
Light-headedness or dizziness when standing up (orthostatic hypotension) may require several different treatments before you find one that successfully reduces symptoms. Treatments that may help include:
Bladder dysfunction may be treated with:
Impotence, diarrhea, constipation, or other symptoms are treated when necessary. These symptoms often respond poorly to treatment in people with alcoholic neuropathy.
It is important to protect body parts with reduced sensation from injury. This may include:
Stop using alcohol to prevent the damage from getting worse. Treatment for alcoholism may include psychiatric therapy social support such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), medications, and behavior modification.
Expectations (prognosis)Damage to nerves from alcoholic neuropathy is usually permanent and may get worse if you continue to use alcohol or do not correct nutritional problems. Symptoms vary from mild discomfort to severe disability. The disorder is usually not life-threatening, but it may severely affect your quality of life.
ComplicationsCall for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy.
PreventionAvoid or minimize alcohol use.
ReferencesShy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 446.
Harati Y, Bosch EP. Disorders of peripheral nerves. In: Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J, eds. Bradley: Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Butterworth-Heinemann Elsevier; 2008:chap 80.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 04/30/2011
Kevin Sheth, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
NeuropathyNeuropathy is usually short for peripheral neuropathy, meaning a disease of the peripheral nervous system. Strictly speaking, however, neuropathy is any disease that affects any part of the nervous system. Neuropathy often results in numbness, abnormal sensations called dysesthesias and allodynias that occur either spontaneously or in reaction to external stimuli, and a characteristic form of pain, called neuropathic pain or neuralgia, that is qualitatively different from the ordinary nociceptive pain one might experience from stubbing a toe or hitting a finger with a hammer.Neuropathic pain is usually perceived as a steady burning and/or "pins and needles" and/or "electric shock" sensations. The difference is due to the fact that "ordinary" pain stimulates only pain nerves, while a neuropathy often results in the firing of both pain and non-pain (touch, warm, cool) sensory nerves in the same area, producing signals that the spinal cord and brain do not normally expect to receive.11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NeuropathyCommon causes of neuropathy include diabetic peripheral neuropathy, alcoholic neuropathy, and various polyneuropathies.
alcoholic and non alcoholic
You say "I am an alcoholic."
Tea isn't alcoholic.
He is not an alcoholic, but he does drink.
I am an Alcoholic.
alchoholic+ship=pirate
An alcoholic under the age of 18.
will an alcoholic survive a marriage
An alcoholic drink.
Pirate = Alcoholic + Ship
A correct prefix to add to "alcoholic" could be "non-," changing it to "non-alcoholic," which means without alcohol.