Questions about Wernicke's - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

persephone · 04-20-2009, 01:12 PM

My friend has been an alcoholic for 12 years or so. He exhibits all the signs of Wernicke's- eye movement, confabulation, gait ataxia, tingling in extremities, confusion. He has had these symptoms intermittently for three years, sometimes three times a day, sometimes not for a month. Recently, his memory seems worse. He can't remember things about me he has always known. He still functions at work. My question is only this- can you find me any information that can tell me how long he has until korsakoff's sets in, or until death? I know these things effect people differently, I wondered if anyone knew anything. I am trying, not to save him, but to come to terms with it for myself.

It's not clear that anyone has actually done much study of how long it takes for wernicke's to turn into korsakoff's psychosis... probably because alcoholics are so good at covering these symptoms. does anyone have any experience with this?

My friend does not have cirrhosis, or the heart problems associated with alcholism, only this encephalopathy.

***Morning Glory*** · 04-22-2009, 01:27 AM

The information I just read seems to say that severe thiamine deficiency results in Wernicke's Encephalopathy and it can be treated with thiamine and B complex before it turns into KORSAKOFF SYNDROME, which can't be treated.

Scroll down to the middle of the page.

Articles 2000, Newsletter - Medical Council on Alcohol

04-20-2009, 01:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
persephone Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2	Questions about Wernicke's My friend has been an alcoholic for 12 years or so. He exhibits all the signs of Wernicke's- eye movement, confabulation, gait ataxia, tingling in extremities, confusion. He has had these symptoms intermittently for three years, sometimes three times a day, sometimes not for a month. Recently, his memory seems worse. He can't remember things about me he has always known. He still functions at work. My question is only this- can you find me any information that can tell me how long he has until korsakoff's sets in, or until death? I know these things effect people differently, I wondered if anyone knew anything. I am trying, not to save him, but to come to terms with it for myself. It's not clear that anyone has actually done much study of how long it takes for wernicke's to turn into korsakoff's psychosis... probably because alcoholics are so good at covering these symptoms. does anyone have any experience with this? My friend does not have cirrhosis, or the heart problems associated with alcholism, only this encephalopathy.

04-22-2009, 01:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
*Morning Glory* Administrator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: CA Posts: 9,968 Blog Entries: 2	The information I just read seems to say that severe thiamine deficiency results in Wernicke's Encephalopathy and it can be treated with thiamine and B complex before it turns into KORSAKOFF SYNDROME, which can't be treated. Scroll down to the middle of the page. Articles 2000, Newsletter - Medical Council on Alcohol __________________ “Come to the edge.” “We can't. We're afraid.” “Come to the edge.” “We can't. We will fall!” “Come to the edge.” And they came. And he pushed them. And they flew. Guillaume Apollinaire, 1880-1918

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