I am relatively new here. My husband will be 62 in Sept. and was diagnosed a year ago. I would say he is in Stage 4. He drinks beer, always has. I noticed right off that it had much more of an effect on him with the AD. I have convinced him to cut down to once or twice a week - he says it is the only vice he has left. Last night, I left him with one of our friends while the friend's wife and I went to a meeting. He had too much beer to drink, but he was not in bad shape when we left there. We got home, watched and hour of TV and while we were getting ready for bed, he had a complete break with reality. Made me go through the house 3 times, turning lights on, looking for "the kids." At first, I tried to tell him that we no longer have any kids at home, but he was not buying it. When I finally got him to specify what "kids" he was referring to, it was 2 of his kids who live in Michigan with their mother - they are 16 and 18 - and he thought they were 4 or 5, lived with us and why weren't they home and in bed. I never could convince him, so I finally just told him that I knew where they were and they were fine. I asked him if I should set the clock if he was going to play golf on Wed. (he plays with the seniors, I drive him and pick him up). He said, "What are you talking about.....I don't play golf!" So I think he had reverted back to when the kids were little and he really didn't play golf back then. This morning, he was back to his normal and didn't remember any of it. Has anyone else had experience with the effect of alcohol on AD? I have learned so much here already and would like to hear your comments on this subject. Thanks.
I think much of it depends on the kinds of medications he is on. Most of them say no alcohol. My DH always drank scotch/water. After being on Aricept and Namenda, I noticed it was affecting him much more. I mentioned it and he was accepting of it and quit the scotch. He was much better. Then he decided he wanted to drink some wine and we tried several kinds - he didn't like it - never did. Then settled on cream sherry. But he was drinking too much of it and got worse again. He has finally settled for a very small glass of sherry over ice late in the afternoon when I have a glass of wine. This doesn't bother him very much - but I do notice some difference from when he doesn't drink it and when he does. He also sleeps much better without it. Of course, any alcohol affects the brain somewhat - so it's logical that it may cause problems for the AD person.
Mine has always had a glass of sherry before dinner, and wine with dinner, as have I. He has continued to have the sherry, and it not only doesn't seem to affect him, it's the best way for me to get him to focus on getting into the kitchen/breakfastroom for dinner. The wine - I buy a box of the not-quite-terrible stuff, have a half-carafe which I fill partly with wine and partly with water, and keep in the fridge. That way he thinks he's having more than he is. He's on namenda, neurontin, trazadone.
Even before my dh was diagnosed, I noticed a big difference in him if he had a drink or two. I got him to switch to spritzers (wine and either ginger ale or sprite) and it was better as he was consuming 1/2 the alcohol. When he had more, he often became more disconnected and agumentative.
My DH drinks 1 to 2 glasses of wine a day. Once in a while I'll find him drinking a glass of wine about 9:30 or 10 a.m. I asked his why he's drinking wine before lunCH. he doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about. I just take it from him and tell him that's his lunch beverage.
I dont notice the wine affecting him much one way or the other.
My husband has a half glass of wine when I get home in the evening. It doesn't seem to affect him either. Just part of our ritual for the last few years. My daughter told me privately that she thought I should stop giving him wine, so I stopped one day. He came in the kitchen and poured himself a large glass of wine! I went back to pouring him his half glass! <grin>
My husband loved his before dinner drink. Whether it was the Ad or the drugs (Namenda, Razadyne or Lexapro plus BP meds) or both he would become more confused, lethargic and actually fell from having one more than usual. Found out he "forgot' he had poured a drink and would consume more. After several "discussions" I decided to try to pour his drinks and then when all reasoning failed, diluted the vodka and let him be in control. It is mainly water and I make sure he has eaten and let him "drink" to his hearts content. We are both happier!
My husband has always enjoyed his glass of red wine with dinner. He takes his meds around the same time and there have been no ill effects as far as I can tell. Last night we were out and he had his wine just before bed. I thought it was best not to give him his sleeping then and we both paid for it with a bad night. Next time I will make sure he has his wine with dinner.
My Husband was born and raised in Italy..at 7 years of age he was cleaning the inside of the wine vats...He has always enjoyed his wine for Lunch and Dinner, he doesn't drink as much as he use to...he now averages about 2 glasses a day, He is on Zoloft, Xanax, Aricept.. I don't see a great change with his drinking.. His main pleasure is eatting and drinking his wine, at this point, why would I take that away from him??? Would You?? Rosalie
my DH was a drinker as well all his life. not alcholic but close. he loved his cold beer in the pm after work. when we started the alz meds the neuro said not to mix with alchohol and he never had more after that. one time at a family dinner the SIL gave him a cold beer and he was quite content to guzzle it down and ask for another- he was quite irrational and confused later at bedtime. so i dont allow any now to be on the safe side. i think it depends on the medications, the persons resistance and tolerance. divvi
Years ago while on vacation in the Caribbean we would have a martini or pina colada before bedtime and I was taking ambian because I have trouble sleeping while traveling. I had nightmares, and a feeling of "losing it". So, I never forgot the feeling and don't want it again.
Ohmygosh, Lois. A martini with an ambien chaser? I take Ambien and I was warned to be careful about mixing the two. I just "don't" mix. When I have that wonderful martini, I skip the ambien...vice versa. Life is full of choices - isn't it.
Who was the columnist who sat on the panel for "What's My Line" or "I've Got A Secret", that quite innocently took a sleeping pill after enjoying a New York dinner out with friends, and died. Was it Dorothy Kilgallen? I have been very cautious since then.
DH's doctor says "no wine". Since Sutter Home White Zin (DH's wine of choice) makes a non-alcoholic White Zin called FRE I buy that and pour two glasses into a regular Sutter Home bottle and he drinks it after dinner and has never noticed the difference. (I think it tastes like week Kool-aid.) This solved the problem. He has his wine and I have peace of mind.
my dh would always ask for a beer and if he drank it he would become very confused and get angry with me can u imagine him with more than one, we had a discusion on this and he agreed not to drink any more, the nursing home has a social hour and they asked me if he should go , they are alowed one beer or wine, of course I said no unless they want to put up with him
I am terrified to give my dh any alcohol. Thank God he quit drinking and smoking before ad was dx'd. I take meds and would not be comfortable drinking. I guess for me, it just makes sense. I do have to say on a lighter note, 30 years ago I was on weight watchers. I was so happy with my weight loss and did not drink anything. Well, we went to Vegas and saw Sigfried and Roy and their live animals. At that time, when you bought your ticket, you got 3 drinks. Little did I know, they served all 3 at once. Well, naturally we were busy and hadn't eaten that day. As I drank my drinks I suddenly realized there were alot more animals on that stage than there should have been!! It was a fabulous show to begin with but with 3 drinks, it was even more heroic with all the animals and people on stage!!! That cured me from drinking on an empty stomach but I am too afraid of mixing all these drugs with booze. I love that some of you have replaced some of the wine with water!! Pretty good. Whatever works!!
My husband & I used to have wine with dinner. Since he's been out of money & I haven't been able to drive, no wine in the house since my fall April 23. I have definitely noticed that his rants stopped immediately thereafter. Sure, he can get testy, but not the stupid rants. I certainly am not bringing any more wine into the house!
There is a Senior living Facility near us called Eden Brook. It's managed by Sunrise Senior LIving...they are all over the country. I know they have "Happy Hour" several afternoons a week, with beer and wine. I would expect that residents have to have permission to participate. I think it's perfectly OK...might be a way to get some people to visit who wouldn't want to come and "just sit" otherwise.