Thiamin

[Jajay]

Hi, my gp has prescribed Thiamine, she hasn't said how long I need to take it for ? I have a little bit of fatty liver, but that's all I know, what sort of question should I be asking and how worried should I be?

[Roy1955]

"A little bit of fatty liver" is like saying your a little bit pregnant😜.

Neither can be described as "little bit"

I think you might have missed out the part where she advised you to quit alcohol and make lifestyle changes!Thiamin is not a cure, it MIGHT help with symptoms for a while but it's given to alcohol dependant people because their habit stops it being absorbed from their normal diet.

[Jajay in reply to Roy1955]

That's all the Dr said was a little bit fatty ! She did say I needed to cut down or stop , and referred me to alcohol support services, no other medication was given but I was told to get acamprosate to help.

[Roy1955 in reply to Jajay]

If you Dr's suggesting acamprosate she must be convinced your alcohol "problem" is out of control.You can't buy acamprosate over the counter, it's a serious med.

The counseling service might prescribe it.

Did you know you can self refer to alcohol addiction services?

Look up your local ones.

It's faster than going through your Dr.

PS

If your googeling "am I an alcoholic" the answers YES.

[Jajay in reply to Roy1955]

I am under no illusion that I'm an alcoholic, the GP didn't recommend acamprosate I know of it , also I have seen the counsellor who suggested I get it from the GP. I just wanted some answers as to why she prescribed it really? As all the other Dr's I spoke to over the years never mentioned it? Should I ask for a breakdown of all my test results?

[Roy1955 in reply to Jajay]

Results don't really matter now but your Dr should explain how she came to the fatty liver diagnosisThe only thing that matters is quiting before fatty liver turns into full on cirrhosis.

I ignored the warning, half heartedly went to counselling several times over 10 years and my fatty liver became a sick liver.

Thiamin and B complex strong was prescribed for me but it's NOT a treatment, it's just replacing a little of what alcohol is preventing your system from absorbing from food.

The ONLY treatment that's going to help is quiting booze.

I did a supervised at home medical assisted detox that the counselling arranged.

Is there a CGL (change, grow, live) or Adaction group in your area.?

[KazKat in reply to Roy1955]

That sounds just like me!Diagnosed with Compensated cirrhosis in January this year. Originally diagnosed with a fatty liver. Didn't change my lifestyle.......

Biggest wake-up call ever!

Now taking care of myself and feeling better about myself too! Finding a group like this has really helped, knowing I'm not alone. x

[Jajay in reply to Roy1955]

Im going to speak to my Dr about my diagnosis, I've cut down my units by half the last 2 weeks and hoping to eventually quit but scared of withdrawals etc but that's something I need to speak to my alcohol counsellor about,I'm in Scotland by the way

[Roy1955 in reply to Jajay]

0131 557 5273That's the phone number for CGL in Edinburgh.

Call them!

[Jajay in reply to Roy1955]

I have joined FASS which is the Fife equivalent

[Roy1955 in reply to Jajay]

Great, ask them about at home medical detox.They might even arrange residential detox but there's quite a long wait.

Do that and you won't get any unmanagable withdrawal symptoms.

Plenty of counselling first though.

[An1063]

morning. I was prescribed thiamine or B1 supplements for long standing alcohol dependence as Roy says because it’s missing from your diet. It’s serious as it is essential for the nervous system and I was close to alcohol related brain damage.

I took this 3 times a day for 3 months and now down to 1 a day after completely abstinence from alcohol.

Keep taking it and ask about the affects of alcohol on your functioning.

I had lots of cognitive tests on balance, motor skills etc.

my balance is still not great but otherwise fine.

Keep taking it and avoid booze and things will stabilise if not improve

One of the often underreported conditions attributed to alcoholism

Try not to worry and take care

PS it’s cheaper over the counter rather than prescription

[Roy1955 in reply to An1063]

Prescribed alongside "B complex strong" ?

[Jajay in reply to An1063]

Should I ask for more tests ?

[Jajay in reply to An1063]

Should I ask for more tests?: Thanks

[Nip1]

Hi,I was diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis 22 months ago and I myself was prescribed thiamine.. 100mg 3 times a day and I still take them. I know they are for thiamine deficiency but it depends on your overall diagnosis and what the level of your deficiency is. I also believe that they help with withdrawal symptoms although I don't know if yours is alcohol related. Ask your GP what exactly they were prescribed for and how long they intend to keep you on them.

Hope this helps and all the best

Nip1

[Jajay in reply to Nip1]

I'll speak to her as I wasn't given much information 😞

[An1063]

you could ask so you understand what they are prescribing for and take it from there. Cognitive tests are useful to understand how much impact there is on core functions

I am taking B1 Thiamine 100mg which seems to be typical.