Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
The participation of Dr. Ewald Horwath in this Forum is made possible by Boehringer Ingelheim.
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hiv, alcoholism and cocaine
Feb 3, 2004
my boyfriend was diagnosed HIV + 4 years ago when he was 18 and started treatment after 12 months. Over the last couple of years he has started drinking heavly and in the last 6 months very heavly and also started using cocaine. How will this drug use affect his combination therapy? He has also started behaving very violently and having severe mood swings as well as delusions and paranoia - he has injured me many times but cannot control these rages - they are getting worse:- is the combination of drugs damaging his brain ?- he just seems to get worse - he also refuses to see anyone about this - any advice - i love him very much and i can't watch his decline - i try and help him but i need more practical things to do - i 've asked some doctors but they say he has to ask for help - which he wont do - i don't know how it will end, please help. Dan
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Response from Dr. Horwath
First and foremost, if he has been violent with you and injured you, you need to get away from him. It does not help you or him if you allow him to continue to have violent episodes and injure you. It gives him the message that this is OK, but it is definitely not OK.
Clearly, his cocaine and alcohol abuse are causing a paranoia, mood changes and violent behavior. You need to tell him that he has to go for treatment today or you are out of there. If he still doesn't get treatment, one of you needs to leave. If you love him, then don't continue to enable his drug and alcohol abuse. Set a limit with him and stick to it.
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