Beer and Xanax

[Worried_Daughter427]

My father is 77 years old... he has been an alcoholic his entire life....but has tapered down in his elder years... he may go months or a year without driniking.... He just recently finished 45 treatments for prostate cancer...a few weeks later he decided to drink some beer and he and my mother got into it and she left.  She stayed with members of the family for 5 weeks..  My father stayed at the house alone... I talked to him off and on through this 5 weeks....at times I could tell he had been drinking and other times he seemed perfectly coherent.  I talked to him on a Sunday, he did not return my call on a Tuesday night.  I went to the house and found him Wednesday in an unbelievable state, i.e., he had vomit caked on both sides of his face, etc., he was in a very bad state. I called an ambulance and they took him to the hospital. I later found out he may have taken approx. 30 xanax pills.... he is precribed  1 mg. up to 4 a day.   He has been in the hospital now for 7 days.  He still has a minor touch of pnemonia but all his vital signs look good, however he is very disoriented, will not eat, very weak, talks out of his head and very combative toward nursing personnel... they are now thinking he could have mental problems.. does this sound like withdrawals since he is not getting any better?

[uphill7584]

It sounds like he just might be having a hard time with everything. It sounds like he has had a tough ride as of late. Do you think there is a chance he may have tried to overdose himself? That could be why he is so combative. He may be angry, embarassed, depressed still...I would definitley bring in a psychology professional to meet with him. Good luck. I hope everything works out.

[what2donow]

Im not sure what to say.Just hang in there.....Im sure someone else will answer soon.
Im so sorry and I know you must be worried sick.
Did you tell the doc all of his problems?You have to be very upfront with them so they can help.
You guys are in my prayers