Posted by AuntieMel on August 31, 2004, at 14:43:29
In reply to alcoholics and antidepressant question, posted by Shadowplayers721 on August 30, 2004, at 18:51:58
While I was actively drinking, I took paxil, then effexor. Neither made a difference in the drinking, but the combination didn't seem to be lethal either.
My depression predated the drinking and drinking was a way of self medicating. Interesting enough, my everyday functioning was fine while drinking - it was only the home life that had problems. Even my hubby said I was more functional while drinking.
After a few months of walking around in a sober fog, I finally - thanks to the babble archives - ended up finding an online article about the possiblity that for a small percentage of the heavy drinkers alcohol *increases* dopamine and has an *antidepressant* effect - the opposite of most. I got my doc to add wellbutrin to the mix and things are a lot better. Not perfect, but better.
I was lucky to find a program that started with a few days of detox, followed by 5 weeks of intensive outpatient - 3 hours of group with a counselor, 4 days a week.
The vitamins recommended by the detox were B-12 and folic acid - drinking depletes those - and a good multi.
As for AA being necessary - that is true for a large percentage of the population. I'm just not one of that percentage either. I go to occasional meetings, but I'm for sure not a 12-stepper. But I do a lot of the same type of personal work in therapy, so it is getting done.
It's been 16 months.
Mel
poster:AuntieMel
thread:384290
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040830/msgs/384831.html