Posted by Reggie BoStar on December 31, 2008, at 5:19:21
In reply to Can't touch alcohol! : (, posted by englishman006 on December 28, 2008, at 16:25:13
I'm a hard-core alcoholic and can't touch the stuff because one drink triggers a binge that puts me in the hospital every time.
However I was still drinking when I first started combinations of SSRIs, SNRIs, Wellbutrin, Buspar, Neurontin, and various other add-ons that have come and gone.
My experience with alcohol and whatever mix of those drugs I was also taking is that the alcohol completely erased the effects of the anti-depressants. That was all, but that was enough.
It's possible that my history of heavy drinking gave me a higher tolerance to alcohol, and that this tolerance prevented other effects such as the sudden exhaustion and dehydration you report.
The binges and eventual hospitalization had nothing to do with whatever meds I was taking. The alcohol did that by itself.
I should point out that I have never been prescribed anything in the Benzodiazepine class of drugs. Those are the anti-stress and sedating drugs such as Ativan, Librium, etc. For me they are highly addicting. Also, given my heavy binge drinking, I probably would not be here now. Benzos and alcohol are a deadly mix. I'm not familiar with the drugs you're taking; but if any of them are in a class of drug similar in effect to the Benzos, you could be risking your life by mixing booze with them.
The fact that you become horizontal after only a few drinks could indicate that dangerous levels of sedation are in store if you drink much more than that.
You really should fess up and tell your doctor what you're doing. At least find out whether or not you're risking your life.
One of the things a recovering alcoholic like myself first learns is that old social contacts involving alcohol must go away. That usually means finding a whole new set of friends who either don't drink or drink sparingly.
As you said, it's a real pain to be out with friends who drink when you can't have any. For me, it's more than a pain - it's deadly. The old drinking buddies had to go. If you can't get a handle on what you're doing with the booze and the meds, you may have to make a similar change.
Sorry if that sounds harsh. When I first quit drinking, I thought it sounded harsh too. Then I had to make it happen.
Take care and good luck,
Reggie BoStar
poster:Reggie BoStar
thread:871197
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081223/msgs/871584.html