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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jaynee on May 27, 2003, at 22:20:10
Well I have been on Celexa for about 4 to 5 months was on it before for about 8 months. Anyways, I couldn't drink while on it, because it just did nothing. Didn't get me high or anything. But I had a beer today, got a buzz and kept going. On my 5th now, and feeling pretty good. Does that mean the Celexa may not be working anymore? The other problem is, I can't seem to get high enough.
Want to hear something really sick.......I motivated myself to go for a 5km run, by promising myself a beer if I finished it in 25 minutes. I feel like I am losing it. I feel great better than ever, maybe that is why I want to get drunk again. I have a problem with drinking, once I start, can't seem to stop. OH well...............
I must be really bored to be sharing this with you. But back to my question, do you think the Celexa has stopped working, if I can drink again?
Posted by BekkaH on May 28, 2003, at 6:43:16
In reply to Drinking on Celexa, posted by Jaynee on May 27, 2003, at 22:20:10
Have you considered AA?
Posted by fallsfall on May 28, 2003, at 7:43:53
In reply to Drinking on Celexa, posted by Jaynee on May 27, 2003, at 22:20:10
Celexa is an Anti-depressant. Alchohol is a depressant. The alchohol negates the work that the Celexa is doing. So when you drink you lose the anti-depressant effect.
In general, it is not recommended to combine anti-depressants and alchohol.
Posted by theo on May 28, 2003, at 10:27:59
In reply to Drinking on Celexa, posted by Jaynee on May 27, 2003, at 22:20:10
A "not so simple answer," don't drink. I stopped drinking 38 days now after doing it for 22 years, the last 10 years trying to take SSRI's with it to offset the depression. IT DOESN'T WORK!!! I'm not trying to push AA but it has helped me tremendously and it's free! Money is not an issue with me but some therapists do not really "focus" on alcoholism nor doctors. Hope this helps.
Posted by janejj on May 28, 2003, at 16:02:02
In reply to Drinking on Celexa, posted by Jaynee on May 27, 2003, at 22:20:10
Jaynee,
my doctor told me it is different every time you drink alcohol on SSRI's sometimes you will not seem to get drunk at all and other times you may be rolling around on the floor after one glass of wine ! I have found this to be true.
I stopped taking Celexa cos it made me put on weight and I'm concentrating on yoga and exercise, seems to be doing the trick, but for how long I don't know.
janejj
Posted by linkadge on May 29, 2003, at 20:31:00
In reply to Re: Drinking on Celexa, posted by janejj on May 28, 2003, at 16:02:02
Yes it depreses your cognition and alertness, but not nessicarily your mood. Lorazepam is a 'depressant' but not really a mood depressant.
Alchohol should't directly effect the antidepresant responce of Celexa as their actions are on different neurotransmitter systems.
Alcohol is best avoided because in the long term general is no good for general health.
Some people who remain dependant on Alcohol after antidepressant treatment, sometimes respond better to mood stabalizing medication, which tends to have more 'beer effect'
Linkadge
Posted by Caleb462 on May 30, 2003, at 1:14:32
In reply to Alchohol isn't really a depresant , posted by linkadge on May 29, 2003, at 20:31:00
> Yes it depreses your cognition and alertness, but not nessicarily your mood. Lorazepam is a 'depressant' but not really a mood depressant.
Indeed... many people tend to confusion physical depression (slowed breathing, slowed reflexes, etc.) with mental depression. I remember my old therapist telling me that taking opiods should only make me fell worse, since they are central nervous system depressants. Obviously, she has never taken an opiod before.
> Alchohol should't directly effect the antidepresant responce of Celexa as their actions are on different neurotransmitter systems.Actually, alcohol has a pretty signifigant effect on the serotonergic system. It increases the release of serotonin, and because of this, may cause a temporary deficit in serotonin levels after use - quite similiar to MDMA, in fact.
Posted by Tony P on May 30, 2003, at 9:36:47
In reply to Re: Alchohol isn't really a depresant , posted by Caleb462 on May 30, 2003, at 1:14:32
> > Alchohol should't directly effect the antidepresant responce of Celexa as their actions are on different neurotransmitter systems.
>
> Actually, alcohol has a pretty signifigant effect on the serotonergic system. It increases the release of serotonin, and because of this, may cause a temporary deficit in serotonin levels after use - quite similiar to MDMA, in fact.
>
Alcohol also has a dopaminergic effect I believe, leading to the mood-elevation that makes it confusing when it is called a depressant. Also a factor in the development of addiction. The techical description of A. as a depressant becomes more obviously applicable when the "dose" is over 12-15 oz! Another description of A. I have seen is "A general anesthetic - with a very low margin of safety".
Posted by Tony P on May 30, 2003, at 12:12:05
In reply to Re: Drinking on Celexa, posted by theo on May 28, 2003, at 10:27:59
I have also found I had to stop drinking and using some OTC drugs (notably Robaxin) before my A/Ds really started working.
Incidentally I found Wellbutrin reduced the "high" from the Robaxin, much like the A/D - alcohol interaction, so (of course) I doubled my Robaxin dose. End result, I bounced around from high to low for months, alternately coping with A/D side effects and withdrawal symptoms. After 9 months alcohol free and 9 days with no Robaxin (also stopped the Wellbutrin a while back) I am in much better shape and can begin to see some prospect of stabilizing in the next few weeks.
AA has been the answer for me too; there are also other peer support organizations that are less traditional.
Jaynee, only you or an experienced Dr. can say whether you're an alcoholic, but "can't stop once I start", "can't seem to get high", and persuading yourself to exercise with the promise of a drink sound very much like me - I hear warning bells!
> A "not so simple answer," don't drink. I stopped drinking 38 days now after doing it for 22 years, the last 10 years trying to take SSRI's with it to offset the depression. IT DOESN'T WORK!!! I'm not trying to push AA but it has helped me tremendously and it's free! Money is not an issue with me but some therapists do not really "focus" on alcoholism nor doctors. Hope this helps.
Posted by Caleb462 on May 30, 2003, at 19:46:24
In reply to Re: Alchohol isn't really a depresant , posted by Tony P on May 30, 2003, at 9:36:47
> > > Alchohol should't directly effect the antidepresant responce of Celexa as their actions are on different neurotransmitter systems.
> >
> > Actually, alcohol has a pretty signifigant effect on the serotonergic system. It increases the release of serotonin, and because of this, may cause a temporary deficit in serotonin levels after use - quite similiar to MDMA, in fact.
> >
> Alcohol also has a dopaminergic effect I believe, leading to the mood-elevation that makes it confusing when it is called a depressant. Also a factor in the development of addiction. The techical description of A. as a depressant becomes more obviously applicable when the "dose" is over 12-15 oz! Another description of A. I have seen is "A general anesthetic - with a very low margin of safety".
>Yes, alcohol does effect the dopamine system, in much the same way as the serotonin system, by increasing dopamine release. Alcohol's effects on the brain are quite complex, much more so than any other recreational drug. GABA potentiation, serotonin release, dopamine release, NMDA blockade, the list goes on...
>
Posted by MB on May 31, 2003, at 19:43:41
In reply to Re: Alchohol isn't really a depresant , posted by Tony P on May 30, 2003, at 9:36:47
> Alcohol also has a dopaminergic effect I believe, leading to the mood-elevation that makes it confusing when it is called a depressant.
<cut>
And more confusing is the fact that dopamine evokes an inhibitory post synaptic response in the nucleus accumbens (i.e., dopamine decreases the firing rate of neurons originating from the "feel good" nucleus by stepping down adenyl cyclase production in the cell). So, "depressing" that particular brain region has "antidepressant" effects (or, at least, euphorogenic effects). Very, very confusing. Most people think that increased firing rate of the accumbal neurons = pleasure, but it is the opposite. This is the basis for one theory on why benzos and barbituates are reinforcing despite being depressants: by potentiating the effects of GABA receptors in this area, they too reduce the firing rate of accumbal neurons.
MB
Posted by Jaynee on June 2, 2003, at 11:26:49
In reply to Re: Drinking on Celexa, posted by Tony P on May 30, 2003, at 12:12:05
Thanks for all the info. I wouldn't consider myself an alcoholic, I just sometimes out of the blue have craved it and get a little carried away when I start. I can go a year or longer without having or wanting one, so I don't think I fit the definition. It's just the first time I have craved it on Celexa, so I thought maybe the Celexa wasn't working, but it is. Because I have been pretty functional, still anxious sometimes though.
I am curious about the mood stabilizers having a beer effect. Which ones have that effect? And what exactly do you mean by that?
Thanks in advance.
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