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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tampagirl70 on November 3, 2004, at 14:34:52
If I go out this weekend and want to have a few drinks, is it a definite no-no since I'm taking Celexa & Wellbutrin? I'm also taking 1mg Klonipin as needed.
Posted by woolav on November 4, 2004, at 11:17:08
In reply to Is having a few drinks bad?, posted by tampagirl70 on November 3, 2004, at 14:34:52
Hi, i take prozac, lamictal and klonopin and i do have drinks on the weekends too. I havent noticed any problems for me personally. I do notice that sometimes ( i think its the prozac) i dont get drunk after having drinks, where as my hubby is. But then sometimes i get trashed. Its weird. Also, if i know i am going out drinking i take a small amt of klon. (for SP) But this is just my experiance. I know some say never mix alcohol and ssri's...
Posted by tampagirl70 on November 4, 2004, at 12:14:55
In reply to Re: Is having a few drinks bad?, posted by woolav on November 4, 2004, at 11:17:08
I've drank before and had no problems, but right now I'm in one of my depressed states and my Celexa dosage has been upped, so I don't want to negate any positive effects I may be getting from the drugs. I don't plan on getting trashed, but a drink to help me relax would be nice.
On another note - how does your hubby handle you having to take a mood stabilizer and the other meds?
Posted by Wildman on November 4, 2004, at 14:44:04
In reply to Re: Is having a few drinks bad?, posted by tampagirl70 on November 4, 2004, at 12:14:55
Be careful when drinking while on benzos, I found out the hard way (made a fool of myself) when I drank a few glasses of red wine with a good bit of Ativan (~2mgs). Not pretty.
I don't think it's super dangerous when you really watch your alcohol intake, but if you plan on pounding several drinks, skip the benzos, you won't need/miss them.
Alternatively, make sure someone knows what you are doing so they can whisk you away from the scene when you starting to jello. :)
Wildman
Posted by Iansf on November 4, 2004, at 18:40:16
In reply to Is having a few drinks bad?, posted by tampagirl70 on November 3, 2004, at 14:34:52
> If I go out this weekend and want to have a few drinks, is it a definite no-no since I'm taking Celexa & Wellbutrin? I'm also taking 1mg Klonipin as needed.
I've often drunk alcohol while on Wellbutrin with no problem, and I had no problems when I used alcohol with Celexa. On the other hand, I had blackouts when I combined alcohol with just a small amount (0.5 mg) of Klonopin. I started out to meet a friend but turned back home because I decided I wanted to wear a different pair of shoes. The next thing I knew I woke up in bed with my clothes on five hours later. I had no memory of anything that happened between turning around and waking up. Then I realized I couldn't remember a block of time from the evening before and till then hadn't even noticed it was missing. I had had a single drink the evening before but none the following day. Yet still I blacked out twice. Whether it was the Klonopin alone or Klonopin with Wellbutrin that caused the reaction, I don't know. But whichever, the Klonopin was almost certainly involved.
John
Posted by J. Backer on November 5, 2004, at 10:48:47
In reply to Is having a few drinks bad?, posted by tampagirl70 on November 3, 2004, at 14:34:52
id say its on the negative end of the spectrum, especially if you are taking benzos. id stick to a safer alternative that wont effect your medicines as much, MJ.
Posted by woolav on November 6, 2004, at 21:11:04
In reply to Is having a few drinks bad?, posted by tampagirl70 on November 3, 2004, at 14:34:52
Hey- you have probably made the decision to have that drink or not by now, but I think if you have 1 to relax you shouldnt have anything to worry about. Also, your other question about my husband and dealing with my issues....well, he is pretty supportive. He knew going in that i had some "issues" Ive only been married to him for 6 months and we were together about a year before that. So, my point is, he has never known me not on meds. So, when i have ups and downs now, he is there for me which is great. I did not have that in the past. How is your's handling it all??
Sandy
Posted by theo on November 7, 2004, at 7:25:57
In reply to Is having a few drinks bad?, posted by tampagirl70 on November 3, 2004, at 14:34:52
Bottom line is, I'm sure you know it's not good. I use to post this question hoping for positive feedback to fall back on.
When you are taking your meds daily, everything equilibrates. When you drink, it throws everything out of whack, and may take a few days to equilibrate again. Even if you only drink on the weekends, it may be mid week before you are leveled out again. Also, plain and simple, alcohol is a depressant. If you think about it, isn't it common sense that if your are taking antidepressants you shouldn't take a depressant (alcohol)?
I've been lucky, been pretty successful and been in the social arena for a while, use to drink quite a bit socially. I had a scare a couple of years ago when I was taking antidepressants and drinking, my liver enzymes were sky high and I'm only 38 years old. Before I started antidepressants and was drinking only, my enzymes were fine. I stopped drinking and continued my meds and in 2 months my liver enzymes were fine again.
Long and short of it is, the combination of alcohol and meds can overwork your liver and long term could cause irreversible damage to your liver.
So not only can combining alcohol and meds throw levels off in your brain, it can also affect your liver. Although I really enjoyed the euphoria and sexual drive alcohol created, I chose to continue my meds and stop drinking. Probably the best decision I've ever made in my life.
Posted by woolav on November 7, 2004, at 8:25:43
In reply to Re: Is having a few drinks bad? » tampagirl70, posted by theo on November 7, 2004, at 7:25:57
wow, now i am worried about my liver. i have not had it checked since several years ago, when i was taking lithium. I think the reason ppl drink socially is bc of the social anxiety they get when out. Even if on meds. I am going to try to cut back myself now. I wonder if wine would do the same damage?
S
Posted by theo on November 7, 2004, at 9:13:26
In reply to Re: Is having a few drinks bad? theo, posted by woolav on November 7, 2004, at 8:25:43
People definitly drink for reasons of social anxiety, that was me!
I honestly don't go to a lot of social events like I used to, but most of them were drunk fests anyway. If you think about it, most events, especially holiday parties, are a reason to get blasted.
Being in business, I always felt obligated to go to everything, and with social anxiety that adds a lot of pressure.
Now I just go to the events that are really necessary and don't worry about feeling obligated as much.
What's amazing is going to parties and hearing the respect and awe that people have for not drinking, comments like "how can you come to these funtions and not drink?"
It's also funny to watch people, especially around the holidays embarassing themselves!
Posted by katia on November 9, 2004, at 16:57:51
In reply to Re: Is having a few drinks bad? theo, posted by theo on November 7, 2004, at 9:13:26
How did you know to get your liver enzymes checked? that was lucky....
Do you not drink at all anymore?
This is the end of the thread.
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