Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 8398

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bipolar and alcohol use

Posted by Corike on July 7, 1999, at 17:30:03

My sister has been taking Valproic Acid since November 1997. She was depressed then and got over that. Did OK in the summer and pretty good in the winter.
She was slowly recovering but is now getting close to mania and psychosis. Her first psychosis in the summer of 1996 occurred after heavy drinking (she
still does not recognize alcohol as a drug). Anyway, since she's been taking valproic acid she's been doing better. So much better that she's been drinking again.
I wonder if alcohol can have a negative effect on the working of valproic acid? She is not an alcoholic but I guess she drinks 3-5 drinks about 3 days a week.
Besides that she also smokes and drinks cafeine. Right now she quit alcohol, cafeine and smokes half a cigarette a day because she can tell these things are not
good for her right now. But I guess she is planning on doing all that again as soon as the threat of mania and psychosis is gone (it seems to be a seasonal thing).

I hope someone can tell me if alcohol, nicotine and/or cafeine can affect the course of bipolar people and if they can affect the effectiveness of medications (valproic acid).

Thanks and take care!
Corike.

 

Re: bipolar and alcohol use

Posted by Jen on July 22, 1999, at 18:30:24

In reply to bipolar and alcohol use, posted by Corike on July 7, 1999, at 17:30:03

Oh man! As we all know, alcohol is a drug. But realize that nicotine AND caffine are too! Caffine is the #1 most abused drug in the nation at this point! Realize also, that being a manic depressive myself that I have studied my disorder for a while (5 years) and that almost everything effects it, especially what you listed. It could be deadly!!!! IF you care about your sister, sit her down and let her know that because her disease is a chemical imballance in her system, everything she enters into her system will effect it too! It's hard being manic depressive, you get to those high points where you think your okay and dont need the drugs, but it's your mind fooling you. I wish you both the best of luck and if she would ever like to talk, I am here!

Hopefully helped,
Jen ; )

 

Re: bipolar and alcohol use

Posted by Corike on September 16, 1999, at 16:59:07

In reply to Re: bipolar and alcohol use, posted by Jen on July 22, 1999, at 18:30:24

Hi Jen,

Thanks so much for your response. Sorry it took me so long to answer.
I'm curious to know if you were smoking at the onset of your bipolar symptoms
and if you drank alcohol and coffee?
My sister is doing better now and maybe she'll start lithium soon. What medication
works for you? Do you exercise?
I would like to have my sister over for a while and tell her not to
smoke or drink (and no cafeine) and go out hike or run with her every day. I have the
urge to be outside a lot and to exercise (not extremely). I would like to stay in contact with
you if that's ok with you? I do not know other bipolar people at this moment and would
love to learn more on what you do to manage your bipolarism.

Thanks again,
Corike (e-mail=corike@aol.com)

 

Re: bipolar and alcohol use

Posted by Dylan Greenspun on January 11, 2000, at 23:52:30

In reply to Re: bipolar and alcohol use, posted by Corike on September 16, 1999, at 16:59:07

Corike and Jen,
Well, I was diagnosed with manic depression about six months ago and I have a lot of experience (as well as many questions about) with alcohol and caffeine and such and their effects on Bipolar people (myself in general). The way it works for me is that I simply cannot drink alcohol at all during depressive phases, yet during manic phases I can consume massive amounts of alcohol. During the depressive phase if you drink it is almost like putting depression on top of your depression which causes pretty severe depression sometimes for many days it is the worst feeling ever. During manic phases you can drink beer after beer after beer and feel no effect whatsoever. You wake up the next day feeling fine. Perhaps the drinking during the manic phase is fueled by the fact that the person is completely unable to drink during the depressive state but can drink like a fish in the manic state.
As far as caffeine goes, I really don't feel that it has any effect on manic depression really at all. I have to use it often during the depressive phases for needed energy boosts. During the Manic phase there really isn't a need for it since you feel like you drank a few thousand pots already!

Anyhow I don't know if this helps at all. I have serious questions on this topic though. What the hell is it in our head that is effected so intensely by alcohol during the depressive phase, and unaffected in the manic phase? Is it some chemical receptor or does the alcohol alter or enhance some depressive element? I don't know? If anyone knows much about this kind of stuff let me know.

Thanks,

Dylan Greenspun


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