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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by a worried friend on September 13, 2003, at 12:21:12
Hi everyone,
I have a friend on effexor and he drinks a lot as well. I know the manufacture says that do not recommend patients drink while on this drug.
He seems to be "happier", but is very loud, aggressive, and makes lots of inappropriate comments, and repeats them over and over.Has anyone else observed someone on effexor and alcohol?
I have mentioned to him a few times that he should not be drinking on this med, and he should tell his Dr. about the amount of alcohol he is consuming on a regular basis (60-80 oz of draft beer for example over a few hours).
His actions are causing him to be distanced by our circle of friends (myself included), and I am worried that this will cause him to become even more depressed.
Any info or advise would be appreciated.Thanks
A worried friend.
Posted by serenitypeace on September 13, 2003, at 13:40:56
In reply to Effexor and alcohol, posted by a worried friend on September 13, 2003, at 12:21:12
> Hi everyone,
>
> I have a friend on effexor and he drinks a lot as well. I know the manufacture says that do not recommend patients drink while on this drug.
> He seems to be "happier", but is very loud, aggressive, and makes lots of inappropriate comments, and repeats them over and over.
>
> Has anyone else observed someone on effexor and alcohol?
> I have mentioned to him a few times that he should not be drinking on this med, and he should tell his Dr. about the amount of alcohol he is consuming on a regular basis (60-80 oz of draft beer for example over a few hours).
> His actions are causing him to be distanced by our circle of friends (myself included), and I am worried that this will cause him to become even more depressed.
> Any info or advise would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> A worried friend.Hello, I am on Effexor XR but I am only an occasional drinker (a beer or a glass of wine every few weeks). A friend of mine who is a doctor (GP) told me that the problem with alcool and newer antidepressant was primarily link to the fact that alcool is a depressant and that drinking it perpetuated the illness. He is not a psychaitrist but he did not seems to think that they (all of the newer AD?) should always and absolutely not be mixed due to bad intereactions (note: alcool and IMAO (older antidepressants) is absolutely a no no). Hope that helps a bit.
Posted by Francesco on September 15, 2003, at 13:43:35
In reply to Re: Effexor and alcohol, posted by serenitypeace on September 13, 2003, at 13:40:56
I really sympathize with you and your friend.
>He seems to be "happier", but is very loud, >aggressive, and makes lots of inappropriate >comments, and repeats them over and over.
I have similar experience every time I take antidepressants, which in my case is Anafranil (but when I tried Prozac it wasn't much better).
So I think that alchol has very few to do with it ... it may make his behaviour worse cause he's less inhibited but the problem's cause in my humble opinion can lie in the antidepressant itself (at least that was my experience). I must have posted something about it just this morning in Babble Alternative (look for "Two questions about SAM-E", one of the last posts).For what regards alcohol I drank and drank on the Anafranil (which is far worse than drinking on Effexor or SSRIs). My p-doc says that the main problem is for the liver that has to make double work ... but I've read somewhere that it can also diminuish the efficacy of the med or increasing the side-effects. In some individual moreover some antidepressants seem to make them drink more (I've red some post about it in PsychoBabble and an article on Internet and my personal experience confirms it).
How don't know how this can help you. Just let me say: don't isolate your friend. He probably needs you more than you think. Best wishes
Posted by Wildflower on September 15, 2003, at 14:18:43
In reply to Effexor and alcohol, posted by a worried friend on September 13, 2003, at 12:21:12
Alcohol and SSRIs are not a recommended combination but many people still drink on them. I found that social drinking (even the smallest amount) while on Effexor made for a very bad combo with me. I'm normally a reserved person but I became a very different (more agressive, obnoxious, etc.) person when I mixed the two. I also had really bad blackouts and often got sick. Each person reacts differently with different meds. I seem much better on Lexapro.
Posted by a worried friend on September 15, 2003, at 15:23:39
In reply to Re: Effexor and alcohol, posted by Wildflower on September 15, 2003, at 14:18:43
Hey everyone,
THanks so much for your postings.
We just received an email today from him saying that he realizes that his life is falling apart around him , and that he needs to stay away from the booze for a while.
Your postings have been a reassurance for me, and I will try to reach out to my friend, but he has to do a lot of work , and I think the first thing is to sit down with his MD and try to find some help for the booze. Who knows, maybe if he can get that under control he may not need the meds - just maybe.THanks again everyone.
Posted by KimberlyDi on September 15, 2003, at 17:00:47
In reply to Effexor and alcohol, posted by a worried friend on September 13, 2003, at 12:21:12
Anyone drinking while taking Anti-Depressants is sabotaging their recovery. I believe combining Effexor and alcohol will lower his normal tolerance so I hope he isn't driving. Effexor and drinking will undoubtedly cause more blackouts (periods of time were he has no recollection of his actions or behavior). I know this for a fact because *I* am a recovering JDaholic and I also take Effexor.
He needs to know the dangers, but it may not matter to him anyways. Denial.
KDi in Texas
Posted by oeps7 on September 16, 2003, at 11:42:32
In reply to Re: Effexor and alcohol » a worried friend, posted by KimberlyDi on September 15, 2003, at 17:00:47
worried friend,
when I first went on effexor 7 years ago - I was drinking on it - even though you are not suppose to, this is when I realized I was alcoholic - I went through an outpatient recovery program for 1 1/2 years. No one knows the long term effects of drinking heavily on these meds because they are fairly new. Though it definitely aggravates the depression and anxiety.
It's good he's recognizing there's a problem - is there someone he can talk to that will point him in the right direction?
take care,
Mary
Posted by Yazz on September 17, 2003, at 4:21:39
In reply to Re: Effexor and alcohol » a worried friend, posted by KimberlyDi on September 15, 2003, at 17:00:47
I was on Effexor for a while, and did drink a bit now and then. I thought I got more drunk more quickly, on it, but then I was barely eating anythign at the time, so that might have contributed. My doc says the main reason not to drink, is that alcohol is a mood depressant anyway, so unlikely to help your situation.
Whatever your friend does/doesn't do, please don't abandon him. My world seems to be getting smaller and smaller at the moment, as friends just never seem to call any more. In my current position it's really hard for me to contact them myself, so the end result is just more isolation.
Your friend probably finds it hard to deal with people at the moment - I know I do - but even those difficulties are preferable to being completely isolated and losing all contact with everyone.
I know it's hard, but please stick with him - he needs you!
Posted by Kacy on September 17, 2003, at 15:48:01
In reply to Re: Effexor and alcohol, posted by a worried friend on September 15, 2003, at 15:23:39
Here's my experience so people know it's not always bad:
75 mg Effexor. Occasional drinker–one to two drinks, usually wine or beer.
I still enjoy it. I get a little more effect from the alcohol than before.I don't see any other differences. It was the same when I was on 150 mg and 112.5 mg.
Posted by oeps7 on September 18, 2003, at 12:24:42
In reply to Re: Effexor and alcohol, posted by Kacy on September 17, 2003, at 15:48:01
Her friend sounds like he's not stopping at 1 or 2 though. Seems like he has 6-10 - that was my problem.
Posted by a worried friend on September 18, 2003, at 14:50:39
In reply to Re: Effexor and alcohol, posted by oeps7 on September 18, 2003, at 12:24:42
yes, that is the problem - he does not stop at one or two.
And it appears that he gets drunk a lot quicker, which just tends to add to the vicious cycle.
One you mentioned the loud aggressive behaviour you experienced in a similar situation - well , he has acknowledged that is happening, and I have encouraged him to talk to his MD about the alcohol problem, mixed with the meds.Thanks again
Posted by RPS on September 20, 2003, at 2:23:11
In reply to Re: Effexor and alcohol, posted by a worried friend on September 18, 2003, at 14:50:39
I used to do that too - and then realized I am an alcoholic. It was not a good idea for me to mix the med's with the booze. I had no idea how bad this was until I stopped drinking (through AA)
> yes, that is the problem - he does not stop at one or two.
> And it appears that he gets drunk a lot quicker, which just tends to add to the vicious cycle.
> One you mentioned the loud aggressive behaviour you experienced in a similar situation - well , he has acknowledged that is happening, and I have encouraged him to talk to his MD about the alcohol problem, mixed with the meds.
>
> Thanks again
Posted by chicagobg on October 3, 2003, at 12:31:23
In reply to Re: Effexor and alcohol, posted by Yazz on September 17, 2003, at 4:21:39
Alcohol does reduce the efficacy of the anti-depressant. I makes sense if you look at what both drugs (alcohol and Effexor) do to your brain. Paxil didn't really work for me because I drank all the time. I would also go into withdrawal after a night of heavy drinking. Alcohol made me more depressed. If you are trying to combat depression with an anti-depressant, you can't take depressants and expect the medication to do anything. I like getting drunk but had to give it up because it's the onyl way Effexor will ahve any effect and it has had a good one, aside from being tired a lot. Tell your friends who are drinkkin gon anti-depressants to stop. My doc told me a drink or two once in awhile shouldn't do any harm but stop at that.
This is the end of the thread.
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