![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 3 to 27 of 27. Go back in thread:
Posted by juliedealer on October 9, 2001, at 11:25:24
In reply to Re: I'm drinking too much, anyone else with this prob? » juliedealer, posted by Krazy Kat on October 9, 2001, at 10:45:32
I just started with Effexor 2 weeks ago, up to 75 mg now. This is in addition to 150 mg of Welbutrin. I just feel so damn numb all the time and atleast with alcohol I feel "something".
julie
Posted by dreamer on October 9, 2001, at 11:26:46
In reply to I'm drinking too much, anyone else with this prob?, posted by juliedealer on October 9, 2001, at 10:40:11
> when I am home in order to feel something, I drink alcohol. I know it is a depressant and I shouldn't use it while on AD's but, I am so devoid of feeling i keep turning to it. I keep waiting for the new meds to kick in to see if this will abait.
> Anyone else experience this ?>
> Hi julieOn my previuos post i mentioned id drank after 2.5 years naughty silly me.
Also under xtreme stress.used to drink solo to stop feelings irritations-as K said bipolars depressives tend to self medicate.
When i started effexor the urge to drink had stopped so it was the right med for me at the time.
For me its not the actuall drinking i didnt drink continually just one BIG binge it's the mood i get 3 days afterwards it seems to kick some chemistry ive yet to find out why for a depressant it makes me feel undepressed????
Excuse rambling.
Long term drinking well i have past pictures of myself yuck. Lose friends etc...
Talk to doc .
The meds wont kick in on drink -in my experience afraid you'll have to quit- your liver will thank you better off without it
How long have you been drinking?dreamer waiting for verbal slap off doc.
Posted by dreamer on October 9, 2001, at 11:32:17
In reply to thanks for response Krazy, posted by juliedealer on October 9, 2001, at 11:25:24
> I just started with Effexor 2 weeks ago, up to 75 mg now. This is in addition to 150 mg of Welbutrin. I just feel so damn numb all the time and atleast with alcohol I feel "something".
> julieNow i'm stuck on this one -i prefer the numbness,
someone else will come up with sensible advice.
Posted by juliedealer on October 9, 2001, at 11:33:22
In reply to Re: I'm drinking too much, anyone else with this prob?, posted by dreamer on October 9, 2001, at 11:26:46
Dreamer,
you said when you took Effexor the urge to drink stopped. Maybe there is hope for me. In answer to your question I've drank all of my adult life.
julie
Posted by Krazy Kat on October 9, 2001, at 12:47:25
In reply to Re: I'm drinking too much, anyone else with this prob?, posted by juliedealer on October 9, 2001, at 11:33:22
There's that struggle that seems to keep popping up again.
I drank (drink) mostly for numbness. And to bring my mania under control (ha!). Rarely drank when really depressed.
I agree with dreamer - the meds just don't seem to work as well with the alcohol thrown in. It's as if your body needs a day or two or more adjusting back to their effectiveness.
My main trouble is breaking the weekend "habit" formulated in college. It's Friday night, I "deserve" to have some wine or beer. Or we're watching football (I watch the men, not the game) and I prefer beer with my chips to soda.
It's tough - I don't think I'll ever be a really healthy person. I'm shooting for moderacy in everything, even smoking at this moment. Right now, my drinking is so much less than it was, say, 6 months ago that I'm not overly-concerned, but have been reprimanded because I take Depakote now and it's a potential liver threat. My pdoc didn't tell me to stop drinking completely, though, which I found odd.
So, I'm rambling. Sounds like your meds could be better. But also sounds like you're waiting a little while for some results. Don't wait too long, though, and get frustrated, like I did - keep in touch with your doc, (just my opinion).
Will I ever completely stop drinking? (Just thought I'd throw this fascinating question in here). If I get a bad test result back I will. Maybe not until then. I don't know. I tend to rebel terribly if I completely deny myself anything. I am very childish in that way.
I would stop drinking if I had children because I wouldn't take a chance of staying "moderate" with my years of abuse.
Does any of this help, to see the struggles of others?
A good thing I do do occassionally is stop for a month or two. It really cleans out your system. Also, I take Milk Thistle daily with my vitamin.
- K.
Posted by Lini on October 9, 2001, at 16:07:33
In reply to numbness vs. feeling too much, posted by Krazy Kat on October 9, 2001, at 12:47:25
juliedealer-
I feel you - I have the tendency to come home after work and after having been fairly functional all day, I slip into this ugly scene of drinking and drinking and drinking and of course, add television and stir. pretty soon i'm numb enough to not feel anything bad and can atleast laugh a little at the terrible mess of me stumbling to bed. Cheery huh? On a positive note, I haven't done this in a few weeks which makes me think that my meds are working correctly. Usually my solo drinking project is directly proportional to how well my meds are working. Discovering this has been good - now when I get the urge to drown, I know it's time to make an appointment with the doc.
Anyway, that's my situation. I hope you are able to find a med balance that keeps the booze at bay.
Posted by ChrisK on October 10, 2001, at 6:20:44
In reply to I'm drinking too much, anyone else with this prob?, posted by juliedealer on October 9, 2001, at 10:40:11
On September 7th I went into the hospital for a week thanks to Congestive Heart Failure which was caused by my continued drinking. That was the last straw that made me stop drinking. I had become pretty stable on my meds prior to this so I already had some emotion back. The best thing available to those using alcohol as an escape is Naltrexone. IT relieves the cravings and when you do drink while on it you won't feel like you are drunk. It kills the high (or low) that you get from alcohol. Talk to your doctor about it - it's worth a try.
Chris
Posted by Elizabeth on October 10, 2001, at 14:07:59
In reply to I'm drinking too much, anyone else with this prob?, posted by juliedealer on October 9, 2001, at 10:40:11
> when I am home in order to feel something, I drink alcohol.
Can you elaborate more on what you mean by "in order to feel something?" Like, what does alcohol do for you? What is the "something" that you feel when you drink?
Lots of people self-medicate depression or anxiety with alcohol and other drugs. I think there are safer and more effective ways to go about feeling better. I hope that your meds kick in soon -- you might find that when they do, you no longer desire to drink. If that doesn't happen, Chris's suggestion (naltrexone) might be worth a try -- I don't know too much about it, but it is supposed to relieve alcohol cravings.
Best of luck to you.
-elizabeth
Posted by sar on October 10, 2001, at 14:26:49
In reply to Re: drinking too much » juliedealer, posted by Elizabeth on October 10, 2001, at 14:07:59
i think i know what you're talking about. for me, alcohol brings the words, laughter, and tears much more easily, and it can feel cleansing. the only feeling that numbs when drinking is *anxiety,* big reason why i drink...
i'd imagine that working in a casino makes it difficult too...
everyday i think to myself, i think it's time to go on the straight + narrow--but my first stop on the way home is the cornerstore. i start with 2 and then ride back on my bike for 4 more.
Posted by judy1 on October 10, 2001, at 23:48:53
In reply to I'm drinking too much, anyone else with this prob?, posted by juliedealer on October 9, 2001, at 10:40:11
I've always had problems with alcohol (espec when manic) but that ended when a benzo was added to my regime (xanax, klonopin)- same effect without all those nasty side effects like liver disease and vomiting and DUI's. So is it anxiety or mania that's the problem? Take care- Judy
Posted by juliedealer on October 11, 2001, at 8:28:07
In reply to maybe try a benzo? » juliedealer, posted by judy1 on October 10, 2001, at 23:48:53
When i get home from work I feel sort of paralyzed, mentally not physically. I have no interest or desire to do anything, and feel more hopeless than ever. After a few drinks I'll start to do things, problem is I have more than a "few". On my days off I find myself beginning to drink early in the day. I know I'm destroying my liver along with stunting any personal growth. I just have no desire to take care of myself. After reading posts here I am concerned about taking effexor but I'll keep taking it, cause it is the only hope I have right now.Your responses here have meant so much to me, I can't thank you enough. I have no family or friends I can talk to and your caring responses are the first human contact I've made in a long long time.
Posted by Lisa Simpson on October 11, 2001, at 9:24:39
In reply to not sure if I can explain feeling.., posted by juliedealer on October 11, 2001, at 8:28:07
Hi Julie - I'm the same. I come home each night from work, and the first thing I do is collapse in front of the TV with a large drink in my hand, which I add to throughout the evening. I sit around like a lump, not doing anything. I feel I have no energy or desire to do much else.
I have tried several times to give up, but haven't had a great deal of success so far.Lisa
Posted by Lisa Simpson on October 11, 2001, at 9:26:49
In reply to Re: drinking too much » juliedealer, posted by Elizabeth on October 10, 2001, at 14:07:59
Hi Elizabeth - is this Naltrexone you mention anything like Campral (Acamprosate), do you happen to know...? It is something my doctor has suggested I try to help me give up drinking.
Lisa
Posted by Elizabeth on October 11, 2001, at 12:04:47
In reply to Re: drinking too much » Elizabeth, posted by Lisa Simpson on October 11, 2001, at 9:26:49
Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist. Campral works differently (I don't know its mechanism of action). I don't think that acamprosate is used in the UDA at present. Based on available information, naltrexone seems to be the more effective medication, but they can be used together.
I hope this helps.
-elizabeth
Posted by Elizabeth on October 11, 2001, at 12:06:29
In reply to maybe try a benzo? » juliedealer, posted by judy1 on October 10, 2001, at 23:48:53
I think that Judy's idea is a good one. Benzos are safer, cleaner drugs that often satisfy the same need that alcohol does and that can be monitored by a doctor.
-elizabeth
Posted by paxvox on October 11, 2001, at 17:11:22
In reply to I'm drinking too much, anyone else with this prob?, posted by juliedealer on October 9, 2001, at 10:40:11
Jules, I'm posting this w/o reading the follow-ups so there may some repetition. But....here tis.
I used to drink fairly regularly to self medicate, as it were. I finally came to realize that I was really hurting myself as far as depression and OCD by my drinking. It's not that I was a drunk, but I did use a "few beers" as a stress reliever. I thought about stopping drinking for several years, finally, on July 3, 2000, I just quit cold turkey. I think that being on Wellbutrin made this a lot easier to do, as it is used as Zyban(same med) to help smokers quit smoking. I will admit, there are days that I would like a beer or two, but I also came to realize that if I went back to "a couple now and then" that I would eventually return to my old ways. So, for me, I made the decision to not drink at all. As a result, I have lost about 30 pounds (which I believe was aided by the WB). I am happy with the way I look, and have found that I am enjoying life in many ways now just as well as when I needed a drink to smooth the edges. Sometimes being numb makes one miss a lot of things. Learning alterantive ways of coping with life has been "fun", and I will not say I have a perfect emotional balance. But if you are serious about getting right mentally, alcohol use should be examined. I feel that it is an individual choice that each must consider on its own merit in their lives. Hope that helps.
PAX
still on the wagon
Posted by Lisa Simpson on October 12, 2001, at 5:50:48
In reply to Re: maybe try a benzo?, posted by Elizabeth on October 11, 2001, at 12:06:29
Hi Elizabeth - thank you very much for your reply. Your idea of a benzo is a good one, and my doctor has now prescribed me Xanax which is starting to help. I haven't stopped drinking yet (!), but it would probably be safer not to stop completely straightaway as I seem to have become prone to seizures. But hopefully I will cut down slowly and eventually stop.
Thanks again for replying.
Lisa
Posted by Elizabeth on October 12, 2001, at 11:02:06
In reply to Re: maybe try a benzo? » Elizabeth, posted by Lisa Simpson on October 12, 2001, at 5:50:48
Lisa,
I'm very pleased to hear that you've started on Xanax and that it's working. Although you're right that it might not be prudent to stop drinking abruptly because of potential withdrawal symptoms, you might want to be careful about drinking with the Xanax, since the two drugs can potentiate each other.
Best of luck to you!
-elizabeth
Posted by galtin on October 13, 2001, at 18:40:38
In reply to maybe try a benzo? » juliedealer, posted by judy1 on October 10, 2001, at 23:48:53
> I've always had problems with alcohol (espec when manic) but that ended when a benzo was added to my regime (xanax, klonopin)- same effect without all those nasty side effects like liver disease and vomiting and DUI's. So is it anxiety or mania that's the problem? Take care- Judy
Judy1,
For many people dependent on alcohol, benzos are just as addictive.
galtin
Posted by Elizabeth on October 14, 2001, at 10:08:29
In reply to Re: maybe try a benzo?, posted by galtin on October 13, 2001, at 18:40:38
> For many people dependent on alcohol, benzos are just as addictive.
They're sometimes needed as a substitute for alcohol, though -- just as some heroin addicts need methadone, some alcoholics will need benzos in order to stay sober. And many (most?) alcoholics started drinking in order to self-medicate (anxiety, usually). Benzos are a safer, more effective treatment for anxiety than alcohol is.
-elizabeth
Posted by Gracie2 on October 14, 2001, at 15:38:46
In reply to Re: maybe try a benzo? » galtin, posted by Elizabeth on October 14, 2001, at 10:08:29
I doubt if any book could actually scare a hard-core drinker into sobriety but if it exists, here
it is: Terry by George McGovern. You might remember that a few years ago, McGovern's daughter was found dead in the snow from intoxication and exposure. Her life was a nightmare from alcohol addiction, despite many desperate attempts at rehab. She couldn't keep her family, she couldn't hold a job or an apartment. She was found on a regular basis passed out cold in parks, doorways, and bars, sometimes beaten, sexually abused and robbed.
She showed up at her childrens' school drunk. She was carried off an airplane drunk. Alcohol made her entire life a shame and a horror. Yet somehow, the book is written with love and devotion by her father, who tried but could not save her. I recommend the book to anyone who may have a problem with alcohol just to see where that ugly path may lead.
-Gracie
Posted by Elizabeth on October 16, 2001, at 13:24:34
In reply to Scared sober?, posted by Gracie2 on October 14, 2001, at 15:38:46
> I doubt if any book could actually scare a hard-core drinker into sobriety but if it exists, here
> it is: "Terry" by George McGovern.I read that in a class on psychiatry and the law. It was pretty chilling. I'd heard stories from a lot of people about things that happened to them as a result of their addictions; Terry is an especially well-written account.
It's a good book for anybody to read...perhaps especially for those who think addicts aren't deserving of compassion.
-elizabeth
Posted by Krazy Kat on October 17, 2001, at 14:19:30
In reply to Re: Scared sober? » Gracie2, posted by Elizabeth on October 16, 2001, at 13:24:34
really bothers me. This is just my two cents - been thinking about it for a few days.
It seems like the same way of thinking as using the devil to keep children in line - if you don't do this, then this will happen to you - in a very authoritative, threatening way.
I'm also having trouble with the way depressives and bipolars are being forced into "forms" which is another thread, so that is probably affecting my way of handling this post.
But an addict is an adult. Scaring them into something, to me, is condescending, and would seem to be terribly ineffective.
Also, that's a very extreme case. Folks who "abuse alcohol" hold jobs and function in society every day.
Should we scare people into not eating fatty foods? Then my current egg and coffee breakfast would be toast...
- K.
Posted by Gracie2 on October 17, 2001, at 21:12:00
In reply to The concept of Scaring someone sober..., posted by Krazy Kat on October 17, 2001, at 14:19:30
KK-
Sounds like you went to Catholic school! I did not mean to offend anyone and I am not adopting a holier-than-thou attitude. I developed an alcohol problem while I was in the service but did manage to function for years in a professional job, hangovers and all. Though I never went to work drunk, the hangovers were often so debilitating that I had to spend the morning drinking shots of Alka-Seltzer Plus just so I could function. Then one day I was in line at the grocery store behind an old woman (she looked sixty years old but was probably forty) and she had nothing in her cart but a gallon of generic whiskey and a case of no-name beer. I can't tell you how awful she looked -
rode hard and put away wet, as we say around here-she had some severe mileage on her.
THAT scared me, because I felt like I was looking at myself just a few miles down the road.
My point is, anything that persuades you to curtail your drinking - that pulls you back from the abyss - cannot be all bad. Although I didn't quit drinking, I cut back in steps - no hard liquor, then no beer (except at the baseball game, you GOTTA have one of those over-priced beers in a soggy paper cup or it just isn't baseball). Then I taught myself about good wine, matching it up with the right kind of food, etc.
I still enjoy red wine and my favorite dessert is coffee with Baileys, so I'm not condemning drinkers. But you have to be careful, really careful,learn some self-discipline, and not let your drinking escalate to the point where it becomes a real problem in your life (driving drunk, missing work, alienating your friends and family). Moderation in all things.
-Gracie
Posted by Krazy Kat on October 18, 2001, at 8:14:47
In reply to Re: The concept of Scaring someone sober..., posted by Gracie2 on October 17, 2001, at 21:12:00
Gracie:
Didn't mean to suggest you had offended anyone - just thinking aloud. I certainly don't want the board to get too pc, and folks to be unable to post for fear of offending someone b/c of a book recommendation.
Thanks for sharing your story!
- K.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.