Posted by PuraVida on April 7, 2002, at 15:29:24
In reply to For some alcohol is medicine...How to sort it out?, posted by Mr. Scott on January 23, 2002, at 22:48:50
Hi Mr. Scott and all,
I've had a similar pattern, with both alcohol and food, esp when on Prozac. It seemed I got too hyped up - esp if I had a very stimulating day at work or socially. Now I'm taking Neurontin regularly and Serax as needed. I've found both to help. I've also noticed that if I'm feeling a bit keyed up about going out where there will be drinking, if I take a Serax before hand I am calmer and able to control the alchol I drink, or not drink at all.
Now, I have almost completely given up drinking, and find myself becoming more and more depressed. A friend says the alcohol masked the depression. I realize that my drinking is usually out of anxiety (I need an escape) or boredom, or both. I've been reading a lot, and it has helped greatly to replace the old disruptive habits.
Anyone know why this may be happening?
PV
> Last weeks I was feeling GREAT and thinking hey this combo of Effexor/Adrafanil/Fish Oil/Klonopin is working! But then I drank 5-6 drinks (KettleOne-tonics) on Saturday and have felt miserable, irritable, anxious, and depressed since although it seems to be less intense this time than usual (maybe it’s the meds).
>
> I have been drinking on the weekends since 7th grade, often times heavily and have done a lot of illicit drugs throughout the years as well, all while taking psychiatric medicine. These days I only drink about twice a month in the amount that I specified, but occasionally more. This is no different from the other people my age I know (who don't have psychiatric disorders and take medications of course).
>
> I have told myself thousands of times I can't drink because it makes me feel depressed, but I always end up drinking again and my mood predictably deteriorates. I’m pretty sure it is causative although now and again I wonder if it’s a bipolar cycle and the drinking is of no consequence and only serves to calm me down. I wonder if I get hypomanic (mentioned I was feeling Real Good last week) and then drink thinking I can get away with it, and this is some type of mood cycle. Alternatively I might just have mood consequences as a result of drinking. I can’t tell.
>
> Regardless how big of an impact do you think the amount of drinking I’m describing have?.
>
> Scott
poster:PuraVida
thread:91360
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020402/msgs/102273.html