Posted by Journeygrrl on September 9, 2005, at 13:26:04
In reply to Depakote, Effexor XR, and Buspar AND Alcohol, posted by LNB on November 30, 2003, at 20:17:08
I also enjoy drinking and am VERY new to this depakote thing. I myself have been looking up the possible effects of alcohol on this medication for the same reasons, because on Saturday nights, I just MIGHT go out with the girls and have a few, or if I'm watching a football game with my boyfriend, I'm probably going to have a couple beers. One of the people who posted on this said that if there's so much of a chance that it will interact, then why would you want to risk it? My answer: Because drinking is a social part of life, especially when you're young. One is a college student, another has been drinking since 14, I am 24 yrs. old and don't want to feel like I can't have a few drinks if I want. So, after searching the internet and eventually ending up here, I called my doctor. He advised me that the reason you are initially told not to drink on your medication is to SEE if there will be an adverse affect, because with this type of drug, it differs from person to person, hence, the amount of blood testing involved. My doc made sure I got base blood testing for liver function with NO levels of depakote in my system before I began taking it. Five days later, a follow-up blood test is done to check your liver functions once again. Then, he told me it would be okay to incorporate drinking into the factor in small amounts, pending that the results were okay and normal and that I am sure to continue with my blood tests when he has deemed necessary, whether it be every thirty days, every 3 months or once a ayear. Heavy drinking is NEVER recommended with any kind of medication, especially something like a mood stabalizer, as alcohol is a downer and may counteract ANY kind of mood stabalizing medication or antidepressent. It's all an individual reaction. It is scary to think that you may have to change your lifestyle, or doing something that you're accustomed to...aka....having some beers with your buddies or going out for a night on the town to bars and clubs. That was a major concern for myself as well. But just to give you some hope, this is what i was told. Just make sure to get all of your levels regualarly checked to verify that it is indeed NOT posing a possibly debilitating or fatal problem.
poster:Journeygrrl
thread:67189
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050909/msgs/552754.html