Shown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Winfield on September 11, 2000, at 16:24:58
The only information that I can find concerning the
combination of alcohol and serzone is that it's "not
recommended by the manufacturer." What the hell does that
mean? Does it mess up the effectiveness, or does
it simply cause massive liver damage. I'm very curious
about this, so anyone with any knowledge on the subject
I would like to hear from you.
Thanks,Win
Posted by Donna Lynn on September 11, 2000, at 20:41:38
In reply to Serzone and Alcohol, posted by Winfield on September 11, 2000, at 16:24:58
> The only information that I can find concerning the
> combination of alcohol and serzone is that it's "not
> recommended by the manufacturer." What the hell does that
> mean? Does it mess up the effectiveness, or does
> it simply cause massive liver damage. I'm very curious
> about this, so anyone with any knowledge on the subject
> I would like to hear from you.
> Thanks,WinNo, I'm not an expert, far from it, but my theory is that when we drink alot of water when we're on meds, like serzone for instance (me) it could mean the liver and kidneys need help with all the chemicals entering the body. Why else would it cry out for a friggin gallon of water a day, I can't believe this for the life of me. I've never felt so "polluted". I WISH I could have that glass of wine I so desperately want, but I know that I'll feel like shit in the morning, from one lousy glass. So I think they're telling you, "hey, this med is gonna make your liver work overtime, so you shouldn't add alcohol and make it work even harder." Just my theory. D.
Posted by Winfield on September 12, 2000, at 10:02:47
In reply to interesting..., posted by Donna Lynn on September 11, 2000, at 20:41:38
> > The only information that I can find concerning the
> > combination of alcohol and serzone is that it's "not
> > recommended by the manufacturer." What the hell does that
> > mean? Does it mess up the effectiveness, or does
> > it simply cause massive liver damage. I'm very curious
> > about this, so anyone with any knowledge on the subject
> > I would like to hear from you.
> > Thanks,Win
>
> No, I'm not an expert, far from it, but my theory is that when we drink alot of water when we're on meds, like serzone for instance (me) it could mean the liver and kidneys need help with all the chemicals entering the body. Why else would it cry out for a friggin gallon of water a day, I can't believe this for the life of me. I've never felt so "polluted". I WISH I could have that glass of wine I so desperately want, but I know that I'll feel like shit in the morning, from one lousy glass. So I think they're telling you, "hey, this med is gonna make your liver work overtime, so you shouldn't add alcohol and make it work even harder." Just my theory. D.
I have drank alcohol quite often while on serzone
the only difference that I noticed was that my
tolerance went down a bit. I'm still able to
go and have fun on the weekends, and not have
any type of hangover the next day. So, if I am
able to do this should I, or does it just mean
that my liver is working properly and that I'm
young.
Posted by Cam W. on September 12, 2000, at 13:03:15
In reply to Serzone and Alcohol, posted by Winfield on September 11, 2000, at 16:24:58
Win - The manufacturer says not to drink while taking Serzone™ (nefazodone) for a number of reasons:
1) The manufacturer is covering their ass. If you had any problems while taking their drug when drinking and they didn't include it in their monograph of the drug, they could be held liable. The monograph is a lawyer's document written by lawyers for lawyers.
2) Alcohol has a dehydrating effect due to inhibition of an enzyme called antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This is why you pee off more liquid than you take in while imbibing. Serzone and it's active metabolites will be excreted quicker with this extra liquid loss. This could decrease the blood level of the drug if it is excreted with the urine. This is more of a problem with drugs with very short half-lifes, like Effexor™ (venlafaxine). You can actually get withdrawl symptoms because the Effexor is excreted too quickly. The alcohol is changing the pharmacokinetics of the drug.
3) Alternatively, if you drink to excess all the time, you have less body water and the blood concentration of the drug could increase to toxic levels, especially if the Serzone isn't excreted as readily as the rest of the liquid.
4) Alcohol is a CNS depressant and in depression you already have a "depression" of neurotransmitters in the brain. Hence, the alcohol is working against the effects of the Serzone.
5) Alcohol, when used as an escape, doesn't allow you to deal with the issues that caused the depression in the first place.
These are a few reasons why the manufacturer would say not to drink alcohol while taking their drug. A glass of wine with supper or one or two beers with the boys, "may" be okay •for many people•. Remember, your mileage may vary. This preceding is not a blanket statement, nor is it an okay to go ahead and drink alcohol while on antidepressants, but a generalization. •I do not agree with alcohol comsumption while taking an antidepressant•. You should resolve the depression and be off antidepressants before considering to go on a bender.
Hope this helps - Cam
Posted by Winfield on September 12, 2000, at 14:49:10
In reply to Re: Serzone and Alcohol » Winfield, posted by Cam W. on September 12, 2000, at 13:03:15
Cam,
First I would like to thank you for the detailed explanation of my question. You're the first person to answer it so far. Someone als told me that it causes irritability in the morning, I do sometimes find this to be true.
It makes sense that if you are excreting more fluids, then of course you will lose some of the drug. I almost always drink a lot of water before and after I drink. Because one of my pet peeves is to be dehydrated (is that sign of OCD?) I always have a water bottle with me in the event that I begin to feel thirsty.
However, I have drank what some would call "bingeing" but I very often feel fine the next morning with regards to a headache, or other hangover symptoms. My stomache will sometimes be upset, but I've had on again off again stomach problems. So it doesn't really do that either. But from reading your response I definatley plan on taking a hiatus from my
college drinking lifestyle. It's more difficult at a big university because it's the fun thing to do on the weekends.
I will make a concentrated effort towards limiting my consumption.
Once again thank you for taking the time in writing such a lengthy and informative piece on the combinations of alchol and serzone.
Win
Posted by Karrie on September 23, 2000, at 3:47:57
In reply to Re: Serzone and Alcohol, posted by Winfield on September 12, 2000, at 14:49:10
> However, I have drank what some would call "bingeing" but I very often feel fine the next morning with regards to a headache, or other hangover symptoms. My stomache will sometimes be upset, but I've had on again off again stomach problems. So it doesn't really do that either. But from reading your response I definatley plan on taking a hiatus from my
> college drinking lifestyle. It's more difficult at a big university because it's the fun thing to do on the weekends.
> I will make a concentrated effort towards limiting my consumption.Hey Win-
I know this is an old post but I wanted to share something with you. I was quite the party girl when I first started taking ADs. I started on Celexa, and I found that it made me a REALLY cheap drunk. Two beers and I was flying. You would think that the lowered tolerance would have made me drink less, but it didn't work that way. I would often FORGET about the lowered tolerance or drink too fast, and one night I lost track of how many beers I had in me and got so smashed that I started a fight with my boss at a company event and ended up losing my job over it. I am now an unemployed radio personality, and those kind of jobs are HARD to come by, especially here in Chicago because it's the number three radio market in the country and the competition is stiff. Because of one night of going too far with the alcohol/AD combo, I no longer have the job that I loved, and now my reputation is severely tarnished. I went from being and "up and coming talent" to "a crazy and pathetic drunk". Of course, now I have a whole NEW reason to be depressed.Doc switched me to Serzone and I went completely "dry" for about a month to let my system recooperate. I know it is our natural urge to self-medicate, and drinking IS a huge part of the world you are in (as it was in my industry), but the fact remains that you are taking an AD for a reason, and alcohol will NOT help with your depression. My suggestion is to start by allowing yourself only two weekends out of the month to do your partying, and to set a limit for yourself. Figure out how many drinks you can have without getting all-out smashed and do NOT exceed that amount. I have found that two beers on Serzone gives me a pleasant little buzz, one more and I'm tipsy. It took some will power, but I no longer exceed that 3 beer limit when I'm out. Since I have stopped with the binge drinking, the Serzone is doing its job the way its supposed to. The depression is under control and I feel I can now pick up the pieces and move on with my life, something I was SURE I wasn't going to be able to do after I lost my job.
Be careful, Kiddo, and don't let your friends tempt you into exceeding your limit. When they start mixing chemicals these particular together in THEIR bodies, THEN maybe they can give you advice. :-) Good luck to you.
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