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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by queenb on June 20, 2001, at 7:10:54
How bad is it to drink alcohol while taking depakote?
Thanks for the feedback.
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 20, 2001, at 8:06:02
In reply to Depakote and Alcohol, posted by queenb on June 20, 2001, at 7:10:54
The concern is that the two in combination will make it so that you will never wake up. Talk about a bad hangover....
> How bad is it to drink alcohol while taking depakote?
>
> Thanks for the feedback.
Posted by queenb on June 20, 2001, at 8:22:00
In reply to Re: Depakote and Alcohol, posted by SalArmy4me on June 20, 2001, at 8:06:02
> Mmm.. What about the concern that it is twice as bad for your liver....Or is it? I have no problems with sleepiness on depakote. In fact, I had to be given Remeron to help me sleep at night.
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 20, 2001, at 8:30:58
In reply to Re: Depakote and Alcohol, posted by queenb on June 20, 2001, at 8:22:00
Unless your liver function is compromised, I don't believe that Depakote has a negative action on the liver. That may be an "old wive's tale" with no basis in truth. Alcohol on the other hand, has negative effects on liver leading to cirrhosis and 5HT-catabolism.
> > Mmm.. What about the concern that it is twice as bad for your liver....Or is it? I have no problems with sleepiness on depakote. In fact, I had to be given Remeron to help me sleep at night.
Posted by queenb on June 20, 2001, at 8:43:51
In reply to Re: Depakote and Alcohol, posted by SalArmy4me on June 20, 2001, at 8:30:58
> Another question....when i drink does it make the depakote less effective?
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 20, 2001, at 8:52:22
In reply to Re: Depakote and Alcohol, posted by queenb on June 20, 2001, at 8:43:51
The proscription against alcohol has to do with its role as a CNS depressant (drowsiness): "Since divalproex sodium products may produce CNS depression, especially when combined with another CNS depressant (e.g., alcohol), patients should be advised not to engage in hazardous activities, such as driving an automobile or operating dangerous machinery, until it is known that they do not become drowsy from the drug." --from PDR info: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/dival_wcp.htm
So no, I don't believe Depakote levels are reduced or potentiated by alcohol.
> > Another question....when i drink does it make the depakote less effective?
Posted by Wendy B. on June 20, 2001, at 10:29:11
In reply to Re: Depakote and Alcohol, posted by SalArmy4me on June 20, 2001, at 8:52:22
Besides SalArmy's help on this, which I do respect, I think the issue might really be: why are you asking? Are you intending to drink on a regular basis? How much? How often? Why?
If you can't stay off alcohol, even when warned it isn't a good idea when taking depakote, what's up with that? It's well-known that alcohol addiction is a co-morbid symptom of many people who are depressed, bi-polar or borderline.
Sorry, I think you might do better to just stop drinking, and if that's hard, get some help...
I wish you luck,
Wendy
> The proscription against alcohol has to do with its role as a CNS depressant (drowsiness): "Since divalproex sodium products may produce CNS depression, especially when combined with another CNS depressant (e.g., alcohol), patients should be advised not to engage in hazardous activities, such as driving an automobile or operating dangerous machinery, until it is known that they do not become drowsy from the drug." --from PDR info: http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/dival_wcp.htm
>
> So no, I don't believe Depakote levels are reduced or potentiated by alcohol.
>
> > > Another question....when i drink does it make the depakote less effective?
Posted by queenb on June 20, 2001, at 10:37:07
In reply to Re: Depakote and Alcohol » SalArmy4me, posted by Wendy B. on June 20, 2001, at 10:29:11
Well....I guess you could say that drinking has been a part of my lifestyle since i was 14 (now 24)I used any function or excuse i could to get drunk. When i turned 19 I drank pretty much everday of the week. It helped me sleep. it also makes it easier for me to adjust to different social settings. But drinking has gotten me into a lot of trouble and ruined a lot of friendships for me. I like being buzzed up when i go out or whatever. i feel like myself. does that make any sense?? i tried to stop drinking and it lasted for maybe 3 weeks. im back at every weekend now. I just hope i don't go back to my old ways. how do i address this issue with my counselor????
Posted by Wendy B. on June 20, 2001, at 16:38:23
In reply to Re: Depakote and Alcohol, posted by queenb on June 20, 2001, at 10:37:07
> Well....I guess you could say that drinking has been a part of my lifestyle since i was 14 (now 24)I used any function or excuse i could to get drunk. When i turned 19 I drank pretty much everday of the week. It helped me sleep. it also makes it easier for me to adjust to different social settings. But drinking has gotten me into a lot of trouble and ruined a lot of friendships for me. I like being buzzed up when i go out or whatever. i feel like myself. does that make any sense?? i tried to stop drinking and it lasted for maybe 3 weeks. im back at every weekend now. I just hope i don't go back to my old ways. how do i address this issue with my counselor????
Dear Queen,
Man! I really do admire your strength in answering some tough questions. I felt guilty & sorry later, like - what do I know? and I thought I should have shut up and minded my own business...
So I'm sorry... But then again, not. Sounds like you really need to get this off your chest with the counselor now. And I'm not sure how it's done, 'cause I've never had to do it. What do others think? How do you approach a counselor with such information. And how do you make sure you get the help you need. Lots of people are really into AA. But I've seen some really good books lately (my ex had an alcohol problem), which offer alternatives to AA.
Anyway, keep up your honesty, that's a start, and I hope others on the Board will send more messages regarding this very important topic...With a huge hug, and lots of hope that it all works out,
Wendy
Posted by kid_A on June 20, 2001, at 16:42:07
In reply to Re: Depakote and Alcohol » SalArmy4me, posted by Wendy B. on June 20, 2001, at 10:29:11
> Sorry, I think you might do better to just stop drinking, and if that's hard, get some help...If the kind of alcohol consumption that is lionised often enough here is any barometer for society's addiction than I believe that there are quite a lot of people in the world who are in an addictive state...
I -dont- think you should take alcohol to help you sleep, thats probably not a good idea. You also shouldnt be drinking -every- night, just to cope... but hell, I've done it. But I realised there were better alternatives.
Drinking can be a social activity and it can also be a social nightmare (with meds or otherwise), as I found out when I went on a rampage downtown from a not abnormal amount of alcohol for me, and a much earlier dosage of effexor.
The problem is that we're all at the party right, and everyone is dancing and having fun, and everyone's guard is down... But you're stuck in the middle, bone dry and unaffected. It's fun to drink to relax when you go out... I'll even go so far as to say its fun to be a bit crazy... I dj at a bar downtown and it does get a bit insane...
If you can go out and get drunk and have a blast and NOT get arrested, more power to you. BUT if your meidcation is counterindicated to alcohol, and thats a big *if* because most pdr info is very sketchy and boilerplate on this, than you have to ask yourself, which is more important, getting better or getting drunk.
just my 2cents.
Posted by LNB on November 30, 2003, at 20:17:08
In reply to Re: Depakote and Alcohol, posted by kid_A on June 20, 2001, at 16:42:07
I was reading the post on Depakote and Alcohol, and I thought I'd bring up another question.... With this combination of my meds, Depakote, Effexor XR, and Buspar, I'm wondering how dangerous it is for me to drink occassionally. I mean occassionally, but not lightly on those occassions. Im worried, but Im in college and its so hard for me not to drink. I dont feel that im a alcoholic, but i do feel that it can be a a problem and I'm worried that it is a dangerous one. Id appreciate some feedback. Thanks-- Lori
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.
This is the end of the thread.
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