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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 3 beers on June 21, 2001, at 4:38:50
I have stopped drinking, but the problem is that I only feel normal & sociable when I have about 3 beers in me. Is there an SSRI that captures this feeling?
I am currently on zoloft 100mg which is good but not nearly as good as the feeling from 3 beers. Does remeron have this 3 beer effect?
Posted by blackjack on June 21, 2001, at 11:28:32
In reply to what ssri is like you had 3 beers all the time?, posted by 3 beers on June 21, 2001, at 4:38:50
This is a good quesion, tho I wouldn't have phrased it this way :) Af awful lot of problem-drinkers are self-medicating (ineffectively) some sort of mental illness, so it is worth considering what it is about alcohol that is so enticing.
I guess the real question is, what is it about having 3 beers that makes you feel normal and sociable. Is it the relaxation, the relief of anxiety, the warm, energetic sensation, etc.? Alcohol is a very powerful (and toxic and addictive) drug with many effects on your system, so depending on what it is that you find pseudo-theraputic about it, the answer to your question will vary.
Obviously, if you are just looking or alcohol-in-a-pill, that would be your barbiturates. Their pharmacologic effects are nearly identical to alcohol. However, this isn't the right answer, since I assume you quit drinking because the drinking was having some negative effect on your life, and barbiturates would probably have the same effect, or worse.
Remeron, in my personal experience, made me feel more like I had taken 3 antihistamines and 3 shots of tequila. I found it very sedating. Not relaxing, mind you. It just put me to sleep. However, it does appear to be a very effective med for some.
In the long run, you don't want to replicate the drinking experience, since I assume you found some aspects of it to be unpleasant. Think about what it is that you were using alcohol to relieve and you can get a better idea of what to do to feel "normal" without it.
Posted by Kingfish on June 21, 2001, at 14:01:51
In reply to Re: what ssri is like you had 3 beers all the time?, posted by blackjack on June 21, 2001, at 11:28:32
Personally, I like your approach. It's very forthright.
I find Neurontin, which is actually an anticonvalusant (sp?) used as an adjunct mood stabilizer, to produce a feeling sort of like that. It didn't have any effect on its own for me (I'm BPII and am on several things). I believe it does though for some people. And, it's not metabolized by the liver, in my understanding.
Posted by Fred Potter on June 21, 2001, at 23:13:51
In reply to Re: what ssri is like you had 3 beers all the time?, posted by Kingfish on June 21, 2001, at 14:01:51
> Personally, I like your approach. It's very forthright.
I do too. That's the feeling I want as well. Not drunk, just normal. I don't know anything legal that would do it though
Posted by Shar on June 22, 2001, at 11:00:17
In reply to what ssri is like you had 3 beers all the time?, posted by 3 beers on June 21, 2001, at 4:38:50
I've tried many ADs and never had the 3-beer feeling. If you find one that does have it, let me know.
Actually, you know, I think this is one of the major misconceptions people have about ADs, that they make you feel a little high or euphoric. If people only knew what it was really like.......
Shar
This is the end of the thread.
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