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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wcfrench on December 29, 2002, at 18:44:39
Has anyone experienced an increase in feeling depressed after drinking alcohol? I know that sounds very redundant, but I mean more like a lack of response from meds spanning from the next day to possibly several days later...
I didn't have any alcohol for about two months, then I began going out with some friends. I drank 3, 4, 5 beers some nights, 2 or 3 on others, and got drunk a couple of times. Overall I went out and "drank" about 4-5 times over the course of a few weeks. I began to feel the demons come back again, and I am wondering if it is because of the alcohol? I take lithium, zoloft, and wellbutrin. I know that alcohol metabolizes in the liver (and pretty much causes the liver to work very hard) and so therefore could cause medicine to not be metabolized as efficiently, or at all. I'm familiar with this, but does anyone know the span of this effect (IE it could affect it for the next week or so) or if this could happen from only 1-2 drinks? It seems I've slipped a little more and more while decreasing my alcohol intake (because of this) but the last time I drank I had only 2 drinks, not hard liquor, and the next few days I feel very depressed... and what confuses me is that the very next day is not even when it seems to hit the hardest. Is this the alcohol? Any help greatly appreciated.
Happy holidays all.
Take care,
Charlie
Posted by BeardedLady on December 29, 2002, at 19:43:45
In reply to !Alcohol's effect on efficacy of antidepressants??, posted by wcfrench on December 29, 2002, at 18:44:39
For some people, drinking alcohol while on an AD is like not taking the AD at all. And, as most ADs work on a cumulative effect, you're not accumulating properly if you're drinking a beer almost every night (like I do).
beardy
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 30, 2002, at 8:35:34
In reply to !Alcohol's effect on efficacy of antidepressants??, posted by wcfrench on December 29, 2002, at 18:44:39
> Has anyone experienced an increase in feeling depressed after drinking alcohol? I know that sounds very redundant, but I mean more like a lack of response from meds spanning from the next day to possibly several days later...
>
> I didn't have any alcohol for about two months, then I began going out with some friends. I drank 3, 4, 5 beers some nights, 2 or 3 on others, and got drunk a couple of times. Overall I went out and "drank" about 4-5 times over the course of a few weeks. I began to feel the demons come back again, and I am wondering if it is because of the alcohol? I take lithium, zoloft, and wellbutrin. I know that alcohol metabolizes in the liver (and pretty much causes the liver to work very hard) and so therefore could cause medicine to not be metabolized as efficiently, or at all. I'm familiar with this, but does anyone know the span of this effect (IE it could affect it for the next week or so) or if this could happen from only 1-2 drinks? It seems I've slipped a little more and more while decreasing my alcohol intake (because of this) but the last time I drank I had only 2 drinks, not hard liquor, and the next few days I feel very depressed... and what confuses me is that the very next day is not even when it seems to hit the hardest. Is this the alcohol? Any help greatly appreciated.
>
> Happy holidays all.
> Take care,
> CharlieCharlie, you have been drinking at a level which could easily totally negate any benefit arising from your antidepressant. Alcohol affects so many different biochemical pathways that it really is a broad-spectrum stressor. And, if you drink again before your body can rebound from the last episode, the stresses are additive. It's like trying to run a second race before you've got your breath back from running the first one. And, if you go on to a third race, and a fourth.....
I strongly urge you to stop drinking at all. Go out, but drink virgin Ceasars or something. Get the social, but leave the booze out of the picture. You don't have to explain anything to your friends. Just say you like remaining sober.
You've probably depleted your body's B-vitamins substantially, and lost significant amounts of some minerals in your urine during these drinking episodes. Double up on a good B-complex for a few days, and take a good multi-vitamin as well.
All the best in the New Year,
Lar
Posted by sjb on December 30, 2002, at 9:46:16
In reply to !Alcohol's effect on efficacy of antidepressants??, posted by wcfrench on December 29, 2002, at 18:44:39
I had a very similar experience, except mine happened with wine, not beer. Guess that doesn't really matter. Liquor is liquor and I really don't think beer and wine are inherently any more "healthful" than "hard" liquor. I know, I know, wine is supposed to have some sort of heart healthy properties, but I believe you can get those same things in grape juice. And I would guess most of us on this board have a difficulity in keeping our drinking at the moderation level. I digress.
What really struck me about your post was how you said the worst part was a few days after, not the next day. I, too, had the very similar experience. As such, I've hadn't a drink since Oct. I've had some bad spells, but not nearly as lengthy as when combined with booze.
Larry's advice is good, as was Old School's a while back, on the subject of booze. Any depressive is strongly advised to cut it out completely.
Posted by wcfrench on December 30, 2002, at 13:56:47
In reply to Re: !Alcohol's effect on efficacy of antidepressants??, posted by Larry Hoover on December 30, 2002, at 8:35:34
Thanks Lar and sjb, I will heed the good advice.
Take care,
Charlie
Posted by Sebastian on December 30, 2002, at 18:56:48
In reply to !Alcohol's effect on efficacy of antidepressants??, posted by wcfrench on December 29, 2002, at 18:44:39
Yes, I try not to drink if I can help it. If I do I never drink more than 1-2 beers. The next morning its hard to get out of bed. I think you are right about demons, I don't like this drinking it seems worse with an AD, I still do though. You don't feel the same next day.
Sebastian
Posted by Mr.Scott on January 1, 2003, at 22:25:48
In reply to Re: !Alcohol's effect on efficacy of antidepressants??, posted by Sebastian on December 30, 2002, at 18:56:48
Drinking at virtually any level on an AD SSRI/Tricyclic/MAOI will definately nullify it's effects. I notice the trouble begins after a day or so and genreally lasts a week. The longer you can go with the booze the better off you are. I have read that even 1 drink a week is likely to cause treatment failure in some.
Posted by Alara on January 2, 2003, at 1:35:37
In reply to Alcohol cancels out the meds. » wcfrench, posted by BeardedLady on December 29, 2002, at 19:43:45
> For some people, drinking alcohol while on an AD is like not taking the AD at all. And, as most ADs work on a cumulative effect, you're not accumulating properly if you're drinking a beer almost every night (like I do).
>
> beardyHi Beardy,
I still drink a beer or two every night, having cut down from 1.5 litres of wine a night a couple of months ago. I started Celexa 10 days ago and have noticed that I actually feel BETTER if I have a beer the night before. However, I got wildly drunk (and a little stoned on New Years Eve) and am still paying for my excesses 2 days later in that i feel a little depressed with a brain that isn't firing as quickly as usual. Based on experience, I expect this lag to last for 5-7 days.
I guess that I have found alcohol to be therapeutic in small doses. Unless a person is hypersensitive to the effects of alcohol, drinking in moderation while on meds should be OK. But maybe that's just me.
Posted by ace on January 2, 2003, at 3:26:58
In reply to Re: !Alcohol's effect on efficacy of antidepressants??, posted by Larry Hoover on December 30, 2002, at 8:35:34
I was on zoloft and was drinking heavily over a 2 month span, sometimes 4-6 days a week. Just about every time I drank I got intoxicated. I felt absolutely no effect on the zoloft. Not that I'm endorsing heavy alcohol usage -- I was just using it because the zoloft was not working for my phobic anxiety and depression, and alcohol did work (esp for the phobic anxiety) Thankfully I am on a new med now which I'm sure will work.
Posted by BeardedLady on January 2, 2003, at 6:20:56
In reply to Re: Alcohol cancels out the meds. » BeardedLady, posted by Alara on January 2, 2003, at 1:35:37
Alara:
I don't know whether it has to do with being hypersensitive to alcohol or the simple chemistry of anti-depressant v. depressant.
I'm sure if you cut down from so much to so little alcohol, there's bound to be a positive effect. And maybe Celexa is such an upper that the beer balances it.
I drink a beer almost every night, too. It helps me relax in the evening. But I can't say my anti-depressant is working.
(My doc always tells me one beer with my Serzone is okay, though.)
As an aside, aren't you the one on Atkins? You're not even allowed alcohol on Atkins because of the carbs! That's one of the reasons I didn't start it!
beardy : )>
Posted by Alara on January 3, 2003, at 1:16:58
In reply to Re: Alcohol cancels out the meds. » Alara, posted by BeardedLady on January 2, 2003, at 6:20:56
> Alara:
>
> I don't know whether it has to do with being hypersensitive to alcohol or the simple chemistry of anti-depressant v. depressant.That may well be, although alcohol produces a short-term serotonin kick in addition to being a CNS depressant. Used in excess, it leads to serotonin depletion in the long term - but I've not read any research suggesting that alcohol depletes serotonin reserves when consumed in moderation. Most docs will advise that it is OK to have a beer or two while on antidepressants, so I do wonder...
>
> I'm sure if you cut down from so much to so little alcohol, there's bound to be a positive effect. And maybe Celexa is such an upper that the beer balances it.
>
In my case the Celexa is being used to counter social anxiety more than as an antidepressant - although I am prone to depression from time to time. The alcohol provides a nice reprieve from stress at the end of the day. This is especially the case if I limit myself to one beer.> I drink a beer almost every night, too. It helps me relax in the evening. But I can't say my anti-depressant is working.
>
> (My doc always tells me one beer with my Serzone is okay, though.)
>
I wonder if Serzone is really the right med for you? Have you discussed adjusting your dose or switching to something else with your doctor? Even if we are looking at a simple competition between an antidepressant (Serzone) and a depressant (alcohol), I doubt that even a minimum dose of Serzone would be counteracted by one beer. Again, I'm not a doctor and could be wrong.> As an aside, aren't you the one on Atkins? You're not even allowed alcohol on Atkins because of the carbs! That's one of the reasons I didn't start it!
>lol Beardy. I'm a vegetarian. That rules steak etc out for me. :-)
Alara
Posted by wcfrench on January 3, 2003, at 2:19:53
In reply to Re: Alcohol cancels out the meds. » BeardedLady, posted by Alara on January 3, 2003, at 1:16:58
Posted by wcfrench on January 3, 2003, at 4:13:44
In reply to Re: Alcohol cancels out the meds. » BeardedLady, posted by Alara on January 3, 2003, at 1:16:58
As a small tangent, could anyone tell me how long Klonopin lasts? I use it at work for anxiety but on days when I have to come in extra early I'm not sure if I need more. (8+ hours)
Thx, best wishes,
Charlie
Posted by disneyagain on August 8, 2003, at 9:41:22
In reply to !Alcohol's effect on efficacy of antidepressants??, posted by wcfrench on December 29, 2002, at 18:44:39
Just wanted to say to all who posted in this thread that I am grateful to you! I've been struggling with the sadness, etc. for the first time in a long time but I've been drinking more frequently lately and I am now convinced that I need to simply not drink at all...Also, I got very drunk a few nights ago (which I NEVER do) and remained physically ill as well as depressed for a couple of DAYS. Not good.Scary, in fact. To not drink at all is an easy thing for me, thank God. And thanks to your honesty in your posts, that's just what I intend to do.
Posted by Mr. Scott on August 8, 2003, at 10:15:31
In reply to I concur, posted by Mr.Scott on January 1, 2003, at 22:25:48
I've known for a long time that alcohol cancels out the antidepressant effects. Sometimes a temporary boost in the dose in the days after will help. However, clearly the best thing to do is not drink much at all, or to accept the inevitable dip many of us will encounter. The only problem is that sometimes that dip can be pretty bad and last in small ways for more than a a couple days...
This is the end of the thread.
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