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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 11:41:01
I drink occasionally and think I'm noticing a pattern. Anyone know if alcohol can worsen psychosis? Is this because alcohol effects dopamine?
Thanks.
Posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 15:03:14
In reply to Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 11:41:01
I did some research and read that alcohol can possibly trigger or aggravate psychosis. I'm mainly wondering if any babblers had personal experience with this phenomenon. So, to play it safe I'm going to limit my alcohol use. Not really supposed to drink on top of all the meds I'm on anyway.
Posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 15:50:38
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 15:03:14
Current psych meds:
Cymbalta 60 mg
Trazodone 50 mg
BuSpar 15 mg twice daily
Latuda 40 mg
Invega Sustenna (max dose)Condition: schizoaffective disorder
Posted by Partlycloudy on June 21, 2014, at 16:09:37
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 15:50:38
Hi vbs,
I do not suffer from psychosis, but I can tell you that at the level of alcohol I was drinking, it was inhibiting the action and effectiveness of all my meds.
Yes, I drank to excess. But there is a reason most medications have that warning not to drink while taking them. And they are assuming lower levels of consumption than I had been doing.That said, I think you will find plenty of people who will you they have no adverse reactions.
Posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2014, at 16:56:17
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis? » vbs, posted by Partlycloudy on June 21, 2014, at 16:09:37
When only on benzos very low dose and l0paxil I drank 4 beers a night and felt okay. But our circumstances are very different. I did quit over 15 years ago. Phillipa
Posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 17:10:13
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis? » vbs, posted by Partlycloudy on June 21, 2014, at 16:09:37
Hi PC,
I admit that I sometimes overindulge, and when I do I get sick afterwards. I think I'm especially sensitive to the effects of abusable substances such as alcohol and marijuana.
I've been clean from marijuana for about a month. Alcohol is the current problem. For example, I was drinking beer and playing video games with a friend yesterday. After a couple of hours of having fun drinking I started hearing voices for a few hours. I told my friend this and it didn't bother him. I continued to drink until about 9 pm. About an hour later the voices almost disappeared. Hence my concern that I probably need to seriously scale back on alcohol consumption. Anymore than a few beers I wander into mental disarray.
I will be more careful from this point on.
Cheers.
--vbs
Posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 17:13:40
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by Phillipa on June 21, 2014, at 16:56:17
Our circumstances are quite different. Congrats on quitting.
--vbs
Posted by Partlycloudy on June 21, 2014, at 18:17:57
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis? » Partlycloudy, posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 17:10:13
I am always here - on the board or via babble mail - if you need support. (Some things, I have found, are easier said than done. I have had the best of intentions and not done very well at times.)
Best,
PC
Posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 20:21:06
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis? » vbs, posted by Partlycloudy on June 21, 2014, at 18:17:57
Posted by rjlockhart37 on June 21, 2014, at 21:11:43
In reply to Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 11:41:01
yes and no, im not knowedable about it, but i have had alcohol during a semi-psychosis and it makes more aggressive, your sedated from it but it alters the behavior and can cause aggression, some people have a couple beers and calm down, others get hyped up on alcohol with the euphoria and that's usally what causes psychosis to get worse, in aggression terms
r
Posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 22:11:44
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by rjlockhart37 on June 21, 2014, at 21:11:43
Alcohol relaxes me, and of course, makes me less inhibited. I'm not one to get aggressive. Depending on the circumstances, alcohol may aggravate my psychotic disorder; I may start hearing voices. I find if I drink slowly and limit my consumption I'm usually okay.
--vbs
Posted by Tomatheus on June 21, 2014, at 22:49:31
In reply to Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 11:41:01
vbs,
My guess would be that alcohol could worsen psychosis -- at least in some individuals -- possibly by interfering with the effectiveness of antipsychotic medications. In what I've read about schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, I've repeatedly come across statements indicating that alcohol interferes with antipsychotic medications, although I don't know if there are any scientific studies to back up such statements. I have some sort of psychotic disorder myself and don't drink very often, but there have been a few occasions since the onset of my psychosis when I've had more to drink than I probably should have. I don't recall noticing an increase in the severity of my psychotic symptoms on the occasions when I had perhaps too much to drink, but I wouldn't take that to mean that alcohol absolutely cannot worsen psychosis in anybody with a psychotic disorder.
Tomatheus
Posted by rjlockhart37 on June 22, 2014, at 11:21:57
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis? » rjlockhart37, posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 22:11:44
i know someone who does have voices, i used to go NA meetings and thats where i met him, he told me that alcohol, having alot of beer makes him pass out and the voices go away but when it leaves it causes it to get to worse they come back and get bad....the withdrawl from it
maybe just having a small amount of wine? or beer, im not trying to imply to drink, but i think a small amount would not hurt.....the only thing with me, if i drink tequila i get vary angry...for no reason, and then others like vodka and high gravity beer, it doesnt do that.....diffrent types of alcohol effect diffrent
r
Posted by tom2228 on June 22, 2014, at 11:48:13
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by Tomatheus on June 21, 2014, at 22:49:31
There are a lot of factors in this question.... depending on how much and frequently one is drinking and whether one is taking medications, etc...
but one thing I know is that alcohol can cause delirium tremens, a form of psychosis, in alcoholics... or I guess anyone who is using excessively large amounts continuously. I am inferring from this that alcohol has at least some psychomimetic effects depending on usage.
Some people it helps to relax the mind while others may become disinhibited and more agressive, the alcohol allowing their mind (and perhaps psychosis?) to take over/ run free? Just some thoughts.
Posted by vbs on June 22, 2014, at 13:42:35
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis? » vbs, posted by rjlockhart37 on June 22, 2014, at 11:21:57
That's what I'm thinking. Have a small amount of beer. Last night I had a couple of 40 oz over a 4 hour period & I was fine. Just got relaxed and fell asleep by 1 am. I believe I'll be okay now. No more overindulgence. Thanks.
Posted by phidippus on June 22, 2014, at 15:12:53
In reply to Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 11:41:01
Alcohol is an NMDA antagonist and like other NMDA antagonists (Ketamine, PCP, Dextromathorphan), it can cause hallucinations or worsen eexisting hallucnatory states.
Eric
Posted by vbs on June 23, 2014, at 4:19:35
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis? » vbs, posted by phidippus on June 22, 2014, at 15:12:53
Wow, I didn't know this. Makes me think twice about drinking altogether.
Posted by Lamdage22 on June 24, 2014, at 12:02:21
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis? » vbs, posted by phidippus on June 22, 2014, at 15:12:53
Definitely.. even smoking causes you to need higher dosages of Antipsychotics.
Posted by phidippus on June 25, 2014, at 18:32:19
In reply to Re: Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by Lamdage22 on June 24, 2014, at 12:02:21
I think more antipsychotics leads to more smoking.
Eric
Posted by LostBoyinNC45 on July 11, 2014, at 23:56:07
In reply to Can alcohol worsen psychosis?, posted by vbs on June 21, 2014, at 11:41:01
Alcohol is a potent CNS depressant drug that suppresses REM and slow wave sleep. Studies have shown that suppression of the deeper stages of sleep amounts to a form of sleep deprivation. And sleep deprivation can cause psychosis.
And yes, booze in itself does cause a spike in dopamine.
Alcohol makes everything worse. It is awful for all types of mood disorders, as well.
Eric
Posted by Phillipa on July 12, 2014, at 10:05:25
In reply to Re: Yes, it can worsen psychosis, posted by LostBoyinNC45 on July 11, 2014, at 23:56:07
It didn't in my case. Those 4 beers at night gave me such peaceful and restful sleep with the .5mg of Xanax. The next day I always felt wonderful. It was when I quit due to the addition of chloral hydrate as a substitution for the beer that I went down hill. How I regret ever stopping the beer. If I lived in Europe or another country it would be a normal part of life either wine or beer with meals. Hard alcohol is totally different though. That I can see doing what you wrote. Phillipa
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