Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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Alcohol and medications

charmingdisaster
charmingdisaster
I have been missing from this site for a while because a lot of things started happening in my life. Anyways I have been diagnosed as bipolar. It took a while to finally get the right diagnosis but I got it. I am currently on lithium (450mg in morning and 450mg at night), lamictal (300mg), risperdal(2mg), and Prozac (40mg). My question is how dangerous really is it for me to be drinking alcohol? I have had a couple really bad nights but I think it is mostly due to drinking too much. My pdoc and counselor both say not to drink bc it's dangerous. I should listen but I have a social life too. I have been drinking and haven't died but my doctors make it seem so serious. What should I do?
deleted_user
deleted_user
i am on the same meds-i stopped drinking 5 years ago and don't miss it a bit-i drink o'douls and don't even miss the alcohol!
doorknob
doorknob
I have a beer or two every once in a while.

Yes it is dangerous to drink with medications because alcohol increases the strength of the medication. One it could overdose you and two it will decrease the effectiveness of the medications when you are not drinking. So no you shouldn't drink.

I don't miss drinking for the most part and you don't need to drink to be social. have a non alcoholic beverage and continue socializing. Never let any one pressure you into drinking. Any one who would pressure you is not a true friend.
Community LeaderSunCloudJD
SunCloudJD
To have a drink or two is one thing.. To get drunk (I don't know if you are) is another..
People have died mixing the two in any excess.. x
charmingdisaster
charmingdisaster
If I'm going out to the bars or a party, I generally drink quite a bit and get drunk. I notice that it takes longer for it to hit me so that's how I end up drinking too much. I guess I was just puzzled as to why my doctors are making such a big deal of it.
dancingd
dancingd
Well..the death factor , is kinda a big deal ?

An occasional drink..1...might be ok.
But getting drunk is probably asking for real trouble

Our Pdoc's tell us not to drink for a reason.
deleted_user
deleted_user
If you drink so much that you start throwing up and can't even keep water down, that will push your Lithium blood level up to toxic levels and kill you in an extremely unpleasant way, namely drowsiness, fits/seizures, coma and then death. It's incredibly dangerous to drink to the point of throwing up if you are taking Lithium.
ScarletAngel
ScarletAngel
I have been drinking and haven't died but my doctors make it seem so serious.

You only have to die once and your doctors concerns become both accurate and serious. But by that time, it's usually too late for you.
deleted_user
deleted_user
i am only able to not drink alcohol with the help of a 12 step program called Alcoholics Anonymous, but i have tons of friends there and a very active social life without drinking. You CAN have fun sober! It is possible. If alcohol is causing a problem in your life, you might want to check it out: www.aa.org
deleted_user
deleted_user
`what should i do?'

listen to the doctors.
GinaWonders
GinaWonders
Addictions, especially alcoholism - looks like bipolar!!! I have met many drunks, diagnosed bipolar - I mean your drunk and happy, that's high = hung over with consequences and sickly? LOW

For me, if you want to be better, and NEED to take meds - why mess them up, with drinking so much?

High levels of alcohol can change everything, including how a drug effects us ((((BIG HUG))))) it sucks, having to make choices...most beepers I know, get drunk and usually arrested, not on my list of things to do! I loved partying but is not a LIFE I want : ) I want more....
ATOWifeofJason
ATOWifeofJason
The one time I tried to drink on my meds...I noticed the same thing...it took forever for me to feel it and them wham...I was sick and puking. Enough for me...I'd rather be sane, so my advice would be listen to the doctors.
deleted_user
deleted_user
listen to them, I guess.

If alcohol is important to you & you can't desist drinking then insist that your meds are changed to a less disastrous combo for alcohol ingestion.

Have you got liver damage or something? Certain meds plus alcohol will kill your liver.

Some people drink regularly with certain med combos..but not massive binges- that would probably never be a great idea

Considered cutting back on drinks? Too hard?
charmingdisaster
charmingdisaster
I have tried to cut back and for the most part I do ok. But there are times I have too much. If I just tell everyone that I am going to stop drinking I think it will help. I get really scared sometimes because of all the warning with these meds. Thank you everyone for your responses. I don't drink all the time but the times I do, sometimes I have too much because it doesn't affect me the same as before.
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