I've finally learned that drinking on meds is a really bad Idea. I've done the xanex 12 pack treatment and my liver is in bad shape, besides the fact that it made me even more depressed and anxcious. Do yourself a favor and give it up.

I get sick as hell if I try to drink on my meds. I can tollerate 1-2 beers but other than that no thank you.
lol

I'm on 1200 mgs of lithium

160mgs of Geodon

40mgs of Paxil

600mgs Neurontin



I TAKE ALL THAT AND COULD NEVER DRINK A BEER . WOULD LOVE TO THOU JUST CANT!!! CAUSE OF THE CRAZY MEDS IM ON

beer, yech. My Friday routine is 2 bottles of wine and a pint of tequila. It's perfect to wind down from the week.

Meds: 4 lithiums in the morning, 5 at night, 100mg Lamictal.

I should add that I don't drink while down no matter what.

don't want to be a hypocritical mom here, but beer to chase meds? so dangerous. Heath Ledger time.
And alcohol makes you sleep less deeply.
I drink too and I drink to relax (not good) but to put the 2 together isn't a good habit to get into. Cuz you know you'll only end up upping the dose after you build a tolerance.

not anymore, it makes me sick as a dog and puts me out of comission and in a bad mood the next day

I`vebeen drinking beer my whole life and does not seem to affect my meds.I can become manic without changing the amount of beer I drink. I have researched this for 10 years and anti-depresaant work on seratonin and alcohol is a simple compouns similar to sugar. Alcohol has nothing to do with seratonin,norepinephrin,noe adrenaline or dopamine. Only simpleminded people think a depressant nuetralizes an anti*depressant. Unless you have a PHD in brain chemestry don`t assume that alcohol reduces your anti*depressants It is not that simple.

mikail, I can see your point. I have gone for long periods without drinking and there's been no change in my illness. I do believe however, that for most people, alcohol does affect their bipolar. I wonder why some can drink and some can't? Also, bipolar disorder has a high incedence of drug and alcohol abuse linked to people trying to self medicate so I'm wondering why those people seem to be absent in this post?

I think it makes me more depressed the next day if i get drunk .Other than that I see no big difference.That happens on and off meds for me so I do not think it really effects my meds it effects my BP.

Obviously reacts differently for everyone... I drank to calm myself down and sleep off and on for years prior to my bipolar diagnosis. When I drink now, I don't feel it so much because of the meds. My boyfriend actually says it usually makes me more manic if I have a drink. I still have a couple drinks in the evening or @ night sometimes. I feel it does help me sleep. I think ZSA has an excellent point. However, I don't compare our types of meds to what Heath Ledger was abusing. I keep in mind for myself though something I think you should consider.... The liver has a hard enough time with the meds... It's potentially damaging to have it filter and fight alcohol consumption as well.

Funny that this post would be here since I had several beers last night. If I drink, I don't take my night meds- this causes me not to sleep well and the next day I am tired as hell. But while I am drinking I enjoy it. By the way, I only drink once a week.

I drink on a semi-regular basis. It does not seem to affect my mood the next day nor my ability to metabolize my meds. Maybe I am a "true" alcoholic in denial. Or maybe not. Whatever the case, I am BP with periods of stability, regardless of my extra-curricular activities.

Mikail - you stated "Only simpleminded people think a depressant nuetralizes an anti*depressant. Unless you have a PHD in brain chemestry don`t assume that alcohol reduces your anti*depressants It is not that simple."

Even our anti depressants don't control our depression all the time. So if you happen to be on you way down or crashing and you drank then yes then the alcohol could neutralize the meds.

Syroness- before I was DX I did abuse both. Since meds the urge to do drugs has gone away but I still drink but not like I used to. I used to LIVE in a bar getting wasted almost every night.

I'm honest with my Pdoc and he knows I still drink but that I've cut way back, he'd like me to quit but doesn't hassle me too much.

As for smoking cig's I read somewhere that some Dr's say that they don't recommend for beepers try to quit that it's too much stress???

As for my current drinking it seems to be iffy. I'm sorry I don't remember who said it and I'm too lazy to go back thru but sometimes I can drink a lot and no effect or some nights a few and bam.

I know tho I used to LOVE tequila and I can no longer even do one shot of it or I'm sicker than a dog the next day. A lesson hard learned. LOL. Thought the first time was just a hangover. Second time wasn't sure. By the third time I knew it. Guess they mean it third times a charm.

Strange thing is I can drink Jagerbombs don't understand the diff. I usually stick to just beer tho. The # depends on the time we go out. We usually don't go out until late, after 10 pm. and the bar in town last call is at 2 am.

Doesn't seem to effect my meds. But then again more times then not I forget to take them when we get home since I take mine at night before I go to sleep.