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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lexman on February 14, 2004, at 13:35:57
I have been taking 10mg of lexapro since august.I am a college student that is in a frat.I drink every weekend even though i know i am not suppose to.Does this i have worse effect on the body in the long run?Is the lexapro still effective even though i drink on the weekends?Do you get a worse hangover beening on this med?Just curious...
Lexman
Posted by AntiTrust on February 14, 2004, at 16:25:46
In reply to drinking on lexapro, posted by lexman on February 14, 2004, at 13:35:57
hmmmmmm well alcohol is a depressant of sorts so you arent doing yourself any good if you are on a antidepressant by drinking. period.
Posted by Jaynee on February 14, 2004, at 19:47:18
In reply to Re: drinking on lexapro » lexman, posted by AntiTrust on February 14, 2004, at 16:25:46
I am not on Lexapro, but on Celexa and the few times I did tie one on, wow, what a hangover. The hangover headache from hell. I don't drink anymore, because I can't tolerate the hangover I get. I thought about quiting Celexa, just so I could drink sometimes, but I realized that would be really dumb-ass. The less I drink, the less I miss it.
I know it is hard not to drink, especially in college, but you would be doing yourself a favour if you do quit, until at least you get better. Who knows, once you get better maybe you will find other ways to de-stress and have fun.
Posted by JonW on February 14, 2004, at 19:59:26
In reply to drinking on lexapro, posted by lexman on February 14, 2004, at 13:35:57
> I have been taking 10mg of lexapro since august.I am a college student that is in a frat.I drink every weekend even though i know i am not suppose to.Does this i have worse effect on the body in the long run?Is the lexapro still effective even though i drink on the weekends?Do you get a worse hangover beening on this med?Just curious...
I've noticed a huge difference between drinking and not drinking on meds in the long run -- in terms of depression. I'm currently taking Lex like you. It seems like the Lexapro never gets a chance to really take hold and do its thing if I keep rocking the boat with alcohol. I guess you're only 21 once, but I'd get through that as quickly as possible.... If you're anything like me, drinking every week will only amount to insult to injury in the longrun. When the meds are really working, drinking isn't necessary to enjoy life -- even as a young person.
Jon :)
p.s. I have found the Lexapro potentiates the effects of alcohol, and I suppose this could result in a worse hangover because you got more drunk than you realized. I don't know... Take advil (ibuprofen). Take it before you go to bed, it's a lot more effective if you take it ahead of time. I've also found B-vitamins and vitamin C a good thing to load up on. But my best advice would be to avoid alcohol for the most part.
Posted by panic_attack on February 14, 2004, at 21:30:58
In reply to Re: drinking on lexapro » lexman, posted by JonW on February 14, 2004, at 19:59:26
I am an alcoholic and I take Lexapro. I cannot offer you any advice since I am on the same boat. To be honest though, I feel no different than I did before I started taking Lexapro. I just think the alcohol is cancelling out the positive effects of Lexapro and therefore, I feel the same hangover I did before I started taking Lex. It's not good for our livers at all. If your not already an alcohlic, I would just quit drinking period! I wish I would have done that years ago before I turned into a hard core alki! Best Luck to you.
Posted by Phil on February 14, 2004, at 23:51:56
In reply to drinking on lexapro, posted by lexman on February 14, 2004, at 13:35:57
I only drank on acid in college, fun year. duh.
Alcohol and meds mixed aren't a good idea, it will catch up with you. That's a tough situation to be in but if you stop drinking, you'll realize how dumb your friends are when drunk.
After I quit drinking, I couldn't believe I used to 'enjoy' it. I never was a social drinker though. I drank to get very drunk.
If you know you are going to drink, you might consider not taking your med that day.
Posted by Sad Panda on February 15, 2004, at 6:31:33
In reply to drinking on lexapro, posted by lexman on February 14, 2004, at 13:35:57
> I have been taking 10mg of lexapro since august.I am a college student that is in a frat.I drink every weekend even though i know i am not suppose to.Does this i have worse effect on the body in the long run?Is the lexapro still effective even though i drink on the weekends?Do you get a worse hangover beening on this med?Just curious...
>
> Lexman
>The problem with meds + drinking is it alters how much of the drug is in your blood, so you will never have a stable amount of Lexapro in your system to know if you need more or if it's actually doing any good.
As Phil says it may be a good idea not to take Lexapro the same day you are drinking, but who knows.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by shadows721 on February 15, 2004, at 15:47:03
In reply to drinking on lexapro, posted by lexman on February 14, 2004, at 13:35:57
I would absolutely NOT drink on meds for depression. It defeats the purpose of the Lexapro. A woman was posting recently that her daughter died from drinking and taking Lexapro. Remember, alcohol is a drug too. You are mixing two drugs together and taking your chances of the outcome. I would say either do one or the other, but not the two together. I am not meaning skip a lexapro when you drink. I mean being off the lexapro completly if you can't go without drinking. You are taking a silly chance on your health by trying to fit in with others ignorance. Are you really having that much more of a fun time drinking to risk your health? Do you know that drinking has been strongly linked to suicide? We don't make wise decisions when we drink. Make a stand for yourself and be a responsible adult. You are an adult now. Don't drink and take meds! If someone in your frat has a problem with you not drinking, that is their problem. Is the only way to be in a frat is to drink? What kind of ignorant criteria is that? Every time I have been on meds, I NEVER drank. Yes, others encouraged me to do that. I told them I have a medical condition and I CAN'T drink. I would get very angry and leave if anyone kept pushing the issue. After that, no one even brought up the subject again. Stand up for yourself and your health. Don't do it! No medical professional in the world respects a person coming in the ER with adverse reactions to meds when someone drinks their self to stupidy. They think you are wasting their time. They want to treat people who have conditions which they have no control over. Nothing ticks off medical personnel than someone coming in for something they intentially done to themselves. Drinking and taking antidepressants is a choice. No one can force you to do it. You are acting as your worst enemy. Don't harm yourself to fit in with others. Stand up for yourself and do what is right for you.
Posted by antitrust on February 15, 2004, at 16:22:14
In reply to Re: drinking on lexapro (DON'T DO IT!), posted by shadows721 on February 15, 2004, at 15:47:03
well stated !!!!
Posted by panic_attack on February 15, 2004, at 18:51:16
In reply to Re: drinking on lexapro (DON'T DO IT!) » shadows721, posted by antitrust on February 15, 2004, at 16:22:14
WoW shadows721, great post. That really motivates me alot. I am sick of the way I feel. I have gone into the ER before for alcohol withdrawal, etc and you are right. The staff is NOT HAPPY at all. They actually treated me like CRAP. Very rude to me. I am killing myself by drinking. Unfortunately, I have a problem with drinking and it's so hard to quit. I love the way I feel when im drunk, (not afterwards). I am going back on the wagon as of 2 days ago and will do everything in my power to stay sober. If I become weak, I will read your post again :) Thanks.
Posted by Jaynee on February 16, 2004, at 0:17:48
In reply to Re: drinking on lexapro (DON'T DO IT!), posted by panic_attack on February 15, 2004, at 18:51:16
Just saying no is a very hard thing to do for some. For some it is almost impossible. But what I don't understand, is what should be treated first, the alcohol abuse or the depression/anxiety? I read where alcohol leads to depression in men, but depression leads to alcoholism in women.
Are people not being honest with their shrinks about their alcohol use, and the shrinks prescribe these medications anyways, knowing the 2 should not be mixed. Or are patients not being honest with their shrinks? If lexman was honest about his alcohol abuse, would the doc treat the alcohol abuse first and then the depression. Is it really reasonable to just give someone who abuses alcohol an anti-depressant and expect them to amazingly just stop drinking?
The good ol' Nancy Reagan slogan "Just say No", is a joke, and it just doesn't work for a lot of people.
I don't know what the answer is, but just telling someone to "Just say No", isn't the answer.
Posted by panic_attack on February 16, 2004, at 7:49:19
In reply to I don't know which one do you treat first?, posted by Jaynee on February 16, 2004, at 0:17:48
Yes, It is very hard to say "NO". But you gotta keep on trying. I have been to several different doctors, and I tell them all, I HAVE A SERIOUS DRINKING PROBLEM. Ok, here is a prescription for Lexapro. Only one doctor had some doubts and thought he should also prescribe Wellbutrin to help seize the cravings to drink. Long story, but it never happened. I am thinking of trying this combo now. I heard Wellbutrin and Lex are great together. And if it can also help me quit drinking, even better! We'll see..
Posted by Phil on February 16, 2004, at 18:29:09
In reply to Re: I don't know which one do you treat first?, posted by panic_attack on February 16, 2004, at 7:49:19
Okay folks here's your answer. If you think you might have a problem with alcohol, you do.
Social drinkers don't ponder these things.
If a doctor gives you pills without referring you somewhere for the drink, he should have his license pulled.
Why shouldn't one drink on meds...suicide. You get confused and despondent for getting drunk when you didn't mean to. Please stop rationalizing and get honest.
If you think this is harsh, then keep drinking.I'm not an expert on much but I'm an expert at this merry go round. Get help from a doc that isn't enabling you to kill yourself.
If you say you're really not 'that bad yet.' Then drink. Some people have to drink everything in their lives away before they snap. You don't have to live that way.
By the way, if you think adding Wellbutrin will make you stop drinking, you don't have to wait and see. It won't.
This is the end of the thread.
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