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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by woolav on December 18, 2004, at 17:58:45
Hi All, I am taking prozac and lamictal and klonopin and it seems lately i have been drinking excessivly (for me at least) i was always a social drinker, but now, i dont feel relaxed or good without a drink. I am worried bc i dont want become addicted, but I just crave vodka. Does anyone else have these type effects on AD meds?
Thanks
Posted by banga on December 18, 2004, at 19:13:03
In reply to alcohol and meds????, posted by woolav on December 18, 2004, at 17:58:45
I have long wondered whether Prozac egged on cravings for alcohol. Here and there I have read people voicing the same suspicion. My own thoughts are that SSRIS at some level can be agitating and influence impulse control.
Please do take care. Perhaps talk to your doctor about your suspicions. Leaning on alcohol for feeling more stable short term is an extremely slippery slope. Once you start sliding you will never be in the same spot again in life--regardless of the "whys" in having started overusing in the first place. I found out the hard way, as you may guess. I went from having everything going for me, save the depression, and once in a while overdoing the alcohol, to using it occasionally to fall asleep, relax my inner agitation, always thinking, "well when x happens, I will stop" .....now several hospitalizations later for alcoholism and depression, I think why did I not listen to that inner voice that warned this is dangerous. I am not lecturing at all, nor saying you have a problem--just saying that I think your fears RE: dependence are well-placed and to listen to that voice.
Alcohol is self-medicating, and if you feel urges to use it even more while on these meds, you need to find out which med may be pushing you in this direction. As I said, my personal intuition is that Prozac did that to me-increased cravings. The cravings are a symptom, find out what the solution is--that doesn't involve the alcohol. I hope your pdoc doesn't give you the pat answer--"go to AA." not that AA is a bad thing AT ALL, but your point is (I assume) that the MEDS are perhaps having this negative effect and you want to find out why, and possibly rectify it.
Good luck, and again try to endure any naive pat answers a pdoc gives you regarding this issue to get to the bottom of this. It's extremely important.
Posted by woolav on December 18, 2004, at 19:56:48
In reply to Re: alcohol and meds????, posted by banga on December 18, 2004, at 19:13:03
Thanks for your advice. What makes me sad is that I felt like the prozac was the best AD that I have tried. Seems like i have tried them all -zoloft, effexor, paxil, serzone etc... and I feel pretty normal now, but now I feel like i will have to switch meds again and dont want too/ I dont think the lamictal is the problem, but I dont know...I am in the process of changing pdocs right now too. so this is going to be interesting. I just dont want to stop taking my klonopin bc the docs may think i have an addictive personality or something. I dont know..I will think about it all before talking with my new pdoc..
Thanks!
Posted by francesco on December 18, 2004, at 21:02:23
In reply to Re: alcohol and meds????, posted by woolav on December 18, 2004, at 19:56:48
I think that the alcohol craving is related to Prozac. I had the same problem like a many other people. On the net you will find something about it like an article of Ann Blake Tracy. I don't know what to suggest because I have never been able to solve this problem. My doctor didn't accept my theory but I'm quite sure about it. When I'm off meds I don't drink that much and so often.
I don't think it has anything to do with Lamictal or Klonopin, the only thing I can say is that even if you crave for alcohol you're not *obliged* to drink. Mixing alcohol with SSRIs caused me some problems like stupid motorbyke accidents, so, be careful. Moroever, mixing alcohol with benzos is never a good idea. best wishes and let us know.
Posted by ed_uk on December 19, 2004, at 4:46:36
In reply to Re: alcohol and meds???? » woolav, posted by francesco on December 18, 2004, at 21:02:23
Hi,
I have a friend who developed alcohol dependence shortly after starting treatment with Paxil. He never liked drinking before the Paxil and he feels that it was responsible.
Ed.
Posted by celticmom on December 19, 2004, at 9:08:19
In reply to Re: alcohol and meds????, posted by ed_uk on December 19, 2004, at 4:46:36
My Dh who had always been a weekend warrior really got in trouble after he started taking Paxil. He would act drunk after only a couple of beers. Then he would lose all control. It got so bad that he ended up with a DUI, but luckily he didn't hurt himself or anybody else.
He realized he couldn't drink anymore because he had lost all control over stopping once he started. He's been in AA for almost 2 years now.
Posted by TomG on December 19, 2004, at 12:24:31
In reply to Re: alcohol and meds????, posted by banga on December 18, 2004, at 19:13:03
I drank almost a fifth of Jack in one night about two weeks ago while taking Geodon. The next night after coming down from a slight hangover I had a weird nervous intense panic type reaction. For a full week after this I had a pretty intense headache every night. The weird thing is that I really didn't feel all that intoxicated after drinking all that Jack Daniels. My point is DON'T TRY THIS, because I felt like it really fried me beyond the normal effects of alcohol for one week. I may be done with hard liquor while taking meds.
Posted by BJM on December 19, 2004, at 19:55:18
In reply to Re: alcohol and meds????, posted by woolav on December 18, 2004, at 19:56:48
Don't give up on the Prozac yet if it has worked so well for you. I get increased alcohol cravings from Lamictal. I'd say, don't drop something that you know really works for you. Maybe let the others go or lower the dose and see if you feel better. I read recently that Topamax may be able to lessen cravings for alcohol. See what your doc says.
Posted by Sebastian on December 22, 2004, at 8:37:05
In reply to Re: alcohol and meds????, posted by banga on December 18, 2004, at 19:13:03
I started drinking a lot when I was on Prozac. Celexa does the oposite.
This is the end of the thread.
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