The Medication Thread

Henry Mars · August-17th-2003, 10:37 AM

....... dumb question. Are booze and anti depression drugs a bad mix? I don't remember much, only that I was at band reunion picnic.

Valerie · August-17th-2003, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Henry Mars
....... dumb question. Are booze and anti depression drugs a bad mix? I don't remember much, only that I was at band reunion picnic.

ROTFL!! Thanks for getting my day started with a good laugh, Henry!!

alankin · August-17th-2003, 12:17 PM

But, seriously, booze is a depressive, so...

bluenoter · August-17th-2003, 12:54 PM

Also seriously, whether drinking while on an antidepressant is a genuinely bad idea or just sort of beside the point depends on what antidepressant it is. I've been told that consuming a small amount of alcohol while on Lexapro is okay but that I might get intoxicated more rapidly than usual. However, in keeping with what Alan mentioned, I find that I have little desire to consume a depressant (alcohol) while on an antidepressant.

graypencil · August-17th-2003, 12:54 PM

WEll .. it sez on the pill bottles ( xanax/zoloft) NOT to do it..

however, being Irish and therefore contrary by nature ..

I usually do have a single malt or a couple glasses of wine ..

and the only effect I've noticed is a tendency to go to sleep
more easily ...

I don't recommend trying this ANY PLACE BUT home ..dont drive!

Valerie · August-17th-2003, 01:15 PM

Sorry if I took this topic too lightly. I just thought Henry was spoofing as I didn't think he could not know that you're going to have a definite effect at a party if you're on an anti-depressant and mix in some booze. Apologies are in order, I guess. Sorry, Henry!

Henry Mars · August-17th-2003, 01:40 PM

I'm taking Lexapro .... I was wasted and I really didn't think that I drank all that much.

I will just have to watch it I guess. They called this morning and said that I was playing ok ... must be reflexes.

Henry Mars · August-17th-2003, 01:47 PM

Valerie, I thought it was funny myself. You don't have to apologize. Some things are just funny and I didn't see it comming.

bluenoter · August-17th-2003, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by graypencil
WEll .. it sez on the pill bottles ( xanax/zoloft) NOT to do it..

however, being Irish and therefore contrary by nature ..

I usually do have a single malt or a couple glasses of wine ..

and the only effect I've noticed is a tendency to go to sleep
more easily ...

I don't recommend trying this ANY PLACE BUT home ..dont drive!

Grayp--As you probably know, Xanax is not an antidepressant but an anti-anxiety drug in the benzodiazepene class. If I were you, I'd treat it with plenty of caution and "respect." And never, never withdraw from it abruptly, even if you've done so without mishap in the past.

graypencil · August-17th-2003, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bluenoter
Grayp--As you probably know, Xanax is not an antidepressant but an anti-anxiety drug in the benzodiazepene class. If I were you, I'd treat it with plenty of caution and "respect." And never, never withdraw from it abruptly, even if you've done so without mishap in the past.

BN:

Thanks for the concern:

Yep ..I agree ..I've had experience with the
drug previously, and am well aware of the
"tapering off" schedule it requires.

and I DO treat it with caution ..I split 1MG
does in half per day ..

I may be Irish ..

but I aint an idiot

GPzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Salvador Dali Lama · August-17th-2003, 06:28 PM

Well, I take Lexapro and I drink. Never had any problems. I don't think I get drunk faster or anything like that either.

I rarely get really drunk though.

Didnt know that about Xanax. I took a half a Xanax yesterday, and then had a beer. But it was only one. I was fine. I think.

Lexapro is good shit though right? Much better than Celexa was.

Henry Mars · August-17th-2003, 06:33 PM

I dunno ...... It hit me like a ton of bricks. I won't be drinking as long as I am on the stuff.

bluenoter · August-17th-2003, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salvador Dali Lama
Well, I take Lexapro and I drink. Never had any problems. I don't think I get drunk faster or anything like that either.

I rarely get really drunk though.

Didnt know that about Xanax. I took a half a Xanax yesterday, and then had a beer. But it was only one. I was fine. I think.

Lexapro is good shit though right? Much better than Celexa was.

Of course, a lot depends on the individual.

I don't know how Xanax goes with alcohol. You could ask your doctor. I just know that it's worth being cautious with Xanax in general, and I know firsthand what can happen when one withdraws from it abruptly. (Nobody had told me that I shouldn't, and the bottle didn't contain any literature.)

Yeah, they really cleaned up Celexa when they created Lexapro. I was able to tolerate Celexa for about one week, tops. I'm pretty satisfied with Lexapro.

P.S.--In my humble and nonexpert opinion, Xanax should neither be popped on occasions when one feels anxious nor taken for years at a time, even though both are done.

Salvador Dali Lama · August-17th-2003, 08:26 PM

Yeah, I just popped one of them shits yesterday. I don't take it regularly, this is from a really old perscription. I only take it when the physical pain from stress is too much. Which isn't terribly often. Its always there but rarely does it actually get in the way of doing things.

Celexa did me fine for a while, but I started having some really really messed up dreams because of it. More like night terror/halucinations than dreams really. Lexapro did away with all that, thankfully.

Jimmy Cantiello · August-18th-2003, 07:32 AM

I regularly mix gin with vermouth and never had a problem.............

Gary Sisco · August-18th-2003, 09:12 AM

Have you ever read the warnings on a drug that *didn't* advise you not to drink alcohol? Or that it might cause drowsiness or sleeplessness, weight gain or weight loss, x or y, etc, through all possible combinations?

I take Zoloft and drink alcohol. In moderate doses of alcohol, it works okay. If I really decide to hit it, I pay a price when the buzz gets replaces with an ill feeling, making me wish I were sober again. I also take diazepam (by prescription). That will definitely amplify the effects of alcohol, and moreso of course the more you drink. Not recommended outside the privacy and safety of one's own home.

Salvador Dali Lama · August-19th-2003, 03:20 AM

how about sleeping pills? a guy was telling me the other night that ambien is really good shit. I've been up since 9, downed a tasty pint of guiness, played a fucking marathon set of music, and I'm still up and about. I dont generally sleep during night time. I'm keen on the day sleep. I want to change that.

So what do you guys think of the anti depressant/alchohol/sleeping pill mix?

sounds hot to me.

Ron Thorne · August-19th-2003, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salvador Dali Lama
So what do you guys think of the anti depressant/alchohol/sleeping pill mix?

sounds hot to me.

Sounds dangerous and irresponsible to me! Since I use no medication stronger than aspirin or Ibuprofin, what the hell do I know? Mixing drugs and/or alcohol can be extraordinarily dangerous, though. My mother lost her life to a seemingly benign mixture of cold medication and alcohol at a very young age. That's not so "hot".

Henry Mars · August-19th-2003, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salvador Dali Lama
how about sleeping pills? a guy was telling me the other night that ambien is really good shit. I've been up since 9, downed a tasty pint of guiness, played a fucking marathon set of music, and I'm still up and about. I dont generally sleep during night time. I'm keen on the day sleep. I want to change that.

So what do you guys think of the anti depressant/alchohol/sleeping pill mix?

sounds hot to me.

I wish to hell that I could sleep. I have been getting about 2 hrs max a night for months.
Lack of REM sleep is screwing me up.

bluenoter · August-19th-2003, 07:36 AM

Sal--

This is the medication thread. I choose medication on the basis of what sounds effective and safe, not what sounds "hot." There's a lot that I could say, but it sounds as if you've already made up your mind. If the combination that you mentioned doesn't work out, maybe you'll do more research on your own in the future.

Just one opinion: If you're going to do two central nervous system depressants (alcohol and Ambien), you might as well stop taking Lexapro, because it's not magic, and you'd be rendering it useless.

Okay, one more opinion: A more conservative way to change your sleeping patterns might be to change the time of day that you consume alcohol, Lexapro, or both. You could also try splitting or reducing your dose of Lexapro.

I can't stand it. A third opinion: Frankly, if you don't care whether your Lexapro works, IMO you don't need to be on Lexapro.

Henry--

Have you talked to a doctor? If not, I hope you will!

Gary Sisco · August-19th-2003, 08:19 AM

Ambien works very well. If you don't drink alcohol first. Take one and you'll be sleeping in half an hour. And the good part is that it only stays in your system for five hours or so, so when you wake up, you won't be dazed from the drug. Do not drink alcohol and take ambien. It's really not a good idea.

Also, one of the cruel aspects of aging is called alcoholic insomnia. Alcohol always, at any age, interferes with sleep and especially with REM sleep, but this factor increases with age. (I'm sorry to say...) If I drink alcohol past a certain time in the evening, now, I'm awake most of the night. If I really hit it, I'm both awake and dealing with a hangover all night. Not any fun at all. So I have to regulate the amount and time these days, as, sleep or not, my day begins at 0630 anyway; ain't any sleeping in.

On the other hand, as my good buddy Michael Hurley sang:

Drinking in the morning,
Don't you never scold.
That's the best time to drink,
That's when it takes ahold.

Clay Fink · August-19th-2003, 08:49 AM

I'm on Viagra, Zoloft, a form of synthetic heroin and I drink a half gallon of gin a day. I've seen no ill effects.

bluenoter · August-19th-2003, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Clay Fink
I'm on Viagra, Zoloft, a form of synthetic heroin and I drink a half gallon of gin a day. I've seen no ill effects.

Clay--Yeah, but we have.

Sal--Another thought: Have you ever tried taking ibuprofen instead of Xanax for "the physical pain from stress"?

Gary Sisco · August-19th-2003, 09:46 AM

Well, at least you thought to get the viagra to counter one of the most troubling aspects of heroin and alcohol.

Alastair · August-19th-2003, 11:35 AM

I've just come back from my cranial osteopath who suggested that two ibuprofen tablets taken with two or three glasses of wine is the best analgesic I can administer to myself.

Apparently I'm not supposed to tell my GP this.

Noj · August-19th-2003, 11:53 AM

My Uncle Jackie died way too young from drinking with his heart medication which caused kidney failure. I'm sure it is different from medication to medication...I'll just say "be careful."

jesus marion joseph · August-19th-2003, 12:05 PM

As someone who take virtually no medications, and certainly nothing on an ongoing basis, I find it interesting how many folks are on regular scrips. Like Ron, I use ibuprofen or aspirin from time to time, and have had painkillers after oral surgery, but that's about it .

Jimmy Cantiello · August-19th-2003, 12:16 PM

I wonder if Cherches ever had a dream that he was a cranial osteopath.................

Henry Mars · August-19th-2003, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jesus marion joseph
As someone who take virtually no medications, and certainly nothing on an ongoing basis, I find it interesting how many folks are on regular scrips. Like Ron, I use ibuprofen or aspirin from time to time, and have had painkillers after oral surgery, but that's about it .

Walk into my classroom every morning and see how long you can make that claim.
My teaching days are sadly comming to an end.

Salvador Dali Lama · August-19th-2003, 12:20 PM

do you have an MD or what blue noter?

Yeah, I've tried Ibuprofen. I'm not talking about a tummy ache here. I'm talking about debilitating pain. do-nothing pain. barely breathe type. Asprin doesnt do anything for that.

When did I say I don't care if Lexapro works? It works wonders, it's great. I'm very thankful to have it.

Seems something struck a nerve with you? I don't know what or why. I take the medicine that has been prescribed to me by a very reputable doctor. I have a couple of pints every now and again. And I can't now, nor could I ever in my life, sleep at night unless completely exhausted. Ambien sounds good. Benadryl leaves me with a nasty groggy sleep-hang over.

Gary, how long do you usually sleep after taking an Ambien? Is it hard to wake up from after say, 5 or 6 hours?