I don't know that alcohol increases the severity of episodes, really depends. I think that a lot of ppl with bp become alcoholics bcuz they were trying to manage symtoms.

To a regular / not alcoholic person can have a few drinks occasionally and be fine. But on the other hand same person, me for example, can drink too much and throw me into manic episode followed depression.

As much as I like my clonopins, I think you're right, they probably are more harmful than good for someone with bp. They are very addicting, I've heard the horror stories, and they can actually make you depressed.

Every time my son was hospitalized, and my daughter too, the staff would not give them their already prescribed clonopin. It made me so mad, but one guy nurse explained to me about the receptors being the same as with alcohol and how it can cause more depression.

So the hospitals know this, don't give suicidal teen benzos. But the pdocs hand them out. I am pretty responsible with mine, try not to take them every day, careful with alcohol. I am not taking one tonight because of this conversation.