[sui generis]

I've noticed since being on lamotrigine that after I've been out drinking, it takes me about 2 days to recover and my mood is negatively affected. I know you're supposed to limit alcohol on lamotrigine, and I have cut down the number of drinks I would usually have. Just didn't think it would make hangovers so god awful.

I probably had 3 drinks the other night (and 50 mg of tramadol I found because I'm an experimenting idiot heh) and I feel moderately depressed after it being mild the past few days.

I'm going to have to quit alcohol completely aren't I?

[doglover1979]

Originally Posted by sui generis

I've noticed since being on lamotrigine that after I've been out drinking, it takes me about 2 days to recover and my mood is negatively affected. I know you're supposed to limit alcohol on lamotrigine, and I have cut down the number of drinks I would usually have. Just didn't think it would make hangovers so god awful.

I probably had 3 drinks the other night (and 50 mg of tramadol I found because I'm an experimenting idiot heh) and I feel moderately depressed after it being mild the past few days.

I'm going to have to quit alcohol completely aren't I?

It's a good idea for anybody with bipolar to quit drinking. Even moderate amounts used regularly can make mood cycles, depression and impulsivity worse.

Most (if not all) BP meds do not mix with drinking, including Lamictal. Having more than the occasional glass of wine or beer is not really an option once you start taking meds. Unless you like to have severe hangovers and the risk of liver damage.

[Angry1541]

I know that alcohol made my hypomanic episodes more full on manic....and made my depression much much worse.

Quit a year ago, just before being diagnosed as BPII

[pawn78]

I also quit drinking (no more than 1 drink) Partly because it can mess with bipolar, and partly because I am on meds, and Lamictal doesn't mix with alcohol!

[sui generis]

Thanks guys! Your replies were helpful

[littlemiss44]

I'm also on lamictal. Alcohol makes the meds not work properly..it also is a depressant so that also makes it a bad idea to drink. I quit drinking 3 years ago and it's taken me that long to get fully stabilized. I knew I had a problem because I continued to drink daily on all my meds. I'm not at all saying you have a problem with it...I'm just speaking for myself. It not only gave me bad hang overs but it made my symptoms from bp2 and depression and anxiety really bad. I just couldn't stop. It was hard to stop but once I did I found relief. Relief from the obsession to always want to have alcohol. It's been a hard three years but I'm glad I'm finally stable. It's taken that long for my brain chemistry to straighten out. It's common for people with mental illness to self medicate which is what I was doing.

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[sui generis]

Originally Posted by littlemiss44

I'm also on lamictal. Alcohol makes the meds not work properly..it also is a depressant so that also makes it a bad idea to drink. I quit drinking 3 years ago and it's taken me that long to get fully stabilized. I knew I had a problem because I continued to drink daily on all my meds. I'm not at all saying you have a problem with it...I'm just speaking for myself. It not only gave me bad hang overs but it made my symptoms from bp2 and depression and anxiety really bad. I just couldn't stop. It was hard to stop but once I did I found relief. Relief from the obsession to always want to have alcohol. It's been a hard three years but I'm glad I'm finally stable. It's taken that long for my brain chemistry to straighten out. It's common for people with mental illness to self medicate which is what I was doing.

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Yeah for me it's not so much self-medicating. I actually don't go out drinking very often, maybe every month or every second month. I just began noticing how bad my hangovers have been since being on meds =\ I'm glad I'm not imagining it though and there does seem to be a correlation.

Also congrats on being free from drinking for 3 years! It's really hard to quit something when you've been doing it for so long.

[littlemiss44]

That's good that you don't self medicate...your alot farther along then I was. Thank you for giving me kudos. :-) I really hope the lamictal is working well for you. It's a great med.

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