[newtothis31]

Just curious to find out how other people handle alcohol.

My pdoc has stated that he recommends abstaining from alcohol due to the risk in mood changes. However, he has mentioned that I am okay to have 1-2 drinks.

What are your thoughts?

[sideblinded]

newtothis31

I don't drink because I just don't feel well as it dehydrates me and it messes with my meds. I get a headache, too.

[memson]

I've found that I have become increasingly intolerant to alcohol so I've reduced my consumption significantly. A single glass of wine, sipped very slowly, is fine; anything beyond that is asking for trouble.
We are all unique, however, so this is just my experience.

[wildflowerchild25]

I drink to the point of being drunk maybe three or four times a year. The hangover is not worth it to me.

If I lived on my own I might have a glass of wine more often but as it stands I live with my recovered alcoholic mother so I don't keep alcohol in the house out of respect.

I'm not sure how alcohol affects my meds. I've never asked my pdoc though I'm sure she'd say to abstain.

[BipolaRNurse]

It's probably not a good idea, unless you keep your consumption to maybe ONE glass of wine every now and again. But then, my perspective is probably skewed because I'm a recovering alcoholic with almost 23 years of sobriety, and with all the psych meds I'm on I couldn't drink even if I wanted to.

[hexacoda]

I'm too afraid to. I read that it lowers your seizure threshold when the meds I'm on already can cause seizures. I never liked the feeling I got afterwards anyway, and I got sick a few times drinking.

[ozzy1313]

I barely drink anymore. I have never liked to drink alone, but at social events I would get very drunk. More than once I have woken up in vomit. It just isn't much fun anymore. I go out less than I used to (I also now work Friday and Saturday nights) and often the fun turns to a mess once I get home. Also, I become VERY depressed for at least 2-3 days after a drunk episode. Plus I often do crazy stupid *hit when drunk.

So, in reply, I will have 1-2 drinks maybe 2x/month and get drunk maybe 1x/every 2 months or so.

[ozzy1313]

Should add, I NEVER want to drink when I am depressed. It's more often the hypo that makes me want to go out and drink up.

[elevatedsoul]

i drink more than i tell them i do

daily, but i hold my composure

self medicating

[cjb221177]

i have been on BP meds for about a month now and I've kept off the alcohol for that time. It was a sustained period of alcohol and antidepressants and klonopin that got me to where I am now via bouts of suicidal thoughts and partial hospitalization.
On Christmas day i performed a little science experiment and drank a few beers throughout the day (4 x bottles of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale) to see how they would affect me. At the time, the alcohol had no real effect as I have always been able to handle my drinking very well (maybe too well). Next day however, not so good. I felt more anxious and depressed that I have done in the previous 4 weeks. Coincidence? Probably not. I guess I'll be staying clear of alcohol in the future.

[Sunshiney87]

I drink wine like its water. Liquor on the other hand doesn't go down well. I drink more often when I'm feeling incredibly good and down.

[gayleggg]

I don't drink at all now because I'm on blood thinners, but in general I only drink a couple of times a month and then only one or two.

Some days I wish I could drink now, there have been some rough ones lately. I just take a klonopin instead.

[KristenRenee]

Originally Posted by newtothis31

Just curious to find out how other people handle alcohol.

My pdoc has stated that he recommends abstaining from alcohol due to the risk in mood changes. However, he has mentioned that I am okay to have 1-2 drinks.

What are your thoughts?

Wow, That is the first time I have heard a doctor say it's ok to drink at all while taking Psych Medications. I drink and use. It really messes me up. My moods get worse as well as my symptoms. It also affects the Psych Medications I take. I know I need to stop, but I am self medicating because I can't stand feeling low. However when the alcohol and drugs wear off, I feel worse than before. So from personal experience abstinence is the best answer when dealing with Bipolar.

[Turtlesoup]

Occasional glass of wine or champagne on special occasions. If I'm in a depressive state no alcohol for me-I get more depressed & obsess over sad things from my past then the crying starts-not good.

[Trippin2.0]

When I was medicated, I didn't touch the stuff. Learned pretty quickly that you get drunk much faster and on much less while pumped full of psych meds.


Now while I'm unmedicated, well in general I drink when I want to, which isn't very often at all. For example, on Christmas I had maybe 4 glasses of wine, and before that was in October on my brothers birthday, when I had shots and a few whiskeys...


My rule of thumb is this though: Check and recheck my mood before ingesting ANY alcohol as it amplifies and magnifies my mood tenfold.

So absolutely NO sad or depro drinking allowed. Ever.


I get drunk on purpose, maybe once a year, (usually NYE) and that's because I generally loathe relinquishing any kind of control, so I commit to doing this "let loose, really loose" thing annually. Although truth be told I don't even stick to my annual rule.

I drink because I drink. I haven't noticed any real deal, other than I get drunk. I'm a rapid cycler, so how I feel now doesn't mean I'll feel the same way tomorrow. Drink at your own risk.

[Sinking Feeling]

Originally Posted by elevatedsoul

i drink more than i tell them i do

daily, but i hold my composure

self medicating

this sounds like me, some days more then others.

[kjohnson]

alcohol acts as a depressant and can definitely effect mood. i prefer my hubby stay away from alcohol because he has issues at times with only having 1 drink so it just depends on how important it is and if you use alcohol as a negative coping mechanism to deal with stress ect.

[furiousfever]

If I'm anywhere near any kind of episode, drinking makes me instantly insane. When I'm manic though, I can't seem to stop myself. This always results in some awful hell of complete disregard. And often a ton of blood. I can think I'm happy euphoric manic and after a glass or two of wine, I'm crying and carving up myself. Oof.

I need to not drink, but I fall into it.

[tipper1492]

Diagnosed BP around two or so yrs ago at age 61. Before that, pot very seldom, alcohol bout every weekend, & at times too much. Psychiatrist told me alcohol or drugs would screw up medications. I gave up "everything" including those dam cigarettes. Feeling much better health wish, and emotionally. I'm glad I did and have no urge to do any of it every again. You can read here many suffer very badly from alcohol.

[violet66]

I drink alcoholically during mixed episodes and depression. Now is one of those times.

[furiousfever]

Originally Posted by violet66

I drink alcoholically during mixed episodes and depression. Now is one of those times.

I'm sorry violet. It feels so much worse when you are drinking dangerously to cope. I do the same thing, though in a different state, and it never helps. It also just frustrates everyone in your life who is pulling for you to get better. At least that's been my experience.

[bunnifoo]

I don't. I don't like beer or (most) wines. The only times I've regularly drank alcohol was when I was manic. When I was in middle school I used to wish I could drink until I passed out or had drugs I could take that would make me sleep/forget my life. Which freaked me out so I stayed away for a long time.

Now between the meds, my dislike for most alcohol, and another medical condition I just don't.

[bluemountains]

I have a drinking problem. It is something else I inherited along with the bp. I try to control it; however, I occasionally drink for several days in a row, usually between 1-2 bottles of wine in an evening. Manic times are the worst times!
I recently started taking lithium. This is the first drug that has given me reason to reconsider my drinking habits. This is the first time I can feel the negative effects of alcohol, and it is not pleasant. Actually, I am kind of glad because the physical problems are a great motivator to quit.
Bluemountains

[Standup2me]

Never touch a drop of it.
I am too scared of what it might do to the meds.

Also, personal reasons, there are three alcoholics in my family (3 out of five), so I
just don't want to risk ending up like them. They are not sober and will not go to AA because 'They don't have trouble with drinking'