[schitzoaffective]

i hate to jump in with a random question, im new here, but here goes, i take antidepressants and antipsychotics what happens if i drink alcohol, beer liquor, wine the like...

[madisgram]

from what had been stressed to me by professionals, none if these meds are compatible with drinking. hope this helps.

[(JD)]

OH! You just missed Jerry's medicine chat.. but you can ask questions of him down in the psychiatric medications forum...

from what I know, it's not a good idea to drink when on most any med. Welcome to pc

[Jewels]

That is a good question, and sounds like you are sincere in asking. It cannot be stressed enough that drinking and psychiatric medicines are NOT compatible at all. There can be serious complications with the ingestion of alcohol while taking psychiatric meds.

You might do a Google search on your meds, and see what the overview and other charts in the search tell you. All these meds are meant to work without the use of alcohol. You might want to call AA and talk to someone there if you cannot leave the alcohol out of the picture. They can work with you to keep sober while you are taking the meds. Try them and see what you come up with.

Jewels

[RomanSunburn]

The last doctor that put me on medications told me that he realized I was in college and over 21 so completely cutting alcohol completely out of my life was probably not very likely, even though it is what was strongly recommended. He instead told me not to go overboard, never more than 1 or 2 drinks with plenty of food and not at the same time as my medication and only drink once in awhile. At the same time, I was on a very low dose of Prozac, so that might have been the reason he didn't feel the need to tell me to completely stop drinking.

Alcohol really shouldn't be mixed with psych meds but if you would like to be able to socially drink, I would suggest talking to your pdoc and seeing what he recommends. Perhaps, like my doctor, he will feel that you don't need to completely stop drinking, or perhaps he'll feel that your drugs would have a really bad interaction with alcohol.

We don't know your medications and we aren't doctors, so be safe. Don't drink until you talk to a doctor.

[Yoda]

It really depends on which specific meds you take.

I have been taking the same meds since 2007 for my bipolar. Recently I asked my pdoc if I could drink at all with the meds I am on and he said alcohol in moderation is okay for me. Ask your doc what s/he thinks about alcohol for you.

[Melbadaze]

I've been sober 8 yrs,my last year of drinking I was taking AD's,I ended up in a pysch ward, the **** really hits the fan if you drink to much and take meds, its a nightmarem

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by RomanSunburn

The last doctor that put me on medications told me that he realized I was in college and over 21 so completely cutting alcohol completely out of my life was probably not very likely...

Not directed at you, Roman, but then college, where you go for an education, means alcohol, inevitably...? Not a place to go to become yourself, but where you must conform to a pattern that is expected of you (by whom?)...

[lonegael]

I find that even though my psych meds didn't nec. mean that I had to avoid alcohol, they did sort of strengthen the effects of the morning after. I just don't drink at all anymore asa result. Most of the medications tend to have a kind of a bad mix wth other drugs, whether that be with caffein or alcohol or street drugs, and it has kind of an individual slant to it. in general, MAO inhibiters, a type of antidepressant, should NEVER be taken with alcohol, and Lithium should in general not be taken with caffein. tricyclates should in general not be taken with alcohol either; Ever. For a full list, talk to your docotr. A lot of people end up with brain damage from combining these things, so they aren't even sure ways of ending it all. Just a bad combo.

[mgran]

When I drank on meds, I found the depressive affect of alchohol was really magnified, and as a result I was incredibly miserable the morning after, and though not "hung over" as such, could barely move through the day.

Also, a combination of alchohol and meds taxes your liver more than either alone. I don't think it should be a regular habit at all.

[KathyM]

Originally Posted by lonegael

in general, MAO inhibiters, a type of antidepressant, should NEVER be taken with alcohol, and Lithium should in general not be taken with caffein.

Good point Lonegael

Back in the 1960s-early 1970s, my mother's official diagnosis was "histrionic woman with a history of hypochondria and alcoholism."

Her treatment regimen to stay off the alcohol and "maintain her balance" was to drink plenty of coffee and take plenty of Lithium. It never cured her amyloidosis or diabetes - it just gave her the diagnosis and label of "lunatic." The professionals were so convincing, they even had US fooled. Even at the end of her life and after she died, I never really believed she had amyloidosis - til I was diagnosed five years after she died.

Whoever thought it would be FUN for a little girl to walk in her mother's high-heeled shoes - much less the run the "cat walk" or a tightrope in them? I KNEW there was a reason I preferred bare feet!!

[RomanSunburn]

Originally Posted by pachyderm

Not directed at you, Roman, but then college, where you go for an education, means alcohol, inevitably...? Not a place to go to become yourself, but where you must conform to a pattern that is expected of you (by whom?)...

Pachy, I don't want to hijack the thread, but I feel your post needs a response of some sort. I don't believe drinking in college is a pattern that is expected of you by anyone (maybe a few other students, but I don't believe they impact the majority of students). I believe, at least in the US, most kids are so excited to get out from under they're parents thumbs, that they relish in breaking laws. Some just plain self medicate. And, depending on the college, alcohol can be more or less prevalent on campus. I hardly drank before turning 21. What I was saying, though, about what my pdoc said, was that he realized I'm going to want to go out and have fun with my friends, perhaps go to a bar and have a drink or two. Social drinking in college is something that my pdoc realizes is going to happen (partly because there's a novelty to something newly legal) so he didn't see the point in trying to tell me to swear it off completely.

Sorry for pulling the thread away from the original topic. Pachy, if you have anything you'd like to say in response, please PM me so we don't get it anymore off topic.

[kikki27]

Originally Posted by schitzoaffective

i hate to jump in with a random question, im new here, but here goes, i take antidepressants and antipsychotics what happens if i drink alcohol, beer liquor, wine the like...

It causes bad side effects and that is dangerous they tell you that on script meds paper work

[schitzoaffective]

thanks guys you are so helpful, im glad i found this site though i still am not 100% on how it all works posting and whatnot, and btw yoda i luv ur cat!!! lol