Meds + Alcohol= ??

Ok, I know it's bad to mix meds with alcohol (I mean it says right on the label). But HOW bad -- I mean is it more damaging internally; or just worse for your disorder stability?

I'm guessing that most people on meds will have a drink or two, occasionally (at the least). I'm not a big drinker anyhow, but I don't abstain altogether either. My current meds are Lamictal and Adderall. I notice that if I take Lamictal IMMEDIATELY before I drink, that I feel much more intoxicated and extremely sleepy ( this only happened once).

Also, anybody know about damage caused by mixing benzodiazepines w/ alcohol? Obviously, would be fatal in high doses (of either when combined). I'm not planning on doing it, but I was just wanting some facts on the long term, or medical repercussions (yes, did it in past, but figured it MUST be bad, so stopped). My grandma actually has a bad habit of mixing these/sleeping pills with alcohol, so I'm also wondering about how it's affecting her health.
Thanks,
Jessie

Oh, I forgot that obviously mixing would cause increased liver damage (in regular/high doses). Does it do the same in low, moderate doses? All meds by themselves damage your liver, eventually (my other grandma died this way).

But what are other medical complications, or long-term mental/physiological/etc deterioration's?

It's my understanding that alcohol can intensify the effects of the medication, and vice versa. Not in a good way, though, like you've figured out with Lamictal.

This is something I'd bring up with your prescribing physician or the pharmacist. Better safe than sorry.

I would talk to your doctor about it, for sure. This is a very important issue. Different doctors may have different takes on the issue also... I told both my T and my pdoc about an occasional drink and they didn't "scold" me. Your doc may think differently.

I think the most important thing to remember is that alcohol is a DEPRESSANT. It makes you feel "good" in the short term but overall it is contributing to your depression state and is counteracting the effects of any anti-depressants you may be taking.

It also effects your sleep... it may help you fall asleep faster but it puts you into a very light state of sleep with a lot of intermittent waking, so you body doesn't get the "real" sleep it needs. Sleep can be a crucial factor with depression, and if depression is causing sleep problems on its own, alcohol can make it even worse.

Finally, along with any advise you get here, you should still talk to your doc about YOUR specific meds... some may have particular reactions with alcohol that can't be generalized.

My general theory of intake of ANYTHING is "a little bit in moderation isn't going to make or break a deal" but when you have something going on in your body that needs attention it may pay to be a little extra careful... be somewhat more conservative about your definition of "moderation" or maybe even abstain completely.

jessseryn
You wrote,[..does anyone know about damage caused by mixing benzodiazepines with alchohol...?]
I could offer you support from my perspective if you would like. I have an extensive knowlege concering benzodiazepines in relation to their concomitant use with alchohol and could have a discussion with you via the PM system here if you would like.
Lou

Please be careful. Ask you doctor and/or pharmacist and follow their advice. Regardless of what we can tell you, they are the specialists and have been trained, for years, to help you with these sorts of questions. xoxox pat

Mixing benzos and alcohol is bad, bad, bad. Quickly can be deadly and does not have to be in high doses. 2 mgs of ativan and 1 1/2 glasses of wine almost put us in the hospital.

Thanks to all for the advice. I drink alcohol rarely (like maybe once in the last month) so that's why I haven't gotten around to asking my doc about it. Also, thank for the info about the longer lasting "depressant" effects of alcohol, Dexter. I've read about this before, but it had kind of slipped out of my mind (convieniently, I suppose ). It's always good to have a reason to abstain/moderate alcohol when you have disorder(s) (especially depression, & with winter coming on).
Thank You!!!
~Jessie

Women are also more susceptible to liver damage from alcohol than men are - our bodies don't process the sugars & byproducts of alcohol metabolism as well, so a shorter period of alcoholism can be worse for us than a man who's been a steady drinker for a number of years. If you're taking NSAID's, which are also bad for the liver in long-term use or high dosages, on top of drinking, your liver is basically toast. I don't know about the effects SSRI's or MAOI's or tricyclics or any of the other common anti-depressants have on the liver - it should say in the product labeling somewhere, or talk to the prescribing physician about it.

Drinking alcohol potentializes the effects of many drugs - especially antihistamines, so you get a stronger effect than you would by just taking the drug alone.