Drinking while using bipolar med?

My husband has been on meds since December when he has a psychotic break and was hospitalized . He was self medcating with booze for many years and now he is not drinking except one or two here an there whic concerns me because I don't want it to through him into a manic episode or effect him health wise.. I'm not sure how others react to meds other then what I have googled. He has had a glass of wine and a beer or two beers and no bad reaction.. He is taking abilify, celexa, klonopin, and trazodone at night. Will the two drinks effect his meds from working or will it make him go into hypo mania ? Or is it fine?

I think he is totally fine with a glass on wine or a couple of beers. That question has been asked a number of times and the consensus seems to be that yes a small amount is fine.

Personally I would be more worried about the self medication thing. If he was self medicating with a lot of booze for many years is it possible he is an alcoholic? Can he stick with one glass of wine or one or two beers. You say right now yes, but will that hold true in the future? I am not saying he is. I only ask that because I self medicated for many years and I am an alcoholic/addict (in recovery for many years).

I always thought that anyone who self medicated heavily with drugs and or alcohol for mental illness was an alcoholic or addict. They often go hand in hand. Making that statement in these forums will probably get a lot of varied opinions and a lot of people saying they self medicated but are not alcoholics or addicts. They will be mad at me. So I don't really know for sure. I only know that tons of people in alcohol and addiction recovery self medicated for mental illness.

The meds might help with self medicating. Whatever he was trying to satisfy may be satisfied by the med. If he continues time will tell.

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I believe the difference between someone who self medicates is based on if they can or cant stop self medicating at any given point. A drug addict/alcoholic cant and wont stop unless they hit rock bottom or something seriously changes in their life. My mom was really bad into pills and I disowned her and that still didnt even make her want to stop using drugs. Sometimes I self medicate meaning if I'm in alot of pain ill smoke pot or if I'm sick to my stomach I'll smoke. But the difference is I don't have to smoke. I can go years without using pot (and I have). I also take prescription narcotics for chronic pain. I just had surgery and since I have been taking narcotics for so long I have a really high dependancy (meaning I need more and more to get the same desired effect) so obviously I'm taking more than what is prescribed. I am not an addict, nor an alcoholic. Once my pills are gone...they are gone. I don't buy them on the street. I believe that is the difference. I do agree that many people with mental illnesses self medicate with drugs or alcohol. My mom did. She has bipolar and BPD just like me. She never got helped so she used drugs and alcohol as a crutch to fill the void.

Well I guess I have to agree. Not all people who self medicate for mental illness are addicts. It is just that I have been around alcoholic and addicts my whole life. While using and then recovery ones when I got sober.

Did you self medicate for mental illness before you got treatment for it? Was it more than just occasional pot use? I am just trying to understand the non addict who self medicates.

My mom doesn't have any mental illness and has never drank or used drugs. In AA we call her a "normy". I don't understand normies just like normies don't understand alcoholic/addicts. Or how we get frustrated with people who don't understand mental illness. You can only understand something to a certain point if you don't have it.

Be careful with the pain killers because with opiates anyone can become addicted and get in trouble even if they are not an alcoholic/addict.

Its hard to say if I medicated for mental illness. Yes I had bipolar and bpd but it was very mild. I smoked pot to help with pain. It did help my mood also. During that time I didnt take any meds. Nothing. In complete remission. I am careful with the painkillers. They dont make me high because I have chronic pain but I know im at risk because I have a family of addicts and I have to be careful but im well aware of it.

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Damn pain killers are the best anti depressant I think. I just feel so good and the depression goes poof all gone. I only know this cuz I had kidney stones and had to take them. And recently a tooth infection from a root canal. I will take them until they are gone pain or no pain. I could get addicted very easily. Thank god they won't give me many and I stop as soon as they are gone and don't go looking for more.

Not everyone in the family gets the addiction. Two out of four kids in my family and my Dad. Usually the ones who don't get the addiction gene have a lot of troubles in relationships.

Haha well that explains me..thats the hallmark symptom of bpd

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