Son started drinking while takine Effexor...

I am at a loss. My son is seeing a therapist for social anxiety and depression. He is also seeing him for help with his alcohol problem. He was doing well for 3 months. Finally his new family dr wrote him a prescription for effexor 75mg. He was on them a month and now he increased it to 175 mg. For the last 3 to 4 weeks my son's girlfriend must be getting him lite beer. This weekend it looks like he went through 2 cases. It is a light beer. He didn't appear drunk to me at all so I am not sure when he is drinking it. Possibly after he gets home from work which is like 10 or 11 at night.
I am devastated. I am tired of living this life. He has drained my marriage, my happiness. He was told not to drink with it.
He plans on moving in January 1600 miles from home. He thinks we need to help him get started by providing him financial support. We can't afford this but my husband feels we have to.... WHY? So he can blow it on weed and booze. I am sick of this life.

Hopeless85, I hear you.

I have been on Effexor, for depression, 150 mg/day for some years.

My prescribing psychiatrist told me firmly that mixing it with street drugs like booze and weed is a really bad idea (weed is not an issue for me but I am an in-remission alcoholic so that gave me a reason to stop drinking).

All that I can suggest is that you strongly advise your son to be honest with his therapist and family doctor - letting them both know that he is using street drugs as well as a prescription drug. You could also advise him to give them both permission to talk about him in private (have a "case conference") so they can work together in his best interests.

With care and concern .

Sorry you're dealing with this.

However to be honest, I can't blame your son for drinking while on meds. I did it for a few years before I learned my lesson (the hard way of course). And I'm not talking a glass or two of wine which is what I drink now, rarely -- I'm talking straight shots of liquor and multiple cocktails. Sometimes you really just need to live and learn because nothing anyone says is going to change your mind, you have to experience the backlash yourself to realize you shouldn't be doing something.

As I said on your previous thread, I have always drank while being on medication. The main risk is that alcohol can increase risk of side effects such as sleepiness. It is also a depressant so may counteract the effects of the effexor. All in all it's not really the end of the world.

Why does your husband think you need to finance your son's move? Aside from the question of the money, it sounds like it's going to be a logistical headache if he's still going to be on your health insurance and is seeing a doctor for health problems. (Ignore me if you don't want to answer this - it just sounds like it will make things worse, so I wondered.)