What really happens when you drink with meds?

I’m on lamictal, geodon, propalanol, Ativan and seasonsale.
I rarely drink. But I have before. Last night I had a margarita. I feel a bit twitchy and kinda out of it. But it’s just for a few minutes. I’ve had nothing that I felt was a reaction. I even took my meds an hour after drinking and had no issues. I feel fine today.

So is it safe to have an occasional drink? I’d like to try angry orchard.

Once cocktail is probably not going to do much. They usually suggest no drinking on benzos. (such as Ativan)

Heavy or prolonged drinking on a benzo can enhance the depressant effect. (on the CNS: coordination, speech, motor skills, judgement and breathing)

Some other medications such as lithium have the same strict rule, but this is because of the risk of lithium toxicity.

I was once told that some medications can dramatically decreases your tolerances/increases the effects of alcohol. For example, having one drink might be the equivalent of having two or three. At least my former Pdoc said my medications will do that and I take Abilify, Effexor and Buspar. So, just having say, a wine cooler or a single cocktail drink will probably not do much, but just be mindful of that sort of thing if you ever plan on having more than one or two drinks.

I’d like to just have one every once in awhile.

Thanks.

I thought like you’d die or have seizures from it. Don’t know where I heard that or why I thought drinking would be a good thing.

You might with certain meds, I'm not sure as I'm not a pyschiatrist/chemist. I do know that my dad can't have anything with grapefruit in it because of his cholesterol and blood pressure meds, as an example, because of how the two would interact together. It's a shame, really, because he loves grapefruit otherwise.

I eat grapefruit as well. One time with buspar which says you deifiently shouldn’t. I didn’t realize it until after I ate it. Luckily I was ok. But I was really freaking out.

I’m not on buspar anymore. Not sure if I still shouldn’t be eating it or what.

I know I asked my physician one time and she said one every once in awhile is ok with my meds. But then other people were telling me not too.

I just want to have an occasional social drink like all the other adults I’m around.

I'd check with your Pdoc just to be sure. Mine told me I could drink on the meds I'm currently taking.

I asked my therapist who’s also a doctor.

He said yeah one drink is ok with the meds I’m on as long as I’m not taking my Ativan.

I have a very occasional glass of wine. One glass about every three months! No ill effects. However scorpion bowls are out!!!

I think that grapefruit can change the rate at which some meds are metabolized by your system - so over a given period of time your effective dose might be different from that intended. I'd check with your pdoc whether that could be an issue for you/your current meds.

Drinking with benzos is not recommended so if you want to have a cocktail, you shouldn't take the Ativan. Otherwise it should be ok to have a drink.

You're definitely not supposed to drink on Wellbutrin (chance of seizures) or a benzo (respiratory danger). Personally I drink beer (one or two and not everyday) and the occasional cocktail with them, have for some time and I've never had any problems. My psychiatrist doesn't seem very concerned.

I drink with Lamictal but I sort of use a time frame like wait 2 hrs until I start drinking and definitely never ever mix benzos I know some people who have but personally I am not willing to take that risk.

"Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.
Maybe one or two drinks, but I'm sensitive to alcohol anyway and just one drink made me sloppy, staggering, and just plain stupid.

I had part of a Mikes Hard Lemonade tonight and I was fine. It was about an hour and 15 minutes after taking my meds. It was actually the first kind of alcohol I liked. The only thing out of the ordinary that happened was that I peed really fast and for a long time even though I just had half of it and nothing else since the last time I went to the bathroom.

I plan on having the rest Tomorrow. I have a different kind of the same brand in the fridge. Someone brought them to me so I could try them.

I’m not sure if peeing a lot is related to alcohol but in Mrs. Doubtfire Robin Williams said “after those scotch I had to p*ss like a racehorse.” So maybe it’s related??

I still feel fine a few hours later.

A few years ago I went out with my parents to one of the casinos in our area. They were trying to get me out the house. Anyway my dad talked me into getting a drink his treat. I’m not a regular drinker. Even before getting diagnosed and going on meds. I told the bartender I would like a Long Island ice tea. Omg it seemed strong! It took me a while to drink it. I did not get sick but I could barely function for two days. This was in the summer time and my younger daughter was going to camp. I pulled myself out of bed and took her to camp. Returned home and slept until time to go pick her up. I did that for two days. It was terrible. I was not on a benzo at the time.

I would keep it to a few drinks maximum with the geodon and none with the benzo IMO. I once drank too much with the geodon and the next day I got uncontrollable muscle spasms from the interaction of the geodon and alcohol. Very painful, would not recommend!

It's made up of four different liquors - no wonder you felt out of it

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/long-...ea/#gs.jqKOzxU

My doctor told me not to drink with my medications. I think she just doesn't want me to drink because there were times I had too much to drink and I told her about that. I didn't listen to her, though, as I have drank on other meds and was okay. So I have a few glasses of wine and am okay. I take Lamactil, Reperidone, and lexapro.

I always tried to avoid combining alcohol with my psy medication. Now I just take the occasional benzo and try to avoid alcohol when taking them. Alcohol and medication is just a bad combination. Grapefruit is probably the second worst in combination with medication and lesser known. I never eat it.

Okay, so no matter what anyone says some people are going to drink. Problem is one drink will probably not do much so you have another. Then your judgement becomes impaired and you decide to have another. Next thing you know you're stumbling, being stupid, driving drunk, doing a weird hook-up...
Maybe only drink in the company of a designated friend who knows your story and who can keep an eye on you?

OMG!! Well I learned something new today.

My GP asked me today if I drink alcohol. I told her once in awhile. She didn’t really seem to care.

Anything from counteract the meds you're on to increase side effects to death.

You should try your best not to drink while on meds and always consult your prescriber