What really happens when you drink with meds?

Mountaindewed · May 06, 2018 at 08:54 AM

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.

TicTacGo · May 06, 2018 at 02:41 PM

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.

Artchic528 · May 06, 2018 at 03:11 PM

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.

Mountaindewed · May 06, 2018 at 05:06 PM

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.

Artchic528 · May 06, 2018 at 05:09 PM

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.

Mountaindewed · May 06, 2018 at 05:44 PM

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.

Nix · May 06, 2018 at 07:44 PM

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

Mountaindewed · May 08, 2018 at 01:14 PM

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.

Deejay14 · May 08, 2018 at 01:33 PM

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

marvin_pa · May 08, 2018 at 06:43 PM

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.

Jazz1971 · May 13, 2018 at 08:03 AM

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.

Wonderfalls · May 17, 2018 at 04:56 PM

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.

bobcat21 · May 18, 2018 at 02:53 PM

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.

WildcatVet · May 19, 2018 at 01:41 PM

"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.

Mountaindewed · May 27, 2018 at 09:48 PM

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.

Mountaindewed · May 28, 2018 at 01:13 AM

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.

Cocosurviving · May 28, 2018 at 10:44 AM

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.

TheDude8D · May 29, 2018 at 04:20 PM

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!

Scooter9 · Jun 01, 2018 at 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cocosurviving

... 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.

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

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

LucyD · Jun 01, 2018 at 06:30 PM

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.

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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 36,199 (SuperPoster!) 7 8,765 hugs given	May 06, 2018 at 05:06 PM #4 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.
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Nix Grand Member Member Since May 2015 Location: NY Posts: 778 8 37 hugs given	May 06, 2018 at 07:44 PM #7 I'd check with your Pdoc just to be sure. Mine told me I could drink on the meds I'm currently taking.
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 36,199 (SuperPoster!) 7 8,765 hugs given	May 08, 2018 at 01:14 PM #8 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.
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marvin_pa Veteran Member Member Since Jul 2009 Posts: 685 14 522 hugs given	May 08, 2018 at 06:43 PM #10 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.
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Jazz1971 Member Member Since Mar 2017 Location: New York Posts: 53 7 1 hugs given	May 13, 2018 at 08:03 AM #11 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.
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Wonderfalls Veteran Member Member Since Jul 2016 Location: Midwest Posts: 726 7 16 hugs given	May 17, 2018 at 04:56 PM #12 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.
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bobcat21 Member Member Since Oct 2017 Location: Kentucky Posts: 153 6 74 hugs given	May 18, 2018 at 02:53 PM #13 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.
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 36,199 (SuperPoster!) 7 8,765 hugs given	May 28, 2018 at 01:13 AM #16 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.
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TheDude8D Member Member Since May 2018 Location: Texas Posts: 31 5	May 29, 2018 at 04:20 PM #18 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!
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