craziunique
01-20-2008, 11:01 PM
This past week( Thursday ) my pdoc just put me on SEROQUEL ( which I have noticed on this board a lot of you have questions about this med - so do I!!!!)
Well, it states no alcohol - period. I have done that. I'm also on Prozac, Tompac and Klonopin cocktail. But I'm guilty of drinking on those meds before - but not everyday. Weekends usually.
Now, I made a promise to myself NOT to drink! But I'm being asked all sorts of questions. Why are you drinking water? What is that in your hand? ( meaning water) if I'm at a bar. This past weekend was my first go ahead at it. Granted, I can deal with it for a short period of time, then I found myself bored, wanted to go home. I'm saying this in a good way. I do feel better!!
Bottom line, I'm just asking for your help. What do I tell people when they ask me, why are you not drinking????
Well, it states no alcohol - period. I have done that. I'm also on Prozac, Tompac and Klonopin cocktail. But I'm guilty of drinking on those meds before - but not everyday. Weekends usually.
Now, I made a promise to myself NOT to drink! But I'm being asked all sorts of questions. Why are you drinking water? What is that in your hand? ( meaning water) if I'm at a bar. This past weekend was my first go ahead at it. Granted, I can deal with it for a short period of time, then I found myself bored, wanted to go home. I'm saying this in a good way. I do feel better!!
Bottom line, I'm just asking for your help. What do I tell people when they ask me, why are you not drinking????
Sponsor
jules3
01-20-2008, 11:37 PM
tell them you are on an antibiotic. it is a very ignorant person that would ask that question anyway!!
Peepicker
01-21-2008, 01:28 AM
Ran accross your post. Been on Seroquel 50mg and also lamictal 300 for three years now. Have always weekend drank on both of them and never had an issue. Of course I dont drink alot. 5 or 6 drinks max a night out.
DO you have the shakes after you take your seroquel? About 30 minutes if I dont go to bed, my body involuntarily jerks and its really annoying.
This past week( Thursday ) my pdoc just put me on SEROQUEL ( which I have noticed on this board a lot of you have questions about this med - so do I!!!!)
Well, it states no alcohol - period. I have done that. I'm also on Prozac, Tompac and Klonopin cocktail. But I'm guilty of drinking on those meds before - but not everyday. Weekends usually.
Now, I made a promise to myself NOT to drink! But I'm being asked all sorts of questions. Why are you drinking water? What is that in your hand? ( meaning water) if I'm at a bar. This past weekend was my first go ahead at it. Granted, I can deal with it for a short period of time, then I found myself bored, wanted to go home. I'm saying this in a good way. I do feel better!!
Bottom line, I'm just asking for your help. What do I tell people when they ask me, why are you not drinking????
DO you have the shakes after you take your seroquel? About 30 minutes if I dont go to bed, my body involuntarily jerks and its really annoying.
This past week( Thursday ) my pdoc just put me on SEROQUEL ( which I have noticed on this board a lot of you have questions about this med - so do I!!!!)
Well, it states no alcohol - period. I have done that. I'm also on Prozac, Tompac and Klonopin cocktail. But I'm guilty of drinking on those meds before - but not everyday. Weekends usually.
Now, I made a promise to myself NOT to drink! But I'm being asked all sorts of questions. Why are you drinking water? What is that in your hand? ( meaning water) if I'm at a bar. This past weekend was my first go ahead at it. Granted, I can deal with it for a short period of time, then I found myself bored, wanted to go home. I'm saying this in a good way. I do feel better!!
Bottom line, I'm just asking for your help. What do I tell people when they ask me, why are you not drinking????
Llama
01-21-2008, 04:14 AM
Hi craziunique. I too am guilty of drinking while on meds. My pdoc says it's a no-no because it can interfere with the meds and also mask symptoms. So, we don't know just how bad things are because the alcohol can calm a lot of symptoms and mask them too. This is why it is dangerous in many senses.
That said, do you like soda? Maybe you could have a sprite or a diet coke . Or you could say you are the sober driver for the evening.
I hope these ideas helped! :)
I am working on this issue to, so I wish us both luck!
That said, do you like soda? Maybe you could have a sprite or a diet coke . Or you could say you are the sober driver for the evening.
I hope these ideas helped! :)
I am working on this issue to, so I wish us both luck!
klyn07
01-21-2008, 06:15 PM
I was going to ask my doctor this when I saw him last week and forgot. I don't think a drink here or there will hurt you. I would be wary of drinking every weekend, just because alcohol (from what I have read) can be a trigger for the mood swings to kick off. But I think if you were going to have 1 or 2 drinks in a month it wouldn't hurt. That said, I have never spent time with people and they thought to ask what I was drinking or why I wasn't drinking too. Now that they know about my diagnosis and how alcohol can affect me, if they see me drinking they tell me they are watching me, LOL.
craziunique
01-22-2008, 12:30 AM
Thanks for all of your input!!
I have been cutting back on how much I have been drinking prior to taking this med. But to go cold turkey, I believe its going to be really hard. Its a social place in my life and environment. I guess I could do a test experiment on myself and make notes.
I have been on Seroquel for 5 days now. The first day I felt a little tired in the morning 25mg then I have to take another 25mg at noon then 200mg at night
( help me sleep of course ) . But so far no shakes or involuntarily body movements. I do feel more chilled out, able to think clearly.
Has anyone gain a lot of weight on Seroquel ? that is one of my main concerns.
Thanks!!
I have been cutting back on how much I have been drinking prior to taking this med. But to go cold turkey, I believe its going to be really hard. Its a social place in my life and environment. I guess I could do a test experiment on myself and make notes.
I have been on Seroquel for 5 days now. The first day I felt a little tired in the morning 25mg then I have to take another 25mg at noon then 200mg at night
( help me sleep of course ) . But so far no shakes or involuntarily body movements. I do feel more chilled out, able to think clearly.
Has anyone gain a lot of weight on Seroquel ? that is one of my main concerns.
Thanks!!
IceBoy
01-22-2008, 12:57 PM
Most information guides for medicine (for mental disorders) say you should give up on drinking. Even if they know little won't hurt they say that just in case, and so they won't get sued.
From my experience its fine as long as it is in moderation. You should always consider drinking often/alot as a problem, no matter if you have a disease or if you take medicine. Alcohol is responsible for 1,8 million deaths every year so I advice moderation since I think its more likely to do good because most people won't quit, kinda like safe-sex information does more than expecting someone to be a virgin (like the Spears family has showed us).
People with mental diseases are many times more likely to abuse substances. And also the ones that abuse substances are much more likely to commit suicide. So its really important to keep track of it or even quit it all if you can.
From my experience its fine as long as it is in moderation. You should always consider drinking often/alot as a problem, no matter if you have a disease or if you take medicine. Alcohol is responsible for 1,8 million deaths every year so I advice moderation since I think its more likely to do good because most people won't quit, kinda like safe-sex information does more than expecting someone to be a virgin (like the Spears family has showed us).
People with mental diseases are many times more likely to abuse substances. And also the ones that abuse substances are much more likely to commit suicide. So its really important to keep track of it or even quit it all if you can.
luvmybabies2
01-23-2008, 08:57 AM
I have found that a lot of Bipolar people have drug or alcohol problems. I have a few friends and family members who are alcoholics and Bipolar. A lot of us are just trying to self medicate, to make ourselves feel somewhat "normal". I am from Iceland, where alcoholism is very high. I am an alcoholic and so is my mother, father, and 3 sisters. I quit drinking many of times though for years on end. But I just quit gain a few weeks ago when the depression got so bad that I couldn't even function in my life anymore. Alcohol is very bad, but I love it, but I can't have it and still function well in my life. But damn this bipolar medicine that I just started makes me feel like I have a hangover in the morning, so I might as well be drinking. It's called Carbatrol, anyone taking that for their bipolar?
Maria
Maria
ripka
01-23-2008, 07:46 PM
...In November I started a severe manic episode. The first one in several years, because of the medication I had been on. In the beginning I was not even aware of what was happening. One of the things I finally noticed was that I wanted to drink. That was soooo out of character for me. I heard myself saying all the time: I want a drink. It was a specific type of drink I wanted: Baileys Irish Creme on ice. AND I wanted a couple glasses of it at a time.
I am not really a drinker, just once in awhile, but this was a real craving. Early December I started Lamactil and within a few weeks, the craving for alcohol went away totally. I am sure it was all related. I have heard tho that many people drink and take strong medications. It must be very hard to separate the two substances as they do not mix.
good luck and I hope you do well as you continue to work with this issue
~ Ripka :)
I am not really a drinker, just once in awhile, but this was a real craving. Early December I started Lamactil and within a few weeks, the craving for alcohol went away totally. I am sure it was all related. I have heard tho that many people drink and take strong medications. It must be very hard to separate the two substances as they do not mix.
good luck and I hope you do well as you continue to work with this issue
~ Ripka :)
IceBoy
01-24-2008, 02:13 AM
Nice seeing someone from Iceland...
I have the same story really. My father is probably also bipolar and with ADD, just was never diagnosed. Its really said because all his life people has just seen him as an alcoholic, not realizing it was probably just symptoms of other diseases.
However I have been able to develop a better drinking habit than he did. I think its because I knew the risks (because alcoholism is common on both family sides) and because I educated myself about mental problems before I started drinking. Everybody told me I would go the same path my father did but I was stubborn to proof them wrong.
I personally don't believe there are special genes just for alcoholism or other addictions. But I think other diseases influence it mixed with what kind of parenting you get. But hey I'm just 23 so I could be wrong and later have problems, but I´ll always keep it in mind and I know it should ALWAYS be in moderation (no excuses). Also of course my paranoid family members will keep an eye on me.
I have the same story really. My father is probably also bipolar and with ADD, just was never diagnosed. Its really said because all his life people has just seen him as an alcoholic, not realizing it was probably just symptoms of other diseases.
However I have been able to develop a better drinking habit than he did. I think its because I knew the risks (because alcoholism is common on both family sides) and because I educated myself about mental problems before I started drinking. Everybody told me I would go the same path my father did but I was stubborn to proof them wrong.
I personally don't believe there are special genes just for alcoholism or other addictions. But I think other diseases influence it mixed with what kind of parenting you get. But hey I'm just 23 so I could be wrong and later have problems, but I´ll always keep it in mind and I know it should ALWAYS be in moderation (no excuses). Also of course my paranoid family members will keep an eye on me.
luvmybabies2
01-24-2008, 10:15 AM
Well, I do agree with you a lot on this. I have a really hard time with people calling alcoholism a disease. I do think it is "self-medicating", trying to fill a hole or a void in one's life, but I don't think it's a disease. I have been able to quit many times all by myself and other times with help from AA. Right now It's been almost 3 weeks I think since I have had any drink and I am happy and not craving it at all. I hope to say quit for a very long time, unless it's a holiday or very special occassion. My mother who is Icelandic, has Borderline Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality disorder. She also lives here in America, but I have had to cut her out of my life, because she is severely mentally ill, and a bad alcoholic. She was adopted in Iceland by her uncle and says she was abused mentally by her step mother, so it really truly can be how you are raised that can cause mental illness and alcoholism. I grew up in a horrible home and I had a terrible childhood, and I really believe that is what caused my drinking to get out of control and my bipolar illness, there was no love in my home, just a lot of fighting and chaos all of the time. I hope to change that for m own children, but I find it much easier to repeat family history than it is to make major changes in ones life.... but I am still trying anyway..........
Maria
Maria
luvmybabies2
01-24-2008, 10:25 AM
Iceboy,
You said "But hey I'm just 23 so I could be wrong and later have problems"
Well, let me tell you that I only wish that I knew HALF OF WHAT YOU KNOW WHEN I WAS 23 YEARS OLD !!
You are very wise for your young age. And also let me tell you that when I was 23, those were some of the most productive years of my life, when you are 23 I think it's a great time in your own mind, you have lots of brilliant ideas at 23, and lots of energy, versus when you are my age 36. At least that has been my experience. When I was 23 I had so much energy and so many great brilliant ideas constantly running through my head. I even started up my own business at 23 and it was very successful for many years, until I allowed the alcohol destroy it all.
So don't think that just because you are 23 that you are less than anyone else, 23 is a great age of brilliance in many people!
Maria
You said "But hey I'm just 23 so I could be wrong and later have problems"
Well, let me tell you that I only wish that I knew HALF OF WHAT YOU KNOW WHEN I WAS 23 YEARS OLD !!
You are very wise for your young age. And also let me tell you that when I was 23, those were some of the most productive years of my life, when you are 23 I think it's a great time in your own mind, you have lots of brilliant ideas at 23, and lots of energy, versus when you are my age 36. At least that has been my experience. When I was 23 I had so much energy and so many great brilliant ideas constantly running through my head. I even started up my own business at 23 and it was very successful for many years, until I allowed the alcohol destroy it all.
So don't think that just because you are 23 that you are less than anyone else, 23 is a great age of brilliance in many people!
Maria
IceBoy
01-26-2008, 01:05 PM
Ohh thank you so much for that, I really appreciate it.
But that one line I think you misunderstood. I was just talking about the alcoholism. For example my father didn't have any problems my age, it started around 25 I think. So there are examples of people drinking in moderation for years before it becomes a problem.
However (just to be positive) my fathers mental problems also came after 20 (mine started at 15) and after that it took just couple of years for his drinking to multiply. So I guess the age doesn't matter that much because I have gone to the bottom without going that path.
But that one line I think you misunderstood. I was just talking about the alcoholism. For example my father didn't have any problems my age, it started around 25 I think. So there are examples of people drinking in moderation for years before it becomes a problem.
However (just to be positive) my fathers mental problems also came after 20 (mine started at 15) and after that it took just couple of years for his drinking to multiply. So I guess the age doesn't matter that much because I have gone to the bottom without going that path.