bipolar: medication and alcohol
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bipolar: medication and alcohol
I have bipolar II. I was recently (and for the hundredth time) told that the reason my medication isn't working properly is that I am abusing alcohol to the extent where the medications aren't able to work any more. So I need to battle the alcohol before I can expect to feel much better... but meanwhile, I am still dealing with the mood swings. Has anybody else experienced this? Any advice, or just want to share your story?
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The medication was causing my alcohol cravings. Lots of people on the net are reporting this,
DavidHealy.org | Out of my mind. Driven to drink
DavidHealy.org | Out of my mind. Driven to drink
Hi. dollpart.
I am a bipolar alcoholic. I have experience with drinking whilst on meds. I also have experience in being sober on meds.
Life is a lot better, for me, without the alcohol.
We are all different, but maybe those people who told you a hundred times to stop abusing alcohol were right about you.
I'm almost certain that they had your best interests at heart.
Why not give sobriety a try? You can always go back to booze; so can I.
Today, I choose not to.
Others who know you and probably have the medical knowledge to back up any advice that they give, have told you to deal with it.
I can't tell you that do that. I'm not a doctor and I don't know you. So, I'll not say it for the hundredth-plus-one time . . .
But, think about it.
I am a bipolar alcoholic. I have experience with drinking whilst on meds. I also have experience in being sober on meds.
Life is a lot better, for me, without the alcohol.
We are all different, but maybe those people who told you a hundred times to stop abusing alcohol were right about you.
I'm almost certain that they had your best interests at heart.
Why not give sobriety a try? You can always go back to booze; so can I.
Today, I choose not to.
Others who know you and probably have the medical knowledge to back up any advice that they give, have told you to deal with it.
I can't tell you that do that. I'm not a doctor and I don't know you. So, I'll not say it for the hundredth-plus-one time . . .
But, think about it.
Last edited by dox; 04-08-2014 at 05:25 AM. Reason: spelling
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Thanks dox, that was a really helpful comment. i think you're right/ everyone else is right about me, I just need to find a way of dealing with that. Do you find your meds work better without the booze? I have been nearly-sober for about 2 weeks (3 slip-ups). And it's not helping *yet* but I can only hope it will...
Everything, absolutely everything, works better without the booze.
I honestly don't remember if the meds were working when I was drinking, because I was a daily drinker. I always had a foggy mind. My moods ware masked and muddled.
Today I am on Lithium. I still get highs and lows. It's just that the dangerous peaks and troughs have been removed. I Can live with that. Life is actually enjoyable most days.
But, I couldn't have put down the booze without the help of Alcoholics Anonymous.
They not only saved my life, but taught me how to live life without alcohol.
No regrets
I honestly don't remember if the meds were working when I was drinking, because I was a daily drinker. I always had a foggy mind. My moods ware masked and muddled.
Today I am on Lithium. I still get highs and lows. It's just that the dangerous peaks and troughs have been removed. I Can live with that. Life is actually enjoyable most days.
But, I couldn't have put down the booze without the help of Alcoholics Anonymous.
They not only saved my life, but taught me how to live life without alcohol.
No regrets
When I finally got help for my bipolar and started taking meds, I quit drinking. I knew that drinking was causing me to become more depressed and/or manic while I was under the influence. I think I probably would have ended up in the hospital if I'd continued drinking while on meds. The interactions can be very serious and screw with our brain chemistry permanently. I was tired of being miserable and I will admit it's been (and always will be) a lifelong struggle to maintain a sense of balance. Quitting drinking was one of the best things I've ever done for my mental health.
How was it for you dollpart? Your first meeting, I mean.
I don't remember much from my first meeting. I was in a bit of a dazed condition.
Wasn't sure about AA at first. But, I was desperate and saw it as a lifeline.
Still a member of AA after 9 years and going strong -- one day at a time.
I don't remember much from my first meeting. I was in a bit of a dazed condition.
Wasn't sure about AA at first. But, I was desperate and saw it as a lifeline.
Still a member of AA after 9 years and going strong -- one day at a time.
There is a lot of talk about 'self-medicating', but the research doesn't bear that out. For some reason, people with some mental health issues also have substance abuse issues. It doesn't mean that one causes the other.
I have felt overwhelmed realizing, later in life, that I have two major problems: mental health and substance abuse.
The first one to deal with is substance abuse. You need to stop drinking. Then deal with the other one.
I have felt overwhelmed realizing, later in life, that I have two major problems: mental health and substance abuse.
The first one to deal with is substance abuse. You need to stop drinking. Then deal with the other one.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: london
Posts: 259
How was it for you dollpart? Your first meeting, I mean.
I don't remember much from my first meeting. I was in a bit of a dazed condition.
Wasn't sure about AA at first. But, I was desperate and saw it as a lifeline.
Still a member of AA after 9 years and going strong -- one day at a time.
I don't remember much from my first meeting. I was in a bit of a dazed condition.
Wasn't sure about AA at first. But, I was desperate and saw it as a lifeline.
Still a member of AA after 9 years and going strong -- one day at a time.
Sounds like you find it helpful?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: london
Posts: 259
There is a lot of talk about 'self-medicating', but the research doesn't bear that out. For some reason, people with some mental health issues also have substance abuse issues. It doesn't mean that one causes the other.
I have felt overwhelmed realizing, later in life, that I have two major problems: mental health and substance abuse.
The first one to deal with is substance abuse. You need to stop drinking. Then deal with the other one.
I have felt overwhelmed realizing, later in life, that I have two major problems: mental health and substance abuse.
The first one to deal with is substance abuse. You need to stop drinking. Then deal with the other one.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: london
Posts: 259
When I finally got help for my bipolar and started taking meds, I quit drinking. I knew that drinking was causing me to become more depressed and/or manic while I was under the influence. I think I probably would have ended up in the hospital if I'd continued drinking while on meds. The interactions can be very serious and screw with our brain chemistry permanently. I was tired of being miserable and I will admit it's been (and always will be) a lifelong struggle to maintain a sense of balance. Quitting drinking was one of the best things I've ever done for my mental health.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: london
Posts: 259
Writing about my first meeting is here, I wrote it as a diary entry initially:
This evening I took a huge step. I went to my first Alcoholic’s Anonymous meeting. Beforehand, I had a lime and soda in a pub in town, because I had time to kill. I sat there inhaling the atmosphere, longing for a half a lager and lime. Just a half but-
but it never is just half, is it?
I was invited back by some people I just met, for a “proper drink” after the “thing” I had to do (“I could tell you what it is but… I’d have to kill you,” I said. “I’ll be back.”)
At half past six I went to the back of a church, asked if this was the meeting, and stepped inside.
It was a candle-light meeting, all the lights out and just candles sprinkling the table. It made it easier to hear others’ stories and eventually, to tell a little bit of mine. The whole time I was thinking about that pint waiting for me. I heard other peoples’ stories and bit my lip for wanting to cry. I could recognise myself, and also see the differences- because every person is different, aren’t they?
I wasn’t going to say anything. I wanted to say something. I couldn’t say anything. Could I?
Shaking leafishly, I spoke.
“Hi, I’m Becky. i’manalkolik.”
“Hi Becky.”
I wanted to swallow my tongue. I wanted to walk out. I wanted to be sick. I started shaking. I spoke.
“I’ve been sat here thinking I’m not an alcoholic, I want to go for a pint. But… I dunno, it’s weird. Well, a few weeks ago- I have bipolar- I was high, and I got given sleeping pills to help. But instead of taking the pills, I took a bottle of wine and all my meds and I jumped out a window. And that’s how I broke my ankle. And that’s why I’m on crutches. I guess I’m lucky to still be here. So, I’m glad I’m here… and thank you, all, for being here too.”
“Thanks, Becky.”
There’s a book I read as a child: “And That’s How I Got My Bad Knee.” A little girl has hurt her knee and makes up all kinds of stories about it: she fought a crocodile, she was attacked by a bear… and then she gets home, and her mum asks what happened. And she says, “I fell off a swing and I hurt my knee,” and she starts to cry. All the bravado stripped, and she just wants a hug.
The ankle was my bad knee. The alcohol was my swing. I needed a hug. I got the hug in the form of support, kindness, and a lift home with another bipolar sufferer, who knew all too well what the alcohol can do to you.
I’ve done it.
This evening I took a huge step. I went to my first Alcoholic’s Anonymous meeting. Beforehand, I had a lime and soda in a pub in town, because I had time to kill. I sat there inhaling the atmosphere, longing for a half a lager and lime. Just a half but-
but it never is just half, is it?
I was invited back by some people I just met, for a “proper drink” after the “thing” I had to do (“I could tell you what it is but… I’d have to kill you,” I said. “I’ll be back.”)
At half past six I went to the back of a church, asked if this was the meeting, and stepped inside.
It was a candle-light meeting, all the lights out and just candles sprinkling the table. It made it easier to hear others’ stories and eventually, to tell a little bit of mine. The whole time I was thinking about that pint waiting for me. I heard other peoples’ stories and bit my lip for wanting to cry. I could recognise myself, and also see the differences- because every person is different, aren’t they?
I wasn’t going to say anything. I wanted to say something. I couldn’t say anything. Could I?
Shaking leafishly, I spoke.
“Hi, I’m Becky. i’manalkolik.”
“Hi Becky.”
I wanted to swallow my tongue. I wanted to walk out. I wanted to be sick. I started shaking. I spoke.
“I’ve been sat here thinking I’m not an alcoholic, I want to go for a pint. But… I dunno, it’s weird. Well, a few weeks ago- I have bipolar- I was high, and I got given sleeping pills to help. But instead of taking the pills, I took a bottle of wine and all my meds and I jumped out a window. And that’s how I broke my ankle. And that’s why I’m on crutches. I guess I’m lucky to still be here. So, I’m glad I’m here… and thank you, all, for being here too.”
“Thanks, Becky.”
There’s a book I read as a child: “And That’s How I Got My Bad Knee.” A little girl has hurt her knee and makes up all kinds of stories about it: she fought a crocodile, she was attacked by a bear… and then she gets home, and her mum asks what happened. And she says, “I fell off a swing and I hurt my knee,” and she starts to cry. All the bravado stripped, and she just wants a hug.
The ankle was my bad knee. The alcohol was my swing. I needed a hug. I got the hug in the form of support, kindness, and a lift home with another bipolar sufferer, who knew all too well what the alcohol can do to you.
I’ve done it.
i have bipolar 2 also and it sucks; but taking meds and drinking on top of it just caused me to black out and do some crazy stuff.. finally got on saphris which has leveled me out. I go to lots of meetings but I still struggle a lot with depression.. these are mostly random thoughts but I just wanted to share how dangerous it got for me mixing the drugs and alcohol
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