Teetotalism - Anti Depressants Related

learning_to_drive

After Sunday, my 21st party, I made a wee fool of myself in town, drunken japes, but woke up on Monday with a absolutely terrible hangover, indeed today is the first day i've eaten something proper. My stomach was in bits, and I was an absolute wreck Mon and some of Tuesday.

Im on anti depressants (fluoextine) and have been for around 2 weeks, was put back on them because of some issues that I have been having, before that, I was on them for 3 weeks, then stopped but went out drinking and was a bit of a mess, forgot everything, didnt know how I got home or anything.

With that in mind, and with respect to what happened on Sunday, I have decided to become teetotal until I have completely come off the tablets, I would like to know people's thoughts on what I am proposing to do here, messages of support etc.

I just think that I can do without the alcohol, as people will know, its a depressant in itself and can produce nasty side effects with my tablets.

I dont think I am going to kick the caffeine (coffee / tea) but its something I am willing to consider should the effects be proven, but alcohol is definitely going. Im taking the car everywhere I go now, just to make sure I dont drink.

Kevicho

Excellent move

Ive been completely drug free (alchohol is a drug as far as im concerned) for over 3 months now and i feel so much better, my mind works much quicker and my health has improved

Good idea

Imelda

Hi Learning to drive!

First of all- Happy Birthday!!

You are right, alcohol is a depressant, I always feel blue a couple of days after a big drinking session. I think you are doing the right thing, if you are on anti depressants and want to come off them then kicking the booze is only going to help.
I went for a whole year without drinking, I went through a tough time, !!!!!! job, split with boyfriend, had to move etc and most people thought that a few drinks would help- well it didn't, it landed me in hospital! I used to drive everywhere too, it saved me a fortune and I lost my wine belly as well.

I drink again now though but even recently had a night out where I let it get out of control, I beat myself up over it for days. The good people on this board gave me the kick up the butt I needed and I am back to drinking within moderation.

Not sure if I have actually helped but I wanted to lend my support to you x

GreyPilgrim

All the best and lots of luck with the teetotalism! I'm knocking mine on the head gradually because of dieting, but I'm also starting to notice that when i have gone out and drank too much I feel depressed, slightly paranoid and bit wound up for the next day or so, for no particular reason (well, apart from the obvious fact of booze being a depressant). I don't think it's a good feeling to have (especially when I haven't done anything the night before to justify it!)

Let us know how it all goes, yeah?

learning_to_drive

Course you have helped!! Thanks for the posts!!!

I spend so much time on here now, I really do love the spirit, the support is outstanding, I dont know what I would have done without the advice of people on here.

Basically, that's the best way to describe it, I beat myself up the way I acted on Sunday night in town, I dont like being out of control, I pride myself on being mature and stuff, I cant handle the thoughts of not knowing what went on when I was drunk.

In all fairness, it does me no favours in either cash or health, plus drinking on anti d's is risky, I try to tell people that Im on tablets, they just say oh well dont take them. Its not that easy, they stay in the system for 2 weeks.

mrslawrence2003

i got used to drinking on fluoxetine (part of my job involved a lot of drinking so kind of difficult to stop) and was fine after a while. certainly not for everyone tho.

mrslawrence2003

mrslawrence2003 wrote:

i got used to drinking on fluoxetine (part of my job involved a lot of drinking so kind of difficult to stop) and was fine after a while. certainly not for everyone tho.

should point out tho that i rarely, if ever drink until drunk as hate being drunk. i tend to make my drinks last a lot longer and am quite adept at resisting pressure from others to drink more. if i wasnt able to do this, then prob would be easier and better to give up drinking completely. maybe. erk.

good luck!

learning_to_drive

I had a very scary night when I came off the tablets the week before, they were still in my system, I didnt have that much, but then I got into one of the clubs and I felt very ill.

I got out, apparently rung my girlfriend 5 times mumbling rubbish, couldnt remember getting into the station for my taxi, had my Subway and felt very ill, head was spinning violently then I fell asleep and taxi man woke me up outside my house.

Got in, went to bed and felt fine next morning, scary though, I was out of control completely.

Fritha_2

I've been on AD's for nearly a year now, I was advised to keep off the drink for a couple reasons: it's a depressant (as you said, so if your moods low anyway it'll just make it worse!) and also I know from friends' experiences when you're on AD's you get drunker much much quicker!

I was never a big drinker so it's been much easier for me, but even I just WANT a drink sometimes! But so far, since January, I've had two mouthfuls of cider and a shot's worth of Baileys!

I really think you're sensible not drinking until you're off the tablets (but that could be a while), or at least until you're comfortably on the tablets.

You should also never just stop taking the tablets, you need to be weaned off by your doctor, if you just stop it can make you feel really dreadful and also it is very very likely to just fling you straight back into depression. I've been told all of this by my doctor. Essentially you need to talk to doctor about any major changes to your tablet taking.

I hope that helps, basically cutting out drinking is good for you and I agree with you :-)

learning_to_drive

It could be up to a year that I'm on the tablets, the doctor said, I have to go back and see her every month too so she can monitor it. They are concerned that I keep changing my job! They both really think that going back to Sains could be the best thing.

piglet6

learning_to_drive, this sounds so familiar to me...

About 5 years ago, I was on Fluoxetine for about 8 months, and working in an investment bank (where a few drinks after work was not an uncommon occurrence!). Twice, I had a similar experience to you. The first time, the friends I was with called my husband to come and collect me. The second, I was taken to hospital in an ambulance and put on a drip over night before being sent home. Both times I remember nothing about and I woke up feeling absolutely fine the next day (although hideously embarrassed, obviously...!!). Each time, I had only had a couple of glasses of wine (250ml ones, admittedly, but even so, I had been known to drink plenty more and I was considered to be quite good at holding my alcohol...!) and my friends said that it seemed to happen very suddenly - one minute, I was absolutely fine, and the next I was "gone".

Nobody could understand it, until the second time, when I arrived at A&E in the ambulance. My husband was asked if I was taking anything, he told them about the Fluoxetine and they said that was the answer. Seemingly, it is a drug that can cause these episodes in a very very small number of people (we were told about 1 in 10,000) and the percentage is so small that its not listed as a side effect on the actual packaging. The medical profession is aware of it, but as there doesn't seem to be any way of predicting who will be affected, it is just dealt with as and when...!

I stopped drinking immediately when I discovered this. It seems that I was just one of the very unlucky ones who was affected, and it sounds like you might be, too*. Good luck with the teetotalism - it is a good idea (and it doesn't have to be forever...I drink again nowadays, because I am not on the tablets, and have experienced no problems since).

Piglet

*This post is in no way "medical advice" - I am just talking about what happened to me and passing on information I received that learning_to_drive might find useful...