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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 36. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lynnads on December 25, 2002, at 18:08:08
Just curious, are there any side effects to drinking alcohol while on Effexor XR? What are the reasons that you are to stay away from drinking while on Effexor XR?
Posted by Jet Meck on December 25, 2002, at 20:24:10
In reply to Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by lynnads on December 25, 2002, at 18:08:08
> Just curious, are there any side effects to drinking alcohol while on Effexor XR? What are the reasons that you are to stay away from drinking while on Effexor XR?
I am on 150mg Effexor XR daily. I drink a couple of beers nightly and up to 3 or 4 on weekends. I also did this before taking Effexor. As far as the alcohol goes I see no difference in the way it effects me. I am bipolar and Effexor and Zyprexa have been very good for me. I also work out every day and maintain a healthy diet. Just my 2 cents :)
Posted by comftnumb on December 25, 2002, at 21:43:54
In reply to Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by lynnads on December 25, 2002, at 18:08:08
The manufacturer and most doctors recommend you stay away from alcohol on Effexor XR but I haven't had any problems. Just remember for some people Effexor will amplify the effects of alcohol so 1 drink becomes 2, 2 drinks becomes 4, and so on...
Posted by LynnPerley on December 28, 2002, at 23:24:33
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by comftnumb on December 25, 2002, at 21:43:54
I have found that since taking Effexor alcohol's effect is unpredictable. Sometimes it has zero effect. Sometimes it makes me extremely depressed. Sometimes it is unusually sedating, in other words, the effects of alcohol are magnified.
I also would really like to know why the manufacturer says to avoid alcohol. Is it a medical or physiological reason (i.e. increases effect on the liver) or is it simply because alcohol has a depressive effect upon most people?
Posted by Noa on January 1, 2003, at 13:32:13
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by LynnPerley on December 28, 2002, at 23:24:33
My guess is the liver, and the interference of alcohol in metabolizing the med and vice versa. I know that my liver enzyme tests come out elevated (on effexor).
I, too, find varying effects of alcohol. I tend to avoid it, but the occasional glass of wine or a cordial can have unpredictable effects like you mentioned. If I know I'm home for the night, etc. then, it might be ok, but if I have to be functional for a time afterward, I don't indulge.
Posted by lucky on January 9, 2003, at 19:04:51
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by comftnumb on December 25, 2002, at 21:43:54
> The manufacturer and most doctors recommend you stay away from alcohol on Effexor XR but I haven't had any problems. Just remember for some people Effexor will amplify the effects of alcohol so 1 drink becomes 2, 2 drinks becomes 4, and so on...
That is pretty much what happened to me. I usually have a couple of beers a night and 3-4 on the weekends. Not sure if Effexor amplified the effects but, now i'm having a combination of 3-4 drinks every other night. a mix of beer or sometimes i'll just have vodka cranberry. I've always been a social drinker, but it seems that my cravings are much stronger since i've been on effexor, can't really explain it.
Posted by M. Lee on January 10, 2003, at 10:23:13
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by lucky on January 9, 2003, at 19:04:51
> That is pretty much what happened to me. I usually have a couple of beers a night and 3-4 on the weekends. Not sure if Effexor amplified the effects but, now i'm having a combination of 3-4 drinks every other night. a mix of beer or sometimes i'll just have vodka cranberry. I've always been a social drinker, but it seems that my cravings are much stronger since i've been on effexor, can't really explain it.
>I noticed a sort of craving when my Effexor was increased, though I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the meds. Usually just a minor feeling, like craving some kind of food.
I did overdo alcohol on two occasions last month, and didn't really realize it at the time. But in retrospect it was somewhat compulsive.
Posted by Joel Maxuel on January 11, 2003, at 21:22:12
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by lucky on January 9, 2003, at 19:04:51
I'm on clozapine now, and its doing the opposite. 5 beers don't get me drunk anymore, it used to take just 3. 6 beer is now borderline. And this is homebrew too, which means 8-10%.
--
Joel Maxuel
ShamelessPlug(http://www.maxuel.ca);
Posted by lucky on January 12, 2003, at 1:36:33
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by Joel Maxuel on January 11, 2003, at 21:22:12
Thanks for the responses. That about the same for me. I can drink and it doesn't seem to effect me as much as prior to taking effexor. However, the alchohol is probably counterproductive. Has it impacted the meds effectiveness for you?
Posted by LynnPerley on January 12, 2003, at 22:07:39
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by lucky on January 12, 2003, at 1:36:33
I'm sure the alcohol changes the effect of the effexor, but whether I would require more, or less, I don't know. Usually the alcohol makes me want to stay up later than I should - which is weird. If I'm exhausted, I don't want much alcohol, and it makes me sleepy.
Posted by lynnads on January 12, 2003, at 23:43:25
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by lucky on January 12, 2003, at 1:36:33
> Thanks for the responses. That about the same for me. I can drink and it doesn't seem to effect me as much as prior to taking effexor. However, the alchohol is probably counterproductive. Has it impacted the meds effectiveness for you?
Oh gosh, I thought I was going crazy. I thought I was the only one experiencing that. It seems that since I have started on Effexor, drinking doesn't quite have the effect on me that it used to have, where as I see other posts saying the exact opposite. And fortunately, it doesn't seem to have impacted the meds effectiveness on me.
Posted by lucky on January 13, 2003, at 20:00:20
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol » lucky, posted by lynnads on January 12, 2003, at 23:43:25
LynnPerley, same thing for me. If I have more than 2 drinks i tend to stay up late. Last night 1:00am, night before 2:00am. I'm no spring chicken at 36yrs old. thanks again for you comments.
Lynnads, what is your current dosage? I just can't (i can) stop the craving for beer I've been been having 2+ drinks on the average of 5 days a week???? not good. Anyway, i was just curious how much you are taking, since you mentioned that effexor seems to be working for you.
Thanks Lynns!
Posted by lynnads on January 13, 2003, at 22:03:02
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol LynnPerley, Lynnads, posted by lucky on January 13, 2003, at 20:00:20
> LynnPerley, same thing for me. If I have more than 2 drinks i tend to stay up late. Last night 1:00am, night before 2:00am. I'm no spring chicken at 36yrs old. thanks again for you comments.
>
> Lynnads, what is your current dosage? I just can't (i can) stop the craving for beer I've been been having 2+ drinks on the average of 5 days a week???? not good. Anyway, i was just curious how much you are taking, since you mentioned that effexor seems to be working for you.
>
> Thanks Lynns!Hey Lucky,
I too have been having strange cravings for beer! I could easily have one or two beers a night (as a matter of fact, I am getting the craving right now :| ). I never used to be this way. Luckily, my neighbor is always stocked up. :) Anyway, I am on 150 mg and since starting, it takes more beer for me to feel any effect. Where as on past meds, I would feel the effect of the alcohol almost imedately. The alcohol doesn't seem to cause me to be any more depressed than otherwise, but I do assume the combination of the two aren't too good for the liver.
Can I ask how long you have been taking Effexor and what kind of side effects you have endured if any? I am pretty new to this med and not so sure I like the side effects I am having. Not to mention that after reading different posts from people trying to come off of Effexor, it worries me a bit.
Thanks!
Posted by lucky on January 13, 2003, at 23:50:24
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol LynnPerley, Lynnads » lucky, posted by lynnads on January 13, 2003, at 22:03:02
Sure thing- I started taking eff. XR beginning of october of 2002 and i have worked my way up to 150mg's. I was on this dose for 1 1/2 months before i went to my doc last week and told him that the anxiety and mild depression was kicking in again, so he suggested to work up to 225mg's (currently taking 187.5) and see how that goes. In terms of side effects, I think mine are fairly common (yawning, feeling tired, spacey) these seemed to only occur when i first started the meds and when i jumped from 75 to 150. That's been about it.
I would say for the past month or so, i've been feeling unmotivated and easily overwhelmed/short tempered.
I'm not sure if this is a side effect or just caused by normal day-to-day events, but in any case this is what spurred the drinking. Having a few (sometimes 4-5) drinks would calm me down and take the edge off. But as you know from reading on this board everyone reacts differently to these meds and i find it difficult for me to determine if my actions or lack of actions are natural or caused by a side effect of taking effexor. I do know that for awhile i had some positive experience on effexor, so with that said, i am going to work my way up to 225mg's and see if that helps.
I was also concerned about the side effects associated to weaning off, but i'm on it now, so I will follow everyone elses advice and wean off slowly. BTW- this is the first AD i've ever taken, although i believe i've been fighting GAD and depression for 20 years or so. Anyway, this is still fairly new to me and i've learned alot from other posters. One thing i have learned is that it may take some time to find the right med or combination, so i'll continue to search if the effexor doesn't work out. How about you? what side effects are you having? Have you tried anything else? Well that's my story, hope you can get something out of it. :)
Posted by lynnads on January 14, 2003, at 3:03:28
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol LynnPerley, Lynnads, posted by lucky on January 13, 2003, at 23:50:24
I do like to hear what other people experience with Effexor XR so I do thank you, Lucky. It lets me know that there are quite a few other people who are having similar occurances to mine and I am not the only one. Although often times, I do wish it was just me (I hate having to see other people deal with anxiety and depression).
Anywho, this is the third AD I have been prescribed. After my 10 year battle with depression, since my early teenage years, I figured it was time to do something. My doctor first prescribed me Celexa 1 1/2 years ago, and compared to how I had been feeling, the relief from Celexa seemed like it was an answer to prayer.
Well the initial effect wore off and my doctor then prescribed me 20mg of Prozac. Which was soon booted up to 40 mg which soon again in early December of this year brought me to Effexor. I loooooooooove Effexor XR, but the side effects can tend to be a bit ruthless with everything from intense sweating, heart palpitations, and decreased libido (as if you wanted to hear that) to the feeling of complete numbness (emotionally) and plain old exhaustion.
I am considering asking my doctor about Wellbutrin, but I am scared even that is going to mess with me in some way...that and I am afraid to come off Effexor. Some days I even consider going off the ADs altogether, but like your latest dealings with feeling unmotivated and overwhelmed, I have that problem AAAAAAAAALL the time(even right now).
Which again brings me to another concern...are these pills supposed to help with motivation? Because when given the opportunity, I don't accomplish a thing. I would just assume sleep most the day then make it to my couch in time for the 5:00 news. Shower, eat dinner and go back to bed. In the back of my head I know I should be getting up to clean my house or run errands, but it doesn't seem important enough to get up for, and then nothing ever gets done. I am not necessarily sad, just not motivated.
Anyway, now that I have shared my long winded story, I wonder if anyone else feels that way as often as me. Is it a case where I need to up my dose or go on something altogether different, or what? Any advice or suggestions are welcome.
Thanks for anyone's input!
Posted by LynnPerley on January 14, 2003, at 18:43:35
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol LynnPerley, Lynnads » lucky, posted by lynnads on January 14, 2003, at 3:03:28
I've been taking effexor xr since March 2002. I gradually went to 150 mg and stayed there for 6 mos. The side effects got bearable, but I had that unmotivated feeling etc. I bumped up to 225 mg and it was almost too much because I got kind of wired and a few side effects came back temporarily. However, I'm glad I'm on that dose because I am going through a lot of added stress right now. I'd say to both of you to give the med a few more months.
Posted by jae on January 16, 2003, at 0:29:21
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and alcohol, posted by lucky on January 9, 2003, at 19:04:51
Just curious after reading some messages that some other people who take efexor xr have experienced an increase in alcohol craving...i was wondering if anyone else has experienced this ?
Posted by JESSsMom on January 16, 2003, at 13:26:29
In reply to could efexor xr increase alcohol cravings?, posted by jae on January 16, 2003, at 0:29:21
> Just curious after reading some messages that some other people who take efexor xr have experienced an increase in alcohol craving...i was wondering if anyone else has experienced this ?
I am definitely craving alcohol (beer) more than ever and I'm only on 75mg./day of Effexor XR. If you look at my other posts below you will see how the XR's side effect of excessive sweating is ruining this GAD reducing med for me : (((((
I, like Lynn and Lucky also feel totally unmotivated. It's almost as if now that the anxiety's mostly gone, who cares about anything anymore?
JM
Posted by Noa on January 16, 2003, at 15:42:02
In reply to Re: could efexor xr increase alcohol cravings?, posted by JESSsMom on January 16, 2003, at 13:26:29
Hmm..I don't know about alcohol cravings, but if it is specifically for beer, that sounds like the carbo cravings some people have reported (myself included).
Posted by JESSsMom on January 16, 2003, at 18:13:49
In reply to Re: could efexor xr increase alcohol cravings?, posted by Noa on January 16, 2003, at 15:42:02
> Hmm..I don't know about alcohol cravings, but if it is specifically for beer, that sounds like the carbo cravings some people have reported (myself included).
That makes a lot of sense. I didn't even think about it that way.
Thanks,
JM
Posted by Hawk on January 17, 2003, at 2:38:10
In reply to Re: could efexor xr increase alcohol cravings?, posted by JESSsMom on January 16, 2003, at 18:13:49
I have a couple of thoughts for you guys. First, if you are wanting to go off Effexor you might ask your Doc to place you on Prozac ( or something similar) Then you can frequently come off the Effexor and after a while, he will wean you off of Prozac. Much less hassles that way.
There might also be a difference between how Effexor and Effexor XR are affecting you. You get much higher peak blood levels on Effexor.
I have found that something (whether sex or food or whatever) that I did before I had the depression treated changed drastically after I was no longer depressed. A lot of those habits may have been the only thing that brought any pleasure (brief reprieve from the depression).
I think that is why sex is so impacted at first by Effexor. It usually works out in the next six to twelve months but may feel very different.
Posted by 2em on June 20, 2003, at 22:08:49
In reply to Re: could efexor xr increase alcohol cravings?, posted by Hawk on January 17, 2003, at 2:38:10
I am a brand new poster to this board so please
excuse if this thread is dead. I was very happy to find these posts through good old google as I
have struggled with alcohol and other substances
for a couple decades now and was just recently
prescibed effexor about a month and a half ago.
I thought I had suddenly become a full blown alcoholic since may propensity to drink too much beer has definitely increased since taking this
med. I may still be a good candidate for AA memnership but since reading these posts and acknowledging my increased levels of stress
(impending surprize first child and need/desire
to buy my first house) I think I may not be succumbing to alcoholism so much as dealing with increased anxiety. I was prescibed eff. for GAD
after first trying a different anti-anxiety med whose name I have already forgot. The first was
just acting on serotonin but not as a reuptake inhibitor. I have found eff. to be much more effective though not so much in controlling my anxiety as in enhancing my mood, perhaps acting
as an anti-depressant more than remedy for anxiety. My diagnosis is somewhat speculative
since my symptoms are not really clear cut (more
of an combo of anxiety and depression than one or the other.
I have definitely found that I am able to drink more with less impairment where as the previous meds really curtailed my drinking urge more than anything else. Now the urge to drink is stronger
but the effects are less at least untill the next morning. My drinking is a bit more bingefull
than others on this thread and I don't drink as regularly but am prone to downing a 12 pack if given the oppoutunity. The morning after a 12
pack night is fairly unbearable for the fist 4
hours of the work day but I am still able to perform my work duties adequately, if not outstandingly. The negative are bad feeling of listlessness and sometime dizziness. I am intriqued by the notion of cabo craving but in sobriety I have found eff. to really kill my
appetite.
Posted by LynnPerley on June 20, 2003, at 22:57:37
In reply to Re: could efexor xr increase alcohol cravings?, posted by 2em on June 20, 2003, at 22:08:49
What dosage of effexor xr are you taking and for how long?
Posted by 2em on June 21, 2003, at 15:11:10
In reply to Re: could efexor xr increase alcohol cravings? » 2em, posted by LynnPerley on June 20, 2003, at 22:57:37
> What dosage of effexor xr are you taking and for how long?
75 once a day for a month, 75 twice a day
for 2 weeks and just today I started on
150 once a day.
Posted by featherchickie on July 27, 2003, at 3:46:11
In reply to Re: could efexor xr increase alcohol cravings?, posted by 2em on June 20, 2003, at 22:08:49
i know that this is a very old thread but i came across it to find out why my dr keeps telling me not to consume alcohol while on effexor xr. ive been on effexor xr for 2.5 months and i was brought up to 225mg within the first month (which, by reading the responses in this thread, must be quite fast). i was put on effexor xr for the depression that I've had ever since i was 6, with a first suicide attempt at 9. i was also put on effexor xr for gad but i found that eff increased my anxiety to the point where i would have panic attacks which i've never had before. now to take care of the panic attacks, i've been put on gabitril. i've only been on gabitril for 1.5 weeks and i'm at 8mg (4mg morning and 4mg evening). I'm also on Revia which was prescribed to me so that i wouldn't cut myself or have the urges to do so. i would've been on it for close to two months now if i didnt stop taking it--i thought that i didnt need it anymore when i stopped having the urges to cut myself. then when i started cutting myself, it wasnt until the third location that i said anything about it mainly because it was my most severe self mutilation. no it wasn't a suicide attempt and i dont think it was an attention thing either because i get embarrassed when people ask how it happened. i think i was just trying to punish myself for not being good enough. --also like several others who have written here, im finding less motivation to do anything, especially during my week of drunkeness. see, my first time drinking was this june and i got drunk on the first night but that was after 2 beers and 9 shots of different drinks (vodka, whiskey, tequila). im not sure if the eff made my tolerance higher or if the fact that alcoholism runs in my family has anything to do with the high tolerance. anyways, i loved the way i was feeling when i was drunk. i wasn't so smashed that i got sick or forgot what happened--it was a really great buzz. after that, it seemed like all i wanted to do was get drunk again like i had that first night. so in a 5 day period, i drank 4 of those nights. the last of which i got completely wasted. i had 4 shots of tequila before going to a party. when i got there, i had 2 shots of 100proof southern comfort and then 2 beers following that. by that point, i was pretty well off smashed. when i attempted to get back inside the house from the backyard, i just started puking my guts out. next think i know, i'm inside leaned up against a wall and i hear a guy saying "well she's getting more color in her face now, i think she'll be fine" --that freaked me out that i was so drunk that i dont remember what happened from being outside to being inside and the whole color of my face as well. even after that though, the next week a friend mentioned going out to get drunk and i was all gung ho about it. i said "i would never pass up a chance to get drunk" so we went out to a friend's place and i only had 4 shots before one of my friends started freaking out and demanded to go home. i was so mad at the time. i was just then beginning to get a buzz after the 4th shot and all i could think about on the ride home is how i could've had more to drink and how i could've gotten drunk again. (see i'm 18 so i can't just go out and buy alcohol whenever i want). unfortunately, she wasn't the only friend of mine who had a problem with my drinking habits, how within 2 weeks i had turned into nearly an alcoholic from a person who was scared to even try alcohol for the fear of exactly what happened--enjoying it waaaay too much and wanting to get drunk any time i could. i dont know if thats the eff or my genetic alcoholism or possibly both. since then, i haven't had nearly as much alcohol... in fact only two drinks since june 25th, one on the 2 year birthday of the improv company i work for and one just this last week when a waitress was dumb enough to give me a shiner without asking for my ID. the former we each had a small glass of champagne. after that small glass i could feel myself getting rather tipsy... and only after one glass! with the shiner, however, i couldn't feel any effects of the alcohol.
i know that i wrote a lot on a thread that hasn't been active for a month, but even if nobody reads this, it feels good to tell my story and reflect upon what has happened in hopes that when someone does read my story, that maybe they will learn something from what has happened to me.
as for the overall effectiveness of the eff, i can't really say whether or not its been good for me. this is my first AD and i've only been on it for two and a half months. within those months i have had the best of times as well as the worst of times leading me to cut a chunk out of my wrist one week ago today... i would like to say that it has been a miracle to me but as of now, its really hard to tell. maybe my psychiatrist will up my dosage yet again. i know that i have to up my dosage during PMS week because otherwise i get completely bitchy and depressed. if anyone has any comments, i would love to hear them--myself being rather new to this whole AD thing and within these two and a half months, being put on 3 different medications--it kind of freaks me out into wondering "how many drugs must i take before i can be sane? before i can become who i used to be? how can i tell when i'm 'who i used to be' when i've been depressed since i was 6? will this even work or am i hopeless?" however, having coped with depression and gad almost my entire life, having attempted suicide 3 times, having tried everything from eating disorders to self mutilation to overdosing on over-the-counter drugs, i dont think i will stop at anything until i'm cured.. no matter how many drugs it takes to make me sane, no matter how many drugs it takes to prevent me from hurting myself, to give me motivation, to have me actually believing that there is something worth living for and that something being life itself--i wont quit until i'm well. i hate being depressed, i hate crying for no reason, i hate feeling alone, i hate feeling like i have no self worth, i hate not being motivated, i hate feeling as though i have nothing to live for---i hate it all. being depressed sucks and i've lived my entire life this way... i think its about time that i should enjoy life every day, every week, every month, every year. (with the exception of the common downs in life that everyone deals with)
all right, now that i have psycho babbled enough (and i know that i have done my fair share of babbling and from reading this, you can plainly see that i'm psycho because i'm obviously not completely sane) i think it's time for me to go to bed. wow, almost 4am--amazing. i took a 4 hour nap this afternoon though after working from 8-12m (my job can be very exhausting)
so until i hear back from anyone, ciao
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