Risperidone and Alcohol

[Chapter]

I know, I know, drinking whilst on antipsychotics is pretty dumb. But I really miss alcohol. A lot.

I used to be on Zyprexa at 10mg a day for psychotic depression / intense OCD, and I could drink on that no problem.

Now I'm on Risperidone at 2mg once a day, and...it's crap.

I know by now I should be used to the dopamine blocking effect, meaning I can't feel a damn thing except numbness and depression, but I just can't live the rest of my life like this without some form of release. Cups of tea just don't cut it.

Also, my psychotic/OCD/whatever symptoms are still there, so I fail to see how occasional alcohol use could possibly make things any worse.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Some sites say absolutely avoid alcohol, some say it's ok in moderation...any pointers? I am going to make an appointment with my doc to discuss this, but some general advice would be helpful. Thanks.

[Guest]

General advice is, don't do it. Alcohol is a depressant. Why would you want to take a depressant if you've already got psychosis/depression/OCD/whatever going on? I certainly doesn't sound as if alcohol would help the situation. If you're feeling that poorly then you need to talk to your pdoc. Using alcohol as a means of escape isn't usually a good answer for whatever ails you.

[koali777]

It's more a matter of how the two will mix. For example, when I was on Geodon and drank what I'd normally drink, which was a significant amount, but I was always fine, I totally would black out and get really sick. On this much Wellbutrin I black out easily too. Above poster is right that using alcohol to escape isn't good. I won't judge you because I understand completely. On Risperdal and Geodon, I felt nothing, and alcohol made me happy. They always say talk to your doctor. Maybe he/she will say a bit is okay.

[koa]

I am on risperdone and I drink, without noticing much effect from it unless I binge (more than 4 drinks). I'm not saying you should do this, though, but that's just my experience. I understand what you mean about feeling like the idea of not being able to drink at all is very restrictive. I also agree with the others that drinking to escape is not a good idea. What I've done to reign in my drinking habits is to only drink socially, at a bar or at a restaurant or something, which keeps me from ever drinking too much (because of the expense.)

[error_message]

i would never say "its ok to drink on risperidone," because i cant possibly know how alcohol will interact with your MI and the chemical situation influenced by meds, but i can offer up the separate personal experience that i had no problem drinking (both conservatively [1-3 beers/shots], or on rare occasion to the point of reasonable-but-not-ridiculously-impaired drunkenness) while on a cocktail spearheaded by risperidone [4mg a day at its final dosage, though as low as 2mg during some periods of my treatment]. definitely just talk to your doc like you were saying, and, should you drink, indulge as responsibly as possible given whatever factors you may be facing.

[Chapter]

Thanks for the replies. I'll bring it up with my doctor when I next see her, but to be honest I don't see the point in drinking. If you're drinking socially it's probably not a problem in careful moderation, but I have always drunk to escape. And so I really don't think I can trust myself to have just a couple, because it could so easily turn into a bender from Dr. Seuss' worst nightmare. Guess I just have to get used to it. Thanks anyway.

[gizmo]

I've been on risperdal for more than two years now and I have probably had a total of three alcoholic drinks the entire time. When I was dx'd, my pdoc told me that drinking alcohol was like lighting a match to a mood episode flame and should be avoided to maintain stability. Actually, he told me there were three things I had to do to stay stable: no booze or drugs, get a good night sleep every night, and take my meds every day.

I've found that, being a child of a revovered (now deceased) alcoholic, booze for me is a poor coping mechanism for stress. I used it as a way to medicate my feelings and moods before I got diagnosed. Once I began treatment, I realized that doctor-driven care is always preferable over self-medication.

If you are seeing a pdoc and still feel the need to drink to escape, then I would recommend that you seek new medication and therapy options, as your symptoms are not properly managed. It's not your fault they aren't being properly treated, but it is your job to stand up and do something about it.

[Cetkat]

If you are seeing a pdoc and still feel the need to drink to escape, then I would recommend that you seek new medication and therapy options, as your symptoms are not properly managed. It's not your fault they aren't being properly treated, but it is your job to stand up and do something about it.

Exactly. This was my first thought when I read your post. Your symptoms are not controlled, so the risperdal isn't working at the moment anyway. Also, just because it blocks some dopamine, that doesn't mean it gets rid of it all together. It's selective. Being on an AAP doesn't mean that you lose any ability to feel good. That's another sign that your current treatment needs changing.

Depending on what your pdoc may decide to do, the question of the harm from drinking on risperdal may become a mute point. If you can get your MI under control, then you may find that you have no reason to drink to begin with. While you're doing modifications, it's generally a good idea to abstain so you can get a proper baseline to determine if alcohol disrupts your treatment. It doesn't always - but it definitely can for some people.