Posted by ayuda on January 6, 2003, at 14:45:14
In reply to Re: Fatigue, alcohol, posted by EGR on January 5, 2003, at 22:14:09
What did you up your dosage to? At your suggestion the other day, I increased to 15 mg (thereabouts -- those pills don't like to split well) yesterday, and I am doing a bit better, but want to go up to 20 mg. It just seems like a better maintenance dose, since it is equivalent to 40 mg Celexa, which is what I was on when I was on Celexa. But a jump from 10 to 20 without a stop at 15 in between kind of scares me. Since we are on break I can't get to see my doctor until late January, but she gave me enough refills to cover that time, so hopefully this increase will work.
> I had some wine on Christmas and I felt VERY down the next day, so far in fact, that I upped my dosage. I like the higher dosage... I'm less tired, and VERY productive. Plus, I'm even happier! :-)
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> EGR
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> >My question for the pharma rep is: I read in the Lexapro literature that the manufacturer warns to avoid alcohol. Why? What happens? What percentage of people does this affect? How important is abstinence from alcohol? Is total abstinence necessary? Perhaps this is what is causing my fatigue? Thanks.
> > ------------------------
> > That's a typical warning for ADs, and they never tell you why. It's just because alcohol is a depressant, and using it while taking an AD defeats the purpose. It's similar to using an antacid while taking an antibiotic -- it cancels the action of the medication, or slows it.
> >
> > I have a glass of wine or a beer every now and then, and I can tell the next day that the meds aren't working as well, but it won't kill you. It's a good idea to stay away from alcohol if you suffer from depression anyhow. But if you have some while on an AD, it isn't the end of the world. They just make you think that it is by the way they warn against it.
> >
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poster:ayuda
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030106/msgs/134729.html