if a person with bipolar disorder, be they on medication or not, be getting hammered?
2006-11-18 14:56:38 · 17 answers · asked by medium.skate 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
kay, if theyre takin pills for it, should the person consume alcohol, having taken meds or not?
2006-11-18 15:05:21 · update #1
...stupid grammar nazis
2006-11-18 15:05:47 · update #2
Being a retired mental health practitioner with 20+ years experience, I can tell you from all that psychiatric and counseling care I provided that one who is diagnosed as having a bipolar disorder SHOULD NOT be "getting hammered", if by that you mean drunk from alcohol or other drugs, whether they are on medication or not. Alcohol and other "street drugs" offer no long term remedy from a long term illness. Contrarily, they offer only severe cyclic affective disorders which only exacerbates the problem. I have had clients who came to our clinic who have used alcohol to "self-medicate" their bi-polar disorder, but finally turned to a regimented care since they could not control their alcoholic intake and the destruction caused by self-medicating with alcohol and other illegal drugs really made a mess of things. I hope I have made this clear for you without being too wordy. God Bless you.
2006-11-18 15:11:49 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The effects of alcohol or substances on someone who is bipolar can trigger mania, cycling (mood swings) and bipolar depression. Some of the tendancies related to behaviors could be both positive or negative, depending on the state that the person is in.
From a mental health perpective, the person can experience the following effects;
Durring a manic or hypomanic (euphoric) phase, alcohol can have paradoxil effects, providing excess amounts of energy, over optimistic views, racing thoughts, excessive talking and improved flight of ideas. In this state, the person will have a tendancy to make poor decisions without contemplating the consequences and view themselves as if they are in their optimal state of mind.
If a person drinks (or takes drugs), the substances can trigger a dysphoric (mixed state of mania and depression) episode, where one becomes irritable, exibits fits of anger, rage, racing thoughts, restlessness, insomnia and ideations of suicide.
Depending on the type of medication the person is taking, the physiological effects can be debilitating, if not fatal.
Common front line medication therapy plans involve an anticonvulsant (mood stabliizer), with the two more popular types being Lithium (Eskalith) and Valporates (Depakote). These medications metabolize heavily in the liver, therefore, if you add alcohol to the equation, you're asking your liver to do much more work than it's capable of, which can provide very harmful results. Combine these effects with the aforementioned mood effects and you're not only screwed physically, but mentally.
Speaking from experience; I've gotten hammered while taking anticonvulsants and you're basically getting into a huge fight with your body. Your body will win every time and you'll be sick. That's your bodys way of telling you not to mess with it. Eventually, your body will give up and bad things will happen.
I would strongly suggest that you don't mix booze or drugs with psychotropic medication. You are risking serious injury to your mind and body.
2006-11-19 02:04:37 · answer #2 · answered by Altruist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eh... That is a tricky one. I was actually misdiagnosed Bipolar, but then rediagnosed as BPD. Borderline Personality Disorder is a personality disorder, that develops within your childhood, depending on your emotional development- it involves excessive mood swings, and many personality function issues that is greatly impacted, and triggered by the people you interact with. BPD is also a controversial condition- many believe that Borderline is not real. Because it is a mild, or not completely developed disorder of MPD- or Multiple Personality Disorder, because you do not have alter egos.. Many doctors believe these conditions do not exist. Biploar Disorder is a chemical imbalance, that many believe develops at birth- it involves three stages- including a level stage, depressive stage, and manic stage.. BPD, and Bipolar both have the stigma of having mood swings- but Bipolar mania comes in stages, as BPD mania is unpredictable, and is determined by the regulation, or dysfunction of your emotional state. However, neither illnesses are curable- only treatable by medication, and therapy. I would think BPD symptoms, along with Bipolar Disorder- such as Black, and white thinking. Splitting/ disassociation comes at stages- and many excessive, and impulsive urges, and behaviors are triggered by how you react emotionally with others. But it is very tricky, and complicated to pinpoint two mental disorders that coexist with each other, when they both include similar symptoms. They almost compromise each other.. from the opinion of my psychologist, Biploar/ BPD can not usually coexist together- and being that Bipolar Disorder is the most commonly misdiagnosed mental disorder in the psychiatric field, it could be incorrectly diagnosed.. Many of those with BPD, have a second mental illness that coexists with being Borderline. Anxiety, and Depression are the most common. But Bipolar Disorder is just as unstable, and unpredictable as BPD. It could also be Depression/ BPD- also be sure to realize that Bipolar Disorder includes a lot of symptoms that mimic, or are similar to many other mental disorders, or visa versa. I would get the opinion of a third doctor. It can take years to correctly diagnose a person. I am not saying it is real, it could just be a misconception, or hard to track down, and understand. Good luck..
2016-05-22 02:16:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People with bipolar may drink alcohol as a form of self-medication or as a result of disinhibition for pleasure. Alcohol is a depressant and interferes with/reacts with medication. It also is habit-forming, short-acting, dehydrating, and increases a person's impulsivity/poor judgment.
I can't think of any good argument for bipolar pts, on or off meds, to drink alcohol in excess (or at all really). Its short term effects might be pleasurable, but it is destabilizing and unhealthy for your body.
2006-11-18 15:30:17 · answer #4 · answered by urbangenie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Officially, nope, not at all. Some drugs just won't play nice with alcohol, and that way lies a trip to the ER or worse.
Some psych drugs are OK with alcohol (my lamotrigine and olanzapine seem ok with a few drinks), but NO WAY should you be getting hammered on this stuff.
2006-11-21 04:26:14 · answer #5 · answered by Random Bloke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bipolar disorder has a lot to do with alcohol, anxiety attacks, and sex, especially in females. Violence is also a manifestation of the disorder. There is really nothing that can be done except for medication which just modifies the behavior. This is a lifelong disorder that can eventually destroy the person.
2006-11-18 15:00:55 · answer #6 · answered by fenx 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
NO... a person on meds for Bi polar should not be getting hammered! This causes more problems. I am Bi Polar and i do not drink, i used to till I had a serious problem relapsing. Do not drink.
2006-11-19 00:31:22 · answer #7 · answered by crazywolf602 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am bipolar and I take a number of different meds. Of course they say do not drink but I tested my boundries...After one drink my face was red and felt like it was on fire....I would not drink if on any psych drugs..You never know what can happen!!!
2006-11-18 15:07:22 · answer #8 · answered by bambam0229 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
a person who is bipolar should not under any circumstances drink alcohol, ignore the uneducated who gave you rude answers. I understood you perfectly.
2006-11-18 15:16:26 · answer #9 · answered by glasgow girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no honey i dont think you should drink while on meds of any kind but if you are bipolar it makes you worse to drink.
2006-11-18 15:08:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋