Sertraline, alcohol, stress and blips
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello All!
Decided to post here after a long time of reading. I had been on 50mg of sertraline for about 2 years, and it really did the trick with my long standing anxiety.
About 7 weeks ago I had a rough day at work and stupidly decided to drink that night. A lot. (always have been a bit of a drinker by the way).
The next day was my birthday, and I had a pretty nice day, although with a bit of a hangover. That evening at about 6 it was time for me and my girlfriend to head off to a party with her coworkers, people I have never met. And the anxiety hit my like a runaway train.
We were about 10 yards from the party when I started being sick, sweating, hard to breath. In the end we didn't go in. But this sparked a massive downward spiral. My GP put me up to 100mg which caused about 3 weeks of awful side effects but I got through it and started to feel better!
3 Days ago I went out with friends and drank again. And I really don't need to be told how stupid that was. Since then its been back to square one. Sickness, shaking and anxiety all day for the last three days.
I don't know if it was purely the booze or the fact that the sequel to that original party is coming up in a week. I've decided to limit myself to 2 pints of beer once a week, something I know I can do.
My question is though, is this all in my head or do I have some sort of chemical imbalance? Was it cause just by the booze or also the party? Just looking for people with similar experiences to tell me that there is hope and I will actually get through this party. I can't let my gf down again.
0 likes, 8 replies
sue74917 Beard_Face
Posted
Hi I do not drink so I cannot say if it was the alcohol and I am certainly not going to tell you have been silly. I think it may be a combination of both the drink and the party, the drink knocked you back and then this was reinforced by having to go to the party where you probably felt you had to be on top form, the memory of this is now playing tricks with your thinking, the fear of it happening again, avoidance is a big issue for those of us who suffer anxiety and the pressure of not wanting to let your girlfriend down is also playing it's part. Why not have a chat to her, be honest, tell her how you feel and maybe say you will try to go but if you find you are unable that she can go by her self, that way you are not committed to anything but also not spoiling it for her
Beard_Face sue74917
Posted
Thanks so much for the support. Its really nice to hear from people going through similar feelings.
Luckily she's very supportive and has the best intentions. She's concerned that if I avoid it then I won't improve and to be honest I agree. I am seeing a hypnotherapist today so that might help with the internalising.
sue74917 Beard_Face
Posted
In a way you are both right, when I was midway to recovery I had to go on a short holiday, I really did not want to go, to be away from home which was my comfort zone but I went and it was no where as bad as I thought it would be. did tell my husband I might have to suddenly and for no visible reason go back to the hotel room and this took some pressure off, the sense of achievement you feel once you have done something you thought you couldn't is brilliant, good luck with the hypnotherapy hopefully it will help and you will wake up the day after the party and think boy that was a great evening
mariah69970 Beard_Face
Posted
hi!
i go through similar situations. been on sertraline 50 mg for a few months and i definitely had some drinks on the weekends and i was totally fine...i had a rough time and my dr decided to go up to 75 mg... side effects were the worst!!! the bad ones like foggy head and headache and drowziness went away and im still having moments of anxiousness, but i am going on 3 & 1/2 weeks on the new dose so i know i still have a ways to go. today is my birthday and im having some drinks since i just turned the legal age in the US (21 years old). i was only ever told not to drink with hydroxizine and lorazepam if i take them when needed.... but was told i would be fine on sertraline. hangovers are the worst cuz they do heighten anxiety but i try to drink lots of water to help!! ive been trying not to let my anxiousness ruin my day to day life, such as events and parties. i know its hard especially with the thoughts and getting into your own head. anxiety is just a feeling, and if we acknowledge it, laugh at it and tell ourselves theres nothing thats going to hurt us or happen to us, we can get passed it!! easier said than done, i know!! keep your head up!
Grounded Beard_Face
Posted
Alcohol always used to heighten my anxiety the following day after drinking, but it does get go away. I think what you're feeling is the leftover from a panic attack, those can really interfere with any progress and take a little time to heal from as your mind and body during them goes through a lot. My suggestion would be try not to drink as much and drink a lot of water before you go to sleep. Also, there is a supplement that people take to help with hangovers called NAC and that seems to really help avoid that feeling the next day. I've already researched any interactions with antidepressants and I can't find anything that says you can't take both.
But alcohol does cause the antidepressant to not work as well when mixed with alcohol so I would guess it would be almost the same as if you missed a dose of the antidepressant, some people feel terrible that day.
I wouldn't keep increasing dose though either, I think if you are doing really well on 50mg I don't really see a reason to increase over a dip like that, it will balance back out and should continue working as normal, just be careful of increasing over something that is most likely temporary.
Best Wishes!
Beard_Face Grounded
Posted
Thanks for the advice! Yeah I've massively cut down on alcohol this week but I'm still feeling pretty rough with anxiety and nausea, especially in the mornings. I'm just trying to work out if this just needs time for the sertraline levels to recover in my system or if its going to take more than just detoxing.
I've heard talk that after a few nights of drinking it basically negates the sertraline and then the levels have to build up again. And then you get the same side effects as a dose increase, but I don't know how true that is.
Grounded Beard_Face
Posted
I do believe that is true about negating the zoloft, not sure if it would be completely though, probably more of a temporary unleveling of the zoloft benefits. In my opinion is that the doctors are too quick to increase dose of the zoloft or any antidepressants in any type of set backs which includes drinking and throwing off the level of zoloft in your system. You said you are taking 100mg now, that was a big dose increase, I think that is what you're feeling now, not the effects of the alcohol. After 20+ years of dealing with this stuff I see that way too often someone has a physically induced dip (drinking or physical injury) or a mentally induced (a major life event) that causes it meaning there is a reason for it, not just happening without cause. I truly believe, and mind you that I am not a doctor in any way but doctors end up increasing way too easy for the wrong reasons when we should stick to what made us feel better. Just something to consider and talk to your personal doctor about. Read up on the NAC supplements, I know some people do enjoy drinking on the weekends with friends and family and that really seems to help with hangover effects.
Best Wishes!
sunny76207 Beard_Face
Posted
Hi,
Alcohol always makes me feel a bit anxious the day after on antideps, as if it has negated their effect. However, you shouldn't need to increase just because of that, any dip caused by alcohol will usually right itself in a matter of days.
I'd say you're suffering side effects from increasing right now...any oincrease can take a while to level out from, and I mean weeks not just days, hang in there and you'll come right again.