My situation with alcohol is the same as Joanna's. While I drink, I'm fine, even notice the anxiety is gone...but the morning after is torture! A beer here and there doesn't hurt, but getting all out drunk is a whole 'nother story. Also regarding the alcohol and meds, it is true, it turns heavyweight drinkers into lightweights. Just so long as you do it in moderation, you should be fine. Like Sarah said though, ask your doc about it, they'll be able to shed better insight.
Joanna: I know what you mean about the meds. That happens a lot to people who stop quickly, or too soon. The one thing with anti-d's is that you have to ween off of it, or the anxiety will getcha. The most common timeframe I've heard from people quitting is 6 months.
In these situations, it is best to consult your family doctor or pharmacist on these issues. If your prescription says to avoid alcohol, it is probably best to do so.
Also, after drinking i.e the mornig after, I get very anxious thoughts like: how will I face people in the morning, take my son to school, do the shopping, god I hope I dont bump into anybody I know..... DO NOT excessively drink if your panic attacks are bad... Joanna x
Heya. I had anti depressants for about one year. It was only after stopping them that I developed panic attacks.So for the last 3 years I have had them. When I went to the doctor about them he suggested I went back on them??? Not surprisingly I said NO!
I know for a FACT that if I have had a few drinks, (or usually too much)!, I get THE worst panic attacks ever. I have recently found that I was drinking the next day also to combat the panic attacks, sneaky brandy here, shot here and there. I have stopped this, I wouldnt consider myself an alcoholic. I still drink but try my hardest to do it in moderation. But in answer to the question, Yes it stops you having panic attacks and feeling anxious WHIILST you're having a drink but the next day is absolutely terrifying.
I wondered about drinking. I'm only a social drinker. We keep beer in the fridge for company and I look at them every day, wondering...............would drinking a beer help my anxious behavior. I hear that it makes it worse, so I don't. Also, the meds. labels say to avoid alchol since it can intensify the effect. I guess make you drunk quicker. I have this terrible fear of overdosing. I don't want to end up like a couple of the famous people that died recently due to many drug combinations. I only take 2 meds and am nervous about that.
Welcome and thanks for posting with us. Good for you for working through the program and being active. We are always here for support and we can help! We would love to hear more of your experiences and know that others share as well.
Hi! My name is Chant and I'm 50 years old. When I frist had panic attacks there wasn't even a name for it. At 21 I started to drink to get over panic attacks. And I did. But only for awhile. I became alcholic. I have been sober 15 years now and I never want to take another drink. The hell I went through was unbelivealbe. This time around I'm doing this program to overcome panic attacks. I just wanted to share this with you all. Thought I'd spare you! Chant
Berserk777777,
If you need information on your medication, give your pharmacist a call. They have a wealth of information to share!
Your situation isn't uncommon, approximately 30 percent of people who have panic disorder abuse alcohol. If you'd like some help in reducing or abstaining from alcohol, we have a sister site that may be of help to you: [url=http://www.alcoholhelpcenter.net]www.alcoholhelpcenter.net[/url]
Danielle
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The PC Support Team
From my understanding you can drink a little but it is really bad for your liver.
It's also supposed to make you feel really ****ty.
I'm also on Zoloft and drink a lot so I been trying to get an answer to that as well.
If you're anything like me though drinking is the wrong thing to do.
I binge drank a lot to help me with my anxiety, it made me feel good that day/night but it only worsened my insomnia and anxiety tenfold as well as had a lot of negative impacts on my life.
Hangovers were the triggers of the worst panic attacks I've gotten.
I guess my advice is useful if you need to drink to function but if not oh well.
I am on Cipralex. I have been taking it for more than a year with 3 months period when I quit it. At the beginning I was really cautious and didn't drink any alcohol, then after some half a year I started to drink little amounts at some parties. I realized that nothing bad happens. :) Then I quit Cipralex, but after 3 months started to feel worse and I was prescribed it again. What my psychoterapist says is if I drink alcohol, there is no sense of taking medication. So, I have chosen not to drink.
