Alcohol with Webutrin

[rezik]

What happens when you are taking Welbutrin and you drink alcohol.  I drink occasionally and wonder if I have to stop altogether.

[GOD]

Like everything in life, it's all a matter of degrees... When you say, "I drink occasionally." does that imply, I get DRUNK occasionally, or does that mean I occasionally drink a glass of wine with dinner. If it's the LATTER, There is probably no problem, but any drug used to excess mixed with any others is always a bad idea.

Good luck,
Jess

P.S. WHere are you, Skip?

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

One thing I've noticed about Welbutrin and even Paxil is that they tend to allow me drink a great deal more alcohol(more than normal)once I get started. In fact, I rarely suffer a hangover which I find strange.  The point is that if you are an alcoholic, try every means possible to stay sober! If you are the "occasional drinker", you probably have little to worry about as far as Welbutrin goes. But to be on the safe side, consult your doctor about mixing alcohol and Welbutrin.

Not long ago, I was mixing alcohol with Vicodin, morphine, Xanax and Welbutrin.  Talk about a vicious cycle! The act of taking any one of the above alone would soon lead to taking them all with little regard for my doctor's orders or my own safety.

I'm happy for you that you are still at a good "jumping off" point!  

J.B.

[skipper]

hey there:

here i am. can't be much help here....gave up on drinking back in
1978. i was taking webutrin untill about 4 weeks ago. the webutrin
did get me off nicotine. it also gave me a jumped up creepy feel-
ing. about a mounth ago i quit taking it with no noticeable affect.
i never felt like welbutrinn did much for me, but help me quit
smoking (which was a hell of a lot!)

JB:
always good to ear from you. you and your famikly are in my pray-
ers. how are you doing. just gor a e-mail from Wizard and he sends
his best to you and yours.
Jess:
alright so when coffee? how's your aunt's attitude? your aunt is
fortunate to have insurence to go to Hazeldine (i hope)!

'ya all keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[tex3]

I always seem to get online when normal people are at work earning a living. Soon I will have to be back in the daily grind (I dread!) but for now enjoying being home and healing.

Here's my self-pity problem: My youngest girl, who I am incredibly proud of naturally, is graduating from kindergarten tomorrow. As some of you know, I'm a writer and also a voracious reader (3-5 books/week). Her teacher called me yesterday to say my baby is below grade level in reading. This is my fault, I'm sure, as I have totally not been here for the past 2 years. I never left physically but my mind was so wasted all the time I just wasn't there for her, didn't help her (she's profoundly shy) and I know it's my fault. She's smart as can be but now at the start of her school career she's behind because her mom was so doped up she was basically useless as a parent since that baby was three years old.

I'm trying to make up for things now, but can I ever really? I missed so much. I don't even remember whole days, weeks...my kids will talk about some event and I don't even remember it happening, it's just like "swoosh" right over my head. What a flake. I know I have to forgive myself and try to be the best I can for these three babies now, but damn sometimes I hate myself. I know there are many, many things worse in the world than this little problem, but I still feel like a failure, although a failure with a whole of hope for the future! Thanks for listening, just needed to vent and confess yet again one of my many shortcomings.

[tex3]

Ava -- I think I lost your email address (more of my memory loss showing up daily!). Can you email me when you get a chance? Thanks (***@****)

[hippy]

hope you guys are doing well today,
I have been a little weak , going back to work full time and all
. the hardest part is just getting up and going.
Anyway 7 weeks this week, off the pills.
A lot of really good things are happening, it always seemed like i was caught in an endless cycle of murphy's law when i was useing, everything that can go wrong does.
but when i stay clean and do what's right ,it's just thr oppisite
every thing is is coming up roses.
well i have to go out and re-up on the vitamines.
hey how about that guy  getting clean in a cabin  out in the middle of no-where. my heart goes out to him.
well if he is readindg this , he can post to me and i will buy him the receipe and ship it fed x over nite to him if he is intrested.  i would just need  a place to send it.
peaceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee to all, and thank you to all

[hippy]

hey i can get the supplements/ the receipe and over nite it to ya . let me know.
hang in there , sounds like you been here before,
a real pro. i have a very close child hood freind
who i got started on drugs back in 77 and he has been hooked on
the big H /the monster/horse  for 20 years, i  am trying to find him , to get him some help.
when i read your post it was like i was reading  him.
peace. keep posting, im thinking of ya everyday,
peace/  michael from philly

[gnarled]

sorry to hear you're beating yourself up. I have many years of experience working in the special education field. If she doesn't have a learning disability she probaly just  needs some practice. I've seen kids WITH disabilities make amazing strides through using good stratagies and practice. Just think how wonderful it will be to spend this time together making reading a daily part of her life. Lots of kids test poorly.Depends on the anxiety and the test. They have such wonderful childrens books.I envy you for having someone to read them with.I miss doing that with my kids now that they're all grown up. She is certainly young enough to remediate this easily. Have fun with it.

[svnurlife]

As a nurse and an EMT (emergency med technician), I have seen the terrible effects alcohol has on people when taking Wellbutrin.  I remember one ambulance clln in particular where a young woman who was taking Wellbutrin drank alcohol one night and ended up having a seizure, stopped breathing , and her heart stopped beating.  We had to perform CPR on her right in front of her two young children.  They cried and we pounded on her chest to bring life back into her.  Thank God we got there in time, as we were able to save her.  So DO NOT drink and take Wellbutrin.  If not for your own life, but for your family too.
A word of caution:  the drug Zyban, used for smoking cessation, is the same drug as Wellbutrin.

[angst]

thanks for the information.  that is how this forum works.  the whole is greater than any one person here on the forum.  you did good and i hope they take your advice.   thanks

[tex3]

Gnarled - thanks for the kind words. I know she will be fine, I just feel bad that she has to battle at all because had I been there, she wouldn't. Does that make sense? Anyway we're working on things. She's smart, just terribly shy. Her sisters, who are just a few years older, are both honor students. I guess it's just me feeling guilty about anything I can!

Hippy, that was a terrifly sweet offer you made to Kee in the cabin. God, I hope he's okay. That sucks. You and I are in the same place, at 7 1/2 weeks. It sure feels great, doesn't it? I am sooo happy and feel a million times better than I did even two weeks ago. It is like the sweetest gift from above, and I hope I never blow it. My husband said last night that his biggest fear is that I will go back to using, whereas he used to worry about money, etc. I replied that yes, it's possible, but it's also possible I'll get hit by a truck and at least I can decide on one and not the other. It's kind of a bummer but I guess I deserve it. Won't dwell, in any case, because I just feel too damn good! It's crazy to feel like this and still have cravings, but I guess that's the nature of the beast. Just have to fight it every day and accept it as part of life, which I'm doing right now.

Hope all are having a good day...

[lifeisbetter]

I can't believe you! You have done one of the most important things you will ever do for your little girl. You stopped taking the pills,the one thing you needed more than anything is this life! You did that to be a better mom. Do you know how many people can't or won't do what you've done? I understand what you mean completely as I have 3 young children myself. Its really important for us to realize a simple statement. It takes what it takes. Thats it. Imagine if you were still taking the pills right now. If your anything like I was I'd get that kind of news and rationalize my way right out of doing anything about the reading problem. Today we have a better concscience and are able to take care of problems when we need to. I keep this thought in the forefront of my mind along with a few others. My kids are still young enough to benefit from a mom in recovery. They are only 3, 5 and 7. I remind myself of that alot when the little craving comes up every once in awhile. Your doing great!!! Now go kiss her.

[hippy]

the last time i got clean i was 24 years old, i rember craveings
lasting for about a year, at 24  i had been tring to get clean for 8 years in aa -na- rehab -relegion. during those 8 years
i could never get it , i used to get these cravings from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet, and the cravins would say to me, you can come now or you can come later on tonight but we are definitly getting high. rembering back i always fell prey to those intense cravings, mostly because i never told any one, i never called anyone, i always tried to do it my self.
it was not till i was 24 and i was about 9 months clean and i woke up around midnite and i had one of those cravings , and i had moved away from the city and my old cop man, and i called some freind of mine in aa and he told me he would be right over
and we talked over coffee, he said  by calling him , it was a break through for me , well he was right. after that i always lived with/ worked with people who were clean.
i guess it's a wall we all have to get over at some point in early recovery.
for me , i had to stay away from people/ places and things that were connected with using.           peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tex3]

Thanks and I guess I am feeling pretty damn good about being where I am now. Mine are young too: 5, 8, 9, all about to turn a year older this summer. Sometimes my husband says how proud of me he is and I think, jeez, what's to be proud of, I should never have gotten addicted? But I did and I'm not going to over-analyze that; it's a fact and I've dealt with and still am.

I have to share this. I have endo and while I was using I spent every evening in bed. All weekend too. I worked my butt off and was on call 24 hours, but if I was home, I'd do the minimum to get the kids taken care of and then lay down, numb. And yell a lot. My kids thought it was the endo, that I was sick from that. I was, but really it was the drugs and depression and numbness. My oldest always said she wanted to be a doctor to cure my disease one day.

Now that I'm clean and human again, she commented the other night, "I actually forgot you have that disease Mommy, you're so much better!" I see no reason at this point to share what the real problem was, but that felt good. They can see a difference and that's what's important, huh? Just wanted to share that; it's incredible to look back and realize how bad it really was. It's an insidious disease that robs us of life, slowly but damnably surely. So I guess it only makes sense that it takes time to get better. Still, I never thought I'd feel this much better after less than 2 months. Don't kid myself that it's over, but it's still better! And you are an inspiration, seeing that you've made it this far so successfully. That story about giving your kids a "happy" mommy and relapsing hit me, as I used that excuse many times myself. Thanks for sharing and being a help to those still struggling in the first stages.

[lifeisbetter]

I have to tell you we all help each other. I've heard it explained this way and it made alot of sense...whoever woke up first this morning is the one who has more clean time. Sometimes its a struggle for me too. I don't want to mislead you in any way, I work also, and there are nights I go home and still do the bare minimum with my kids. I feed them, do a quick clean up and some nights watch the clock until its time for them to go to sleep. At this point in my recovery,which is pretty early, I am
still pretty selfish at times. I really don't beat myself up about it to much though. It all comes in time. Things have always had a way of working themselves out. I believe that things happen for a reason, just as much for me as with for kids.They have a mother for an addict for some reason too. Who knows what they will do with that information and the things they have and will learn from me. If you look back on all the bad things that have happened to you, you probably can see some good that came out of it. At least thats how it is for me. I would like to hear why your leaving your town. I don't believe there is much that would shock me anymore. Remember I am an addict, I've done my share of embarrasing things too, and hey I live in South Florida, you wouldn't believe what goes on down here!

[tex3]

You're so right about things happening for a reason. My father is an alcoholic (now recovered for many years) who I have no contact with. He did some awful things, and I always thought later that he used the alcoholism to "redeem" himself, if he even admits what he did (which was to molest all four of my sisters). It's better for me just not to have any contact, and I have a stepfather who I love dearly.
About things happening for a reason, though, I agree -- I would not be the person who I am if I did not have this struggle, and right or wrong it's who I am. I accept that (most of the time!) and try to be the best person I can. And yes, many times I can't wait until bedtime! But I think that's just parenthood and not unique to addicts. Having three kids is tough work, as I'm sure you agree!

Leaving town is complicated. I will tell you but privately. I'm not so much ashamed as paranoid. I just don't want to post it here, but suffice it to say I came close to ruining my professional reputation -- if I didn't have such good friends at my old job, people who look out for me, I would have -- and almost lost my family. I certainly don't think anyone here would judge me, that's not it, just don't want to put it out in the open. You know meagain's problem with reading? I'm afraid of that too.

[lifeisbetter]

Do any of your sisters have a drug problem? I was also molested by a family member. Alot of women who were molested as children either end up as teenage runaways, addicted to drugs, and some even become prostitutes or strippers. I had 4 monthes of intense therapy on that very subject. Abuse can come in many forms to a child. It doesn't have to be blatant so even if your Dad didn't touch you physically, he could have taught you at a young age that its better to escape from uncomfortable situations. Hence the drugs you were using up until, what has it been now 2 monthes? You go girl!!! Anyway thought you might want to do some more research on the abuse subject. Be good to yourself and don't let the kids get to ya, I'll try not to also. Have a great weekend!

[tex3]

You're right on target. I have four sisters, all were molested, and two have drug problems. I don't really know how severe. One, the one who always had the most problem with my dad, smokes pot daily (all day) and probably does other stuff at times, but I don't think she is currently physically dependent on anything. I think she drinks a lot too. The other one smokes a lot of pot, not sure how much. She experimented a lot with drugs when she was a teenager. If she gets her hands on pain pills she takes them, but not dependent at this time. Her husband is a major ass.

Also, three of the four at one time stripped. I hate even saying that because it really bothered me. Actually the other sister (who doesn't do drugs and didn't strip) and I are the only ones who went to college and were for many years the only responsible ones. But now my other sister (who never touched drugs) is happily married and a housewife. She stripped right out of high school but then straightened up. The one who never did anything lives in California and is great, but very moody! She's an accountant.

I really don't think my father touched me but I did know what was going on and that things were ****** up. I think I've moved beyond all that but don't doubt it screwed me up. I just don't choose to let it screw me up any more. I've also always ran from the subject as it bothers me a lot; I close up about it usually and don't want to examine it too closely. I'm sure there's an analysis in there but don't know what it is!

[insomniac2]

Hello all - I'm new.

I've been on Wellbutrin for 2 years - my doc told me that drinking in moderation was okay.  Well, three months later I was in the hospital for a week after a few grand mal seizures.  I stopped breathing - it was pretty bad.  Someone previously asked what is moderation?  I thought I knew better.  You know what?  I didn't care.  I kept drinking - always thinking that I could handle the seizures, but I wasn't about to give up Wellbutrin or drinking.

Two years later I'm in AA and sober now for 5 grueling days........  I haven't slept over 30 minutes at a time for four nights (in such, this may not make a whole lot of sense).

For everyone else...... my friend died this weekend after taking too many hydrocodone and drinking.  HC, wine, tequila and the gang went boating Saturday.  She "passed out" on the back of the boat, and no one could wake her.  She leaves behind a 12 year old daughter with no mother (no one knows where the father is).  It could have been anyone of us.

So, Sunday was it.  I got my wake up call.

[angst]

Hey,  you've had your share of bad luck and grief.  I hope the child has some family somewhere.  Are you going to meetings?  If you see your local doctor.  Tell him/her the truth and hopefully they will help you get through the withdrawls from alcohol.  I empathize with you.  Keep posting.  We all started somewhere.  This forum as a group will try to help.  And we will give you as much support as you let us.  Had enough pain, let it go.  Start AA meetings.  Good luck and Blessings,  Ava

[insomniac2]

Yes, I went to my first AA meeting on Monday.  Went to another on Tuesday and plan to go back tomorrow.  It's very strange how I feel - almost in limbo.  ALL of my friends are on the lake partying and drinking (especially this weekend), and I'm at home painting.  I figure it's better to stay away from the booze until I'm more sure of my ability to say no.

Since quitting, I've eaten 2 gallons of ice cream, drank a 12 pack of root beer, and gone through several Reeses peanut butter cups!  I may weight 300 pounds in the end, but I'll be sober!!!!  Thanks for your support...  I can't do this on my own.

[angst]

You sound like you are doing the right things.  You may want to see a doctor, have some blood work, and find out if you are low on some of your electrolytes or high on liver functions.  You need vitamins.  You have depleted what was there while you were drinking.  Having your liver checked will give you a baseline.  Any changes as you age will be checked against that baseline.  It is just a good thing to get a check up.  I'm behind you 100%.  You have to change people, places, and things.  You cannot hang with the same folks.  If you think you can have just one more drink, let me tell you one is too many and a thousand never enough.  It has taken me a while to get that part of my life straight.  I hang with my family and long time friends from childhood.  No one who offers you a drink is your friend.  What did they do about the seizures?  I'm here for you.   Ava

[groovygirl]

hi tex - i also have a daughter graduating from kindergarten next month, and i am also a writer.  what type of stuff do you write?  i am a freelance journalist for many newspapers, and i'm also working on a book - huge project which i should be forcing myself to work on every day.  i once read that writers attempting to write a book should work on it every day no matter how they feel - even if you produce complete **** that day, it is the excercise in writing and working every day that is supposed to help.

about your daughter...please stop beating yourself up...why didn't this teacher come to you earlier in the year to discuss this problem i wonder?  there are a couple things you can do...there are some wonderful learning centers (in ma at least) that you could sign her up for, you could work with her - there are tons and tons of books/workbooks that are out there designed to help in that area...you could devote some time each day to just helping her with those.  all is not lost here...maybe she would have had trouble without your problems, and maybe she wouldn't have.  right now, all you can do is help her get going in the right direction right?

has her teacher suggested holding her back and doing kindergarten over again?  i plan to spend time this summer reading with my daughter and working on some stuff, so she will be ahead of the game in first grade.  don't let this get you down - just jump in and turn it around...you can do it!!  good luck:)

[angst]

You could probably survey the addicts and find most have been abused in one way or another.  That seems to a common denomiator we all share.  Whether we were just ignored to being tortured, i the abuse thing is there.  I often wonder if substance abuse in itself is just a symptom of a larger, but more elusive, psychological problem.  It is a disease in and of itself.  We all know that, going through the withdrawls.  I had a dream once,
it progressively went backwards.  I first met all these famous, intellectuals who I had time to ask as many questions as I wanted.  Then I worked at a Catholic Hospital.  I took these artifacts from an elderly Italian woman to have locked in the safe.  When it was time for her to be discharged, the government wanted me to attest  that I knew these belonged to her, I believed they were, but I had to know.  I had this book called "The History of the World".  I followed it and found myself in presociety times.  I was in a cave living with an Italian family.  We gathered water and food. The artifacts were there with her ancestors. Then the dream ended, but I wanted to know the history of the world. I was very upset that the dream ended.  That dream haunts me sometimes.  It was so vivid.      Back to the disease of addiction.  I do not believe it is a matter of will.  Although I am an existentialist, I have been able to work things out for me.  It was my choice in a way to quit doing the street drugs.  I could foresee the future, and i did not want the life I would be living if I kept using.  My conscience or karma would not let me steal easily.  That really bothered me.                   I believe i've made things right.
Once my Priest gave me the $77 i needed to dose for the week when I was broke.  He took it out of his own pocketbook.  He is enlightened about other religions also.  I am blessed in that way.  I am also blessed by knowing and sharing with all of you.  Thank all of you for being here.  I need you guys.   Ava

[insomniac2]

They put me on anti-seizure meds - dilatin mostly.  I didn't take them all the time, and, usually, anytime I drank to excess I had a seizure within 24 hours ... at my job, in front of my children, in the car with a realtor who was showing me a house, at a conference.........  none of that stopped me.  The kids have seen me in the hospital so many times they think mommy is always sick.  I have nine year old twins, one of which has cerebral palsy and is mentally delayed.  

Ironically, it is because of my son's challenges that I have always been able to justify the drinking.... and, it's because of them that I chose to stop.

Thanks for your support Ava.  I made it through yesterday just fine.  Had a third of a beer - decided it wasn't worth it.  It really, didn't taste as good as I remembered, and I certainly noticed the zap of energy immediately, unlike when I was drinking every day - I was always tired then.  

Too every one else..........  it's reading this that get's me going in the mornings.  Especially when the AA meetings are in the evenings, and you've got to face the ENTIRE day!  Thank you all!

[lifeisbetter]

Your mind is right, you probably shouldn't look into it too much right now. Your doing to well to have any heavy therapy about it. I think it will come in time. Its just something thats there that you might want to look into later. I found alot of my patterns and behaviors came from my experiences from over 25 years ago. I don't like to think about it either, its not like it goes away. I do find it is easier to talk about now since its no longer a secret. I guess talking about it helps me see why I react the way I do to things today.

[tex3]

Thanks to both of you for the support. Truly, I feel better about my youngest. We will work over the summer and get through this. I asked her teacher about holding her back and she said absolutely not, she is just a bit behind. Since many of the kids in her class are a full year older than her, I am going to just accept that and work with her. She turned five the week school started. She's very bright so I know she will do well. I guess it's just that Catholic, addict, Hispanic thing I've got going that makes me feel guilty so easily!

About the abuse, that's something I'm not ready to deal with, and maybe never will be. I'll take it as it comes and if it feels necessary to explore, I will. I think we each know when that is, as Angst said.

Groovy, you're so right about the writing! I do mostly non-fiction (trained as a journalist) but really want to do fiction. I've started a book and find when I just sit and start writing, I do great. It's getting started that's so damn hard! I do better with deadlines. Right now, I have so much going on; looking for a job, moving, kids out of school, and still trying to get a handle on this recovery -- I try to devote time each day but it doesn't always happen. What is your project? What other type of writing do you do, for the papers? Features or hard news? For me, hard news was easier but I really enjoy features. My degree focused on magazine writing and that's what I'd love to do. I have a good possible coming up; will let you know what happens.

I hope everyone is great. I've had this damn migraine and it's making me kinda weird, plus sick to my stomach, so I'm going to bed. Good night and chat with y'all tomorrow.

Angst, I hope you're doing well and your daughter isn't too terribly homesick. I couldn't handle that rough camping! Ouch. Have a good night.