Welbutrin and alcohol

[Lothiel]

I just started taking an anti-depressant, Welbutrin, for the first time.  My doctor did not say anything to me about not drinking alcohol during the first six weeks of trying the medication.  My pharmacist, however, said that I should not drink anything period for the first six weeks so that the drug's affects could be properly determined, but after that, light to moderate drinking is OK.  As a person who enjoys a drink a couple of times a week, I'm finding it difficult to drink zero.  Do I really need to restrict myself from having a single drink every so often?  I don't see how one drink is going to affect the longterm affects of the drug and make it hard to determine if the Welbutrin is working properly.

[Elizaveta]

Ok, there's a lot of factors at work  here. The  pharmacist mentioned the alcohol because there IS an interaction (You get intoxicated quicker) and really shouldn't drink everyday but there really shouldn't be a problem with having a drink with a meal once or twice a week. But definitely take it easy. I speak from wellbutrin experience here. I once drank a lot right after my dossage was upped and my vision got blurred an my head literally felt... odd. It was a pretty scary experience because there is a mild risk of seizures with this drug, and I'm not sure alcohol would make that happen, but I'm not willing to find out.
Can I ask if you've already had any side-effects yet?
Either way, best of luck.

[Lothiel]

I've had absolutely no side effects yet, and I've been on Wellbutrin for 11 days now.  It really makes it difficult being in a social setting and not being able to have a drink with my friends or coworkers.  Is it really necessary for everyone who takes it to have only one drink per sitting?  What if I want two?  Can I do that, and spread it out over a longer period of time?  I guess I'll first have to see how one drink feels.