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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
risperdal/lamictal/zoloft w/marijuana and alcohol use
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
risperdal/lamictal/zoloft w/marijuana and alcohol use
by roco, Jul 29, 2007 12:00AM
My son has been prescribed a 100 mg of lamictal/100 mg zoloft(taken in am) and
1mg risperdal(pm). He's been on this combination of meds since Jan.07 after a seizure associated with alcohol use and Wellbutin put him in the hospital. He is being treated for depression and has not had a manic episode but suffers from anxiety. I've read so many frightening things about risperdal that I wonder about continued use. Is the the dosage small enough so it doesn't pose a long term threat? He also regularly uses marijuana and I've just read about marijuana use tied to psychosis risk. My son is on medical leave from college (one semester thus far) but I don't see improvement to merit his return to school this fall. I'm concerned that his medication needs to be reevaluated and truly believe he can't deal with his depression until his alcohol (occasional) and marijuana use
(frequent) are curtailed. He is working 38 hrs. a week but at a dead end job. He complains that he lacks concentration to read. Any recommendations? Is his medication endangering him particularly combined with marijuana and occasional alcohol use?
1mg risperdal(pm). He's been on this combination of meds since Jan.07 after a seizure associated with alcohol use and Wellbutin put him in the hospital. He is being treated for depression and has not had a manic episode but suffers from anxiety. I've read so many frightening things about risperdal that I wonder about continued use. Is the the dosage small enough so it doesn't pose a long term threat? He also regularly uses marijuana and I've just read about marijuana use tied to psychosis risk. My son is on medical leave from college (one semester thus far) but I don't see improvement to merit his return to school this fall. I'm concerned that his medication needs to be reevaluated and truly believe he can't deal with his depression until his alcohol (occasional) and marijuana use
(frequent) are curtailed. He is working 38 hrs. a week but at a dead end job. He complains that he lacks concentration to read. Any recommendations? Is his medication endangering him particularly combined with marijuana and occasional alcohol use?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Aug 01, 2007 12:00AM
, Aug 01, 2007 12:00AM
This is a very potent combination of medications that effect the brain, and alchohol and marijuanna use can lead to unpredictable and dangerous effects. I would agree that this cocktail should be reevaluated by an experienced psychopharmacologist, and your son should know that adding alcohol and marijuana puts him at great risk.
perhaps u can tel him that zoloft is a + drug and when he uses drugs or alchol which is a - it comes out to O help one cancells out the other. if he wants to get better stay of drugs and alchol which are depressants. it may make him feel great for the night but will not improve his future, good luck