Wellbutrin and Alcohol

[carl824]

I have been on Wellbutrin 300mg a day for about 3 months. I have reacted well to the medication and I have been getting my life back on track. I have now been working and starting to put stress back on my shoulder. I used to have a nasty cannabis (addiction you could say) I would smoke every night sometimes up to 10 joints. If I didnt smoke I would get moody, depressed, anxious and sometimes shaky. Anyways after realizing how bad that was for my depression I stopped (mainly) sometimes smoke with friends. Now that I have been getting better I have been socializing and therefore have started drinking. When I began I remembered how much I loved alcohol. My tolerance was much much lower while on Wellbutrin. I used to be able to have 7 beers within 4 hrs and be fun drunk. THe first time I drank on my meds 2 beers in I was drunk and then sipped on wine for a bit. In the morning I was fine. So I started drinking two beers a night, getting a bit drunk on my own and it was really a good escape and 2 beers is not unhealthy. But my tolerance is growing now I need 3 beers to feel that way and am drinking about 2-4 beers a day. I am not too worried about alcoholism because I am never going to let myself drink during the day and being a night drinker dosent bother me. However what I am worried about is I ever have to stop drinking for some reason will I be in serious risk of a seizure since both wellbutrin and alcohol lower seizure threshold? Or am I risk of seizure even if I continue to drink this much (I wont allow myself to drink anymore than 4 drinks a day). I will drink heavily some nights and I am not worried about blackouts and puking and what not because its all part of it.

[cassi03]

I completely agree.  First it was 2 beers then 4.  Then you said you don't drink during the day.  Alcoholics can drink only at night.  I was a heavy marijuana user since 13 years old and every other addiction there is to "feel good" or "feel better" well guess what my life is pure **** now and I am 43 years old.  Pot just made me feel better because I to suffer from mental illness, especially depression and I am on wellbutrin, but what made me feel the best, no lie, is sobriety, period!  Good luck, wishing you the best, depression *****.

[10356]

Hello Carl.. Welcome to the forum. this statement you made..  
I will drink heavily some nights and I am not worried about blackouts and puking and what not because its all part of it.
It is not part of it unless you are already a alcoholic.. blacking out is not normal Neither is drinking till you get sick. I hope you listen to the above poster.  I wish you the very best and I hope you stick around.. Life is much sweeter when we remember it and wake feeling good.. lesa

[ibizan]

Does the doc giving u Wellbutrin know how much u drink?Alcohol will negate the antidepressant properties of the medication....its like why spend the $$$ if ur going to drink?medication builds a therapeutic level in the bloodstream and alcohol washes it awat-do u c what i'm saying?I used to smoke as much pot as u did back in the 70's and 80's......got to the point where i didn't feel high anymore....felt like a backed up sewer!

[Twosandbits]

Hello Carl

I am no medic so I cannot tell you about the interactions between your medication and alcohol. I did pick up on what you said about drinking and you remembered how much you loved alcohol. Also you stated that drinking two beers a night was a great escape but now you are having to increase your alcohol intake to get the same effect. Please think about were this may be heading and why you are drinking to feel good and escape in the first place. I would be more worried about that than what would happen if you had to stop drinking for some reason. I'm sorry if that sounded harsh but through my own experience of always chasing the feel good factor things can only get worse. The amount you drink and when you drink does not determine if you are an alcoholic its the reason why you are drinking that does. Anyway that is only my opinion from my experience.

Welcome to medhelp and I'm sure you will get lots more advice from other members.

Best wishes