Posted by CrazyGuy on March 26, 2004, at 16:38:22
In reply to Bipolar Disorder and Drinking, posted by Nirfoochile on March 23, 2004, at 3:29:38
Just thought I'd post my 2 cents: It's been 10 years since I was first diagnosed as bipolar. I've drank pretty regularly for the last 5 years or so (~2 drinks/day, more if I'm out with friends and have gotten drunk several times (generally when celebrating one thing or another with friends) during this period). During this time, I've mostly been on medications for BD. My pdocs (I've had several during this time due to moves, job changes, etc.) know about my use of alcohol and only one recommended that I cut down/stop (and he suggested that I use a prescription drug as a substitute for my preference to unwind with some wine during dinner!?!). I think I have my alcohol use under control (supposedly <14 drinks/week is "low risk" for a man under 65 and there is some evidence to suggest that moderate alcohol use protects against some forms of cardiovascular disease), but there have been times when I've probably overdone it and used alcohol to self-medicate during a depressed episode. When I've done that, I've found that I feel like s*** the next day and then back off for a while. Basically, this is a long way of saying that I *DON'T* think that a diagnosis of BD requires lifelong abstinence from alcohol, ASSUMING that you're on some meds that are working for you. I *DO* think if you've got this disorder and choose to drink, you should keep an eye on your patterns/use and consider letting your doctor know about your use. Also, just FYI, in her book "An Unquiet Mind", Kay Redfield Jamison (PhD) mentions several times (casually) her use of alcohol (in social situations) in the period since she's gotten her BD under control. She's literally written the "the" clinical textbook on BD, so if she's using alcohol, why not you? But everybody's different and those with a personal or family history of alcohol abuse may choose to abstain. And, of course, anybody who decides that he/she can self-medicate with alcohol alone is SERIOUSLY asking for trouble....
poster:CrazyGuy
thread:327284
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20040130/msgs/328805.html