What's behind the extra alcohol tolerance on the SSRI's?

Myself and a fair amount of others here have noticed an ability to imbibe at least double the alchohol while on an SSRI.
Why is this?

[mygoonbaby]

Originally Posted by last_caress

Myself and a fair amount of others here have noticed an ability to imbibe at least double the alchohol while on an SSRI.
Why is this?

wow... I'm glad I don't drink!! LOL

[Dream]

I think in general the reaction to alcohol and SSRIs is actually opposite. I've heard more people saying they can't drink while on the stuff, and you really shouldn't. Alcohol severally messes with the drug response... any drug's response.

Hugs,
Andi

[mygoonbaby]

Originally Posted by Dream

I think in general the reaction to alcohol and SSRIs is actually opposite. I've heard more people saying they can't drink while on the stuff, and you really shouldn't. Alcohol severally messes with the drug response... any drug's response.

Hugs,
Andi

I agree with you...it would seem drinking with any drugs and especially the ones that say ya shouldn't, would seem really risky and be scarry to do. I would think one has enough side effects to put up with, with any of these drugs as it is, and hard telling what adding alcohol to it would do? YIKES! I'd be scared to even try it, even if I was someone who liked alcohol.

[jimav]

ive drank on it and i will say.... i have a fairly high tolerance as it is, with this and alchol, it was impossible to even think of getting drunk... It happened once in a while but not often.

I think it has something to do with the liver being so bogged down with the drug that it passes through unprocessed or probably just wrecks your liver some more

[lifeisbeautiful222]

same thing happend to me. I could drink as much as my 220 lb boyfriend and did not get drunk. I used to get dizzy drunk after 1 wine cooler before paxil.

[rms]

Nowadays (i'm taking 5mg, back in 20mg it was different), everytime I drink like 3 beers or so its nuf to the next day I have a smallish hangover...anybody else experienced this?

[Mr X]

I always have a few beers in the evenings. It doesn't bother me. If anything it loosens me up..I love Beer & Chips.........

[RockSinger]

I love it too......way to much...

Thats why I quit 6 years ago..

But I still love it........damn ****..

Can't believe I haven't broken down during this Paxil crap.

Very tempting....

[Bern]

Originally Posted by lifeisbeautiful222

I used to get dizzy drunk after 1 wine cooler before paxil.

Dammmmm. I hate that I couldn't expiereince a drink or a few, before paxil.....Usually it takes me four beers to get drunk, which sounds almost normal, but I wish I could feel dizzy drunk after 1. I had one beer the other night, and it was just like drinking soda. Dam paxil

[Dawn]

Before paxil, I did not drink at all, I had absolutely no desire.

On paxil I can drink until the cows come home.

So much so that I think I have actually become an alcoholic.

[puggo63]

When on Paxil, my alcohol tolerance was unbelievably high. Me and my wonderful ideas as an experiment I drank a whole six pack in a matter of hours with only a slight buzz - before - 2 beers and I was very buzzed - 3 beers> drunk!.

[elisa]

Originally Posted by Dream

Alcohol severally messes with the drug response... any drug's response.
Andi

I agree with you Dream - Alcohol is a depressant.

Mind you - while I have never been a big drinker (2 was plenty cause I would get sick), I had even had to cut that out. My head was always in a fog while on AD's and didn't want to augment that even further.

Now with social gatherings, I have a little of red wine and add 7Up to the rest of the wineglass. I am happy with this "lemonade" for now.

When done with tapering, I'll have ONE BIG GLASS OF MY FAVORITE BOURGONDY WINE, or a GLASS OF MY FAVORITE GLASS of BRANDY

I am tempted now............ but won't give in.

[Rhonda]

I'm with Dawn on this one. While on Paxil, I craved alcohol. It was the first thing I thought of some mornings! I couldn't wait to get home from work to have a drink, and it didn't stop at one. And I never felt even buzzed. My tolerance level was rreaaallly high!!! Now, I'm back to normal. I still like my glass of wine (or in tonight's case, a shot of peppermint schnapps on the rocks) but then my body is satisfied. I don't crave nor need any more.
I do, however, like microbrew beer. I just don't let myself have it often anymore because of the caloric intake.
Mr. X...I've noticed you're a beer drinker. Just out of curiosity, what is your favorite? (90 shillings and black and tans are sooo yummy, if you've never tried them! )
Rhonda

[Bern]

I gotta say something you all probably heard:

Paxil and drinking don't mix. Paxil uses the liver to go to waste, as well as alcohol. The only firm reason why I decided to come off paxil was so I could drink.

For the past 5 years when I asked, "Is it time to get off of paxil?", she kept on saying, "I don't think you're ready." Then, this year, the sixth year, when I told her I was drinking, she said don't drink while your on paxil. So I told her, "Take me off the paxil. It's time to start weening!"

[paxilgirl]

I too couldn't drink while on Paxil. I don't tolerate alcohol well anyhow, but the Paxil kept me dry.

[mygoonbaby]

Originally Posted by paxilgirl

I too couldn't drink while on Paxil. I don't tolerate alcohol well anyhow, but the Paxil kept me dry.

How are you doing today paxilgirl? Are you feeling better?

[paxilgirl]

How are you doing today paxilgirl? Are you feeling better?

Much better thanks....I still have insomina, but now I try and force myself into bed...it doesn't always work but I try.

The sadness has left me, but I feel like I'm in a daze....kind of that trippy feeling Shaney used to talk about.

Thanks for asking Mygoonbaby! How are you doing?

[mygoonbaby]

Originally Posted by paxilgirl

Much better thanks....I still have insomina, but now I try and force myself into bed...it doesn't always work but I try.

The sadness has left me, but I feel like I'm in a daze....kind of that trippy feeling Shaney used to talk about.

Thanks for asking Mygoonbaby! How are you doing?

I am doing ok, I have had a bit of insomnia but am kind of used to it by now...(don't like it, but used to it ) I have had stomach upset off and on for the last few days and realized it has been happening a couple hours, AFTER I take my paxil.. so I decided to go ahead and cut it further I began cutting 6.25mg of cr in half, yesterday.. which certainly isn't very easy to do.. it really crumbles, but I did it anyways, and maybe it isn't even necessary to cut it further before going off it, but I wasn't quite comfortable to go off completely yet, so I cut it... and I felt alot better yesterday not sure if it is pshcological or what but I seemed to do better stomach wise. I also waited and took it later in the day too, after I made sure I ate something first, which never used to matter one way or another before.. but...so far I'm doing ok and atleast not having stomach upset, not yet today anyways.. LOL! I'll see what happens as the day goes on. I still have loud ringing in my one ear and am not sure if it is paxil related or what ,I'm thinking I'll go to the doc and see what that is all about, maaybe it is something else...who knows...? but I've had it every since I started paxil cr.. never had it on regular paxil..but I'm sure not going back on that..I'll just be glad to be off all of it soon. I hope you have a good day, today paxilgirl. I'm trying to myself. Atleast we know it gets better and I've been very fortunate so far and am very thankful, as so many others are having alot worse withdrawal than me.