so i've been on 60 cymbalta for about 5 years now (other antidepressants before) and started drinking alcohol about summer 2011... i liked it and literally started drinking every night since then to last thursday (jan 10) ... i started getting really depressed so i cut down on the drinking then got really bad anxiety... i want to keep drinking (im in college) but not sure how it will affect me...
60 mg of cymbalta, drinking 5-7 drinks a night?
Question posted by x3jessy09 on 16 Jan 2013
Last updated on 17 January 2013
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4 Answers
cleo130
17 Jan 2013
I was in your situation. I quit drinking cold turkey right before New Year's eve in 1993. I started back again about 10 years later... beer and wine because my system can't handle the harder stuff. I had bloodwork done by my GP about 2 years ago and got a call saying there was an issue with the test. I went in to the office and finally admitted how much I was actually drinking... it was so hard to be honest about it.
He asked me to try cutting down or stopping, and I of course said I would.
Once again I quit totally and when I went back for a retest in a month my blood levels were back to normal.
I'm sure you know that ultimately alcohol will be very destructive and I also know that I was using it to self medicate at the end, along with a bunch of scripts, but quitting gave me a huge sense of freedom, and I realized that I felt 1000% better. You are so young and I can imagine being in college makes it seem like the "normal" thing to do, but please, please believe me, you will have to eventually make a decision regarding alcohol. Also, no doctor will knowingly give you certain meds if they know you drink more than casually.
I don't respond that often but your post hit home hard for me. Please do some research and hard thinking, and finally you will have to be truthful about alcohol use with a healthcare professional one day. Good luck to you and let us know how you are doing.
Cleo
x3jessy09
18 Jan 2013
thank you
kaismama
17 Jan 2013
Contrary to popular belief, drinking is not necessary to have a good time. You are damaging your liver and taking risks with the cymbalta. Please stop drinking.
LaurieShay
17 Jan 2013
Drinking in quantity as you are ultimately makes the depression worse. Anxiety is a natural response to cutting back on the alcohol, but will gt better with continued reduction of alcohol consumption. Preferably, no alcohol while taking an antidepressant, otherwise keep the drinks to one or two on weekends only. I'm trying to be reasonable as I was in college once many years ago. Cutting out the booze is what is in the best interest of your mind and body.
Inactive
17 Jan 2013
Hello x3jessy09. Long term effects to taking both will take a toll on your mental as well as physical health. I recommend you not mix the two. Preferably the Cymbalta be taken as prescribed and not the other. Regards pledge
Related topics
cymbalta, depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol, antidepressant
Further information
- Cymbalta uses and safety info
- Cymbalta prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Cymbalta (detailed)
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