Hi liquidamber,
Very good question! The simple answer is, alcohol and marijuana
should really not be used with Zyprexa and Prozac. Some web sites
claim that you may take a small amount of alcohol, but you risk
drowsiness, making you at risk for an accident. One thing you want to
avoid is stopping your medication under the assumption this makes
drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana safer. This is dangerous and can
cause a relapse in the condition Prozac and Zyprexa is treating.
Prozac, especially should never be abruptly stopped, and it is best to
taper the dose when going off of Prozac.
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Zyprexa (Olanzapine) + Alcohol Use
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From the Zyprexa site itself, comes the best answer to your question:
?If you think that mixing your medicine with alcohol or street drugs
can be dangerous, you're right! Alcohol and street drugs can cause
problems by upsetting the balance of your brain's chemistry. They can
also interfere with the way your medicine works. Some people think
about stopping their medicine if they plan to go drinking with their
friends or use street drugs. But stopping your medicine is the worst
thing you can do if you have an illness like schizophrenia or bipolar
mania-without your medicine, your symptoms are likely to return.?
http://www.zyprexa.com/understanding/understanding_zyprexa_c_mix.jsp
?The manufacturer recommends that alcohol should be avoided while
taking Olanzapine (Zyprexa).?
http://counsellingresource.com/medications/drug-pages/olanzapine.html
A MedHelp forum states:
?Patients are strongly advised to avoid drinking alcohol while taking
Zyprexa. Zyprexa has the potential to impair judgement, thinking or
motor skills and so patients are cautioned about operating hazardous
machinery including automobiles while taking Zyprexa.. Since alcohol
also has similar effects on brain, it is recommended not to take them
together.?
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/mentalhealth/messages/30529a.html
?Ingestion of alcohol may decrease blood levels of olanzapine by
stimulating the liver to break down the drug. Consequently,
individuals who begin using alcohol while taking olanzapine may
experience increased disease symptoms due to the reduced effectiveness
of the drug. In addition, people who take antipsychotic agents such as
olanzapine should avoid alcohol because it may intensify the effects
of the drug on the nervous system and may cause low blood pressure.?
http://www.publix.com/wellness/notes/Display.do?id=Drug&childId=Olanzapine
This is interesting! One study has found that Zyprexa reduces alcohol cravings!
?The findings indicated that olanzapine reduces craving for alcohol at
baseline for both DRD4 S and DRD4 L individuals, but only reduces
craving after exposure to alcohol cues and after a priming dose of
alcohol for DRD4 L individuals.?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12888781&dopt=Abstract
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Zyprexa and Marijunana Use
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?Marijuana effects some of the very same receptor sites that are
targeted by the antidepressant medication in an antagonistic and
unpredictable way.?
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/mentalhealth/messages/31988a.html
?Some people react to their symptoms by seeking relief through
drinking alcohol or taking drugs like marijuana or cocaine. Although
these substances may make you feel better initially, they always make
symptoms worse in the long run. It is also important to know that only
a small amount of these substances can bring on severe symptoms in
someone who is susceptible to schizophrenia symptoms.?
http://www.zyprexa.com/understanding/understanding_schizophrenia_c_symptoms.jsp
?Marijuana smoking:
Expected to cause an increase in drowsiness; accentuation of
orthostatic hypotension; increased risk of precipitating latent
psychoses, confusing the interpretation of mental status and drug
responses.?
http://www.herbs2000.com/drugs/olanzapine.htm
Zyprexa may help folks quit marijuana use too!
?Frances R. Levin, M.D. (Independent Investigator 2000) of Columbia
University, is attempting to determine whether olanzapine is more
effective than risperidone for the treatment of marijuana and/or
cocaine abuse among psychiatrically stable schizophrenic patients.
Both marijuana and cocaine increase dopamine in specific regions of
the brain; since olanzapine and risperidone antagonize D1 receptors,
this should result in less positive reinforcement by the illicity
drugs. Subjects will be treated in three phases; a 2-week assessment
phase; a 2-week phase during which patients will be tapered off their
previously prescribed medication and onto the study medication; and a
10-week period during which patients will be maintained on either
olanzapine or risperidone. This work is important because of the
frequent co-occurrence of illicit drug use and schizophrenia.?
http://www.narsad.org/research/summaries/levinfrancesr-2000.html
-----------------------
Prozac and Alcohol Use
-----------------------
?Avoid alcohol while taking Prozac. Alcohol may increase drowsiness
and dizziness caused by Prozac.?
http://www.anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com/prozac.htm
?Even if you lay off before the weekend, you probably won't escape
whatever side effects or interactions the drug causes in you, with or
without alcohol. Similarly, if you start taking fluoxetine again after
a few days off, you won't be starting again from square one. While
skipping a day or two of fluoxetine may not be particularly harmful,
it's a bad idea to stop taking the medication cold-turkey ? fluoxetine
and other anti-depressants, such as venlafaxine HCl, need to tapered
off gradually in order to give the body time to adjust to the change.?
And
?You might consider your drinking patterns. For example, if your
medication works for you, then why mess with it or change your
medication routine to drink? What does drinking alcohol offer you? How
would you feel about not drinking? How much do you usually drink at a
time, over what period on a weekend? How much alcohol do you drink
when you get so sleepy??
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2530.html
Some anecdotal information:
?I had a horrible experience last weekend. I had 4 or 5 drinks and got
a black out. I was running around at a party for 4 hours without
remembering a single thing. I've done some unforgivable stupid things,
like having sex with a stranger and I'm happily married! Please do not
drink while taking Prozac, it can destroy your life much more.?
http://www.rxlist.com/rxboard/prozac.pl?read=565
?Drinking while on Prozac can be dangerous. I experienced a very
strange sensation. The Prozac made me feel like I was still sober, yet
I was acting crazy. The next day I would wake up and remember
practically nothing from the night before.?
http://www.rxlist.com/rxboard/prozac.pl?read=233
?Can I drink alcohol while I am taking the SSRI ?
You should avoid alcohol except in moderation while taking these drugs
as they may make you feel more sleepy. This is particularly important
if you need to drive or operate machinery and you must seek advice on
this. Also, the effects of alcohol can be increased if it is taken
while you are taking fluvoxamine ("Faverin").?
http://www.nmhct.nhs.uk/pharmacy/depr2.htm
?I know of at least one study showing no significant interaction
between Prozac and alcohol, but everyone is different, and alcohol
plus medication can interact in unpredictable ways. That's why it is
usually the doctor's advice to avoid alcohol, or drink very sparingly,
when taking psychotropic medication. It is possible that what you are
experiencing are mild withdrawal symptoms as the alcohol is eliminated
from your body, but this seems like a stretch to me.
For some people, even small amounts of alcohol can induce either
depression or marked anger/aggression --perhaps you are experiencing a
muted form of this reaction. (It would have been useful for me to know
how you reacted to alcohol before you went on Prozac). Or, could it be
that your feelings about drinking are affecting the way you feel the
next day? There is some evidence that guilt feelings can worsen
hangover from alcohol.?
And
?Bottom line: is it really worth pursuing this issue? Maybe the most
sensible thing to do is avoid alcohol while you are taking Prozac.?
http://www.mhsource.com/expert/exp1111097i.html
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Prozac and Marijuana Use
-------------------------
?Marijuana decreases effect of fluoxetine. (Prozac)?
http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/Sleep/med_info_fluoxetine.htm
Go Ask Alice:
?Marijuana impairs the ability to concentrate and alters one's
perceptions. Schoolwork, job responsibilities, and, particularly,
driving a car or operating machinery may become more difficult. Prozac
can also affect motor and decision-making skills, as well as
perception. When a person first starts taking an anti-depressant, it
is usually advised that activities like driving, climbing ladders, or
using power tools be avoided until it is determined that it would be
safe to do so. Combining Prozac and marijuana may increase the
likelihood of an accident. It may also make it hard to decide if it
would be safe to do these things if Prozac were being used alone. In
addition, marijuana has been found to decrease the effect of Prozac.
Using the two drugs together could make it hard to determine whether
or not Prozac is truly useful for your friends, and if so, appropriate
dosing.?
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1553.html
Further Information:
Rutgers University
http://health.rutgers.edu/discussions/alcohol/
Go Ask Alice
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/Cat2-full.html
Prozac
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/fluoxrev.htm
I hope this answer clears things up for you. It?s best to stay away
from marijuana and alcohol thus enabling Prozac and Zyprexa to work
as it should.
If any part of this answer is unclear, please request an Answer
Clarification before rating. This will allow me to assist you further,
if possible.
Regards,
crabcakes
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