Ritalin and Alcohol: good, bad or neither | ADHD Information

You see, i'm going to be studying abroad for a year in europe, where i'm legally allowed to drink. however, i've been taking ritalin for about 10 years now, along with depakote, seroquel, and wellbutrin. i've read place that it's okay to have a drink or two and you won't get serious side effects. what is your opinion on this matter. please respond.

Of what I've read on the medication (my dd takes it), that it isn't safe to take it and drink alcohol. But I'm not too educated on it yet.....

Hopefully someone else will have a more definite answer!

Jenn

thanx. anyone else?

Have you talked to your doctor? You could probably just call in and ask!

Hmm... My rx bottle does not say do not drink alcohol, and they always seem to say that when they mean it, so I drink beer sometimes with it. Also, the patient information brochure hasn't got anything that I can see right now, nothing that jumps out at me at least. Just warnings not to abuse it. As alcohol is a downer and Ritilin is a Stimulant the combined action does not work to level out. The effect on u maybe that the med may double or treble the power of the alcohol. Please discuss implications for your particular personal situation with consulting doctor. Each of our chemical make ups are so different that what might be "OK" for one may not be safe for another is the reality for ADHDers. Hey this is my first post and am new member.  Recently started Adderall XR 15 mg.  Don't know about Ritalin and alcohol combo but I do know from my 1 time experience with Adderall XR and alcohol.  I met with fellow co-workers after work and had a couple of drinks but did not feel buzzed but I could feel the effect of the alcohol.  I guess it depend on when u take it and if the med's peaked up or fading cuz I work weird hours (contract jobs) and I take the XR at different times and all. Adderall and alcohol are opposite of each other in a sense.... Adderall being a stimulant and alcohol "slowing u down".  Don't know any better way to describe.

Hope this helps... I know not much to go on.
soapman87 wrote:
along with depakote, seroquel, and wellbutrin.

I wouldn't fool around with all of those meds and drinking.  Especially Seroquel..   Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that used to treat Skitsophrenia?  If I'm correct, no way, don't do it.

I would advise you not to drink alcohol with ritalin, as it only puts more stress on the heart.  If you don't believe me, go search on google.  Soapman87, Mixing Ritalin and Alcohol does get to the Heart. Johnnyboi is correct. Why? well i am talking from experience. Ended up in Casualty once with an overdose on the system. The effect was at critical point for 8. hrs. Heart monitor was showing constent elevated heart rate for that time. As to longterm damage, no signs yet! But with such a strong over-stimulation of the Heart are U sure there will be No longterm implications? Think! Look before U give in to the impulse to try! [QUOTE=soapman87]ritalin [/QUOTE]

From my personal experience (limited, since I didn't take it for very long), Ritalin is okay with alcohol.

[QUOTE=soapman87]along with depakote, seroquel, and wellbutrin.[/QUOTE]

These might be more of a problem. This is something that you really should talk to a doc. about. If you do decide to drink booze (after talking to your doc. or pharmacist), do it in moderation. Start with one drink (with food!) in an evening. Don't drink more than two drinks in an evening. Keep in mind that you will be away from your parents, so an important emergency safety net will be gone.

As a general note, it's a good idea to read the prescribing information for your drugs. You know those horribly detailed things that the doctors should be reading (not the "patient information" sheets). Just Google "prescribing information" and the name of your drug and get the PDF from the drug's manf. Pretty much every drug will have a warning about drowsyness and alcohol, it's most often the ones that warn about other interactions with alcohol (metabolic, etc.) that you really have to worry about. 

Remember, I am not a doctor; ask your doctor about this.

chimera, nicotine is also a stimulant and it can make you seriously sick. Combine nicotine with Ritalin and you'll likely get those toxic symptoms. Avoid smoking/dipping at all costs.

 

 I've been on Concerta (Nearly the same thing as Ritalin) now for almost 2 months now and have noticed that I can drink A LOT off of it and not feel anything. I also noticed that I have NO HANGOVERS anymore, after a night on the town of partying like a Rock Star. As opposed to a year ago when I was 29, I couldn't drink for anything, and got hangovers like you wouldn't believe.  As far as Nicotine is concerned..I've noticed no changes in the way Concerta interacts with it..BUT Caffeine tends to really get the blood pumping...I can take my Concerta in the AM and 2 cups of coffee later I'm ready to take on the world, but not to the point where I'm so geeked out I can't think straight or control myself. I don't get the shakes or anything, and it doesn't interrupt my sleep.  This is not to say you shouldn't mix the two. I don't drink often and its long after the 12 hour release when I do..I also firmly believe a lot has to do with what kind of physical shape your in..I watch my diet, take my vitamins, and try to eat right, sometimes I uses certain supplements to make up where I feel is lacking. I turned 30 years old a little over a month ago, and haven't felt this young since I was 18 years old compared to when I was 29 (Only A year ago) when I really felt I was 29. I suddenly feel young and vibrant again...other than the nicotine, I'm in the best shape of my life and feel as if I'm ready to take on the world!SD197538629.7699305556

So You think it was becuase of the nicotine with concerta that caused this? i also got a rash, so mostly every one is thinking it was a side effect of the medicine.and that concerta isn't right for me..Now the doctor. Not my doctor bot another doctor is questioing weathe i really have adhd or not because he sais if someone that doesn't have adhd and given medicine for it they will have these reactions, this doctor wants to test me for adhd because he feels that the evaluation i was given for adhd was an old evaluation. i got evaluated through my school ..I havn't told ne one about me smoking becaus..well lets just say i have made a quite a few bad mistakes in the past and i really don't want this added to the list if it really was the nicotine and the concerta mixed that caused this. Now i am not on nething because my doctor feels the 2nd evaluation is needed..but he can't evaluate me sommehweres around november or later.

This is a free nursing / medical information line. 

800-724-7073

They will have information on drug interactions.

Prescription, OTC, and other substances.

hi..I'm 16 and have been taking concerta 27 mg for 4 days..since were talkin about mixing medicie with alcohol i thought i would ask if there would be any problems with smoking tobacco with this medicine. The medicien was going fine til the 4th day when i was smoking a cigar witha friend in the evening(not the best descision in the first place) any way after the cigar i began to sweat then felt sick to my stomach i threw up then my hands and feet started to tingle my muscled got tight and i couldn't move my hands my friend brought me home and i continued to throw up ater throwing up the tightness was gone but i was still tingly and shaky and had a rapid hart beat i went to the hospital. by the time i got to the hospital the symptoms were gone..but i had  a rash on my back.. was this because of the medicine alone..or the mixture of the medicien and cigar . i know ur not suppose to mix other drugs like tylenol pm wiht this medicine but no one said anythign about tobacco. i'm going to my doctor today and wil probably be switched to somethign different

 

chimera38629.2667939815BumpI think he is refering to not having a sex drive.  Does Lithium take away your sex drive?  I take Ritilan LA but it doesn't effect sex drive...well, im me it doesn't.I think the Ritlyn is the main culprit in the lack of a sex drive but I believe the combo of ritlyn and Lithium may be the problem too. So the only aternative is to take a Ed med in order to counteract the other meds. My wife strongly agrees. aslo once I went down from 60 to 40 mg's my sex drive came back significantly.Ritalin is the reason you'd rather be rebuilding an engine, because it causes you to want to do something productive.I haven't seen RitLA reducing sex, but Lithium will.

Why the Li?

You bipolar, too?

Hi BP and alpha blockers will reduce a male's ability to achieve a successful erection.

So will high cholesterol.

Buddy, you better become a priest.

You got problems.


BTW,

Viagra Rocks!
It also has a tendency to cause vision problems, aint that a plus! Glad im still young. Johnnyboi38734.9978356482

[QUOTE=Sparco]I think he is refering to not having a sex drive.  Does Lithium take away your sex drive?  I take Ritilan LA but it doesn't effect sex drive...well, im me it doesn't.[/QUOTE]

Lithium is serious medication.  Makes ours look like baby aspirin.

It's a heavy metal (think lead, mercury).  It must be monitored often to avoid poisoning when being administered.  Can cause major illness and psychosis and even death.  Not to be fooled with yet many MDs give it for extreme depression and suspected bipolar or other mood disorders.  It really works best for schizoid disorders and there are so many better meds now.  So 1950s.

Lithium certainly drops sex drive and function.  Many with serious disorders disobey their doctors and drop the lithium because they hate the side effects such as impotence, extreme sleepiness, feeling doped up, etc.  Bad news.

Ritalin, adderall - all amphetamine based ADHD meds (and stratterra to keep it fair) may cause impotence and change in sex drive.  It firstly constricts the small blood vessels and consequently can remove erections for quite a while.  The sex drive is a chemical soup in the brain and most of our meds alter the mix so many are either not interested in sex at all or driven into a frenzy from it.  Most times all of the side effects go away in about a month or two.  Not to worry.

Hope this helped!

Bottom line: THis kid is on A LOT of meds and all are not good with alcohol. REAL bottom line: This kid should not drink or he could end up sick or even dying (who knows?) This kid is NOT just on Ritalin. Restraint. Buy a bloody mary and pretend it's alcohol, if you feel the need to pretend.I have a question maybe someone can help me with?  I have been taking Ritlyn and Lithium for about 4 years now and have to take Viagra to be intimate with my wife. For some reason I would rather rebuild a engine than be with her when I'm on the meds. Does anyone know how I can possibly remedy this?  I aslo take altace becouse the ritlyn raises the BP and Vitorin for cholesteral issues. Ritalin and alcohol should be fine but as someone mentioned Rit is a stimulant and alcohol is a depresant.  so it will cause an incresed heart rate so if u have any sort of heart problems it's probably not a good idea.  But other than that many people use it as a means of not passing out and staying up all night drinking.  BUT it would still be best to ask your doc. Halfbr33d38740.0247685185

My advice is don't drink on Ritalin!

It causes depression and blackouts.

Life can be beautiful without alcohol.

With Care,

Angela

I just saw this post. If you're on bipolar and ADHD meds, no matter what you're allowed to do, you have a serious mood disorder and drinking is always bad for people who have them--there is a higher than normal chance that you'll become an alcoholic (I have bipolar). On those meds, no, you shouldn't drink. It's not just the Ritalin, it's all the meds put together. Not only can you possibly put yourself in danger, but the alcohol itself is another "med" and can cause your meds to stop working the right way. If I were you, I wouldn't drink at all. I don't and I didn't as a teen/young adult. It was more important to me not to get sick and mess with my medication, and I suggest you put the same priority on your health or you could end up back home earlier than you expected--even in a hospital. Lithium is a salt, not a metal, and is no worse than Ritalin, which can cause the same problems of any form of speed. If this kid needs Lithium for bipolar, making light of that is like telling somebody with ADHD that it's a fake disorder and not to take his meds. Think about it.psm090438741.2851388889

What it all comes down to is that alcohol is a mood altering chemical.  So it will interact with what you take.  Just as you shouldn't take with antidepressants as it will negate the effect it will cause troubles for the ADHD mind when taken in tandem with meds (or for that matter without)

ADHD people tend to overindulge whether it's drugs or alcohol or gambling - it's all from the same root causes.

Why waste the improvements you make?

Once glass of wine far enough from taking the med won't kill you - but can you stop at one? two? a dozen?

I just see the harmful effects of drinking far too often and frankly it's not worth the risk is it?

 

you should be fine with ritalin and alcohol

[QUOTE=rangikahuta]you should be fine with ritalin and alcohol[/QUOTE]

Maybe you could be!

Again, talk to your doctor first!!