Ok guys I need some help. I have been on medication for most of my life. I have been told that if you smoke marijuana or drink alcohol, it can interact with medicine and possibly kill you. Ok that changed yesterday when I was told the truth by my doctor. She said that your heart will not stop beating but it is dangerous. I am going to college this fall and have never drank or smoked because of my medication. Right now I am on a lot of medication for my ADHD, OCD, and a little bit of anxiety. I am on the following medication (dont know the exact doses but it is a lot): Ritalin LA, Focalin XR, Lexapro, Abilify, and Tenex. I was just recently taken off Stratera. My question is this: If I do decide to do anything in college in terms of alcohol and marijuana(I will not be doing other hardcore drugs at all) what is the limit of each that I can do? Like one beer or one shot or what? Sorry this post seems immature and I hope that I am not doing anything illegal. Because this is just curiosity right now. I have not tried anything yet. Please help me. Thanks guys, I appreciate it. If you need any more information in terms of helping you help me, feel free to ask. Thanks.

Hi spartan611, and welcome to the forums!

I think you would be better served to save these questions for your next Dr visit.

Even though some of us might have strong opinions on this issue one way or the other, it's always best to base your decision on something like this on the soundest advice you can get. ;)

I already asked my doctor and I did not get to finish with her because of the timing. So that is why I am asking you guys.

Damn, you are on Ritalin LA and Focalin XR? That doesn't make sense to me?


J

I have been on alot of medicines in my life. That is just the combination that works for me right now. I did not decide on it, my parents and my medicine doctor did.

I am not trying to be impatient but is anybody going to help me? :D

I would like to help. but I really do not think that my opinion on this issue will help you, or anyone else for that matter. I say that because I know that every person responds to these drugs, and drug combinations in such a unique way that its impossible for anyone to know how these things will effect them until they try something themselves.

That being said, I have never heard of anyone dying by combining these drugs. That is not to say that someone has not died combining these drugs, that is just to say that I am not aware of it happening.

I hope this does not come off as looking like me condoning anything here, because I would never encourage anyone to experiment with any drug, or combinations of drugs without first talking it over with a Dr.

My answer would be no.

We don't know enough about your history to say: for a lot ofpeople, in a rowdy college party setting, they can't stop with "just one shot".

And I have seen many patients who can go psychotic from using THC products. THC is bad news, esp for a Teenage Male Brain. Psych. Wards are full of young males with Bipolar or Schiz who were triggered into Psychosis from smoking Pot.

I am not anti-drug, but i am pro harm reduction: which means no pot for vulnerable populations. e.g. males under 30. And ofcourse, who can be pro-pot smoking? Smoking is smoking!

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Regardless about how one feels about Pot, etc. a person has to go by the evidence-based research. (I am not ProPot or AntiPot.)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/04/050419105717.htm

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Some people come on here and want to know why their meds won't work while they are actively using drugs and/or alcohol.

I'd hate to see you become one of those statistics. (Statistics are for sick and dead people. *LOL*)

They will never acheive neuro-stability unless they get off the brain-sabotaging chemicals they are using.

It is UNFAIR for THEM to expect medications to work when THEM keep adding something as volatile as THC (or alcohol or whatever else) to the mix.

People sabotage their MDs attempts to get meds stabilized, etc. by using illegal drugs and then come to complain about.... how "my meds aren't working".


It's like they are complaining that their Cake Recipe 'won't bake', but they keep turning off the Oven.

Illicit drugs are illegal for a reason. (IMNSHO, alcohol and tobacco should be, too. They cause too much harm to society.)

If a Person has a vulnerable ADHD brain, they should not be using drugs or alcohol.

End of story....


N.B.
DYK that even NICOTINE can mess up how drugs work. (e.g. antipsychotics)

Queens U girl-

I'm assuming you are referring to illicit drugs, when saying one needs to stop, not prescription drugs, right? I agree that marijuana, caffeine, alcohol, cocaine, XTC, etc. can all majorly influence your brain's functioning and response to medication.

Of course medications alter your brain's functioning alone, but most of us here want that because we seeking to reduce symptoms... be it natural or not.