Alcohol and Alcoholism

[Asher]

Recently I've been told some things that concerned me about alcohol. Namely, my great-grandfather and grandfather on my mother's side are alcoholics. My mom says alcoholism could be heridetary, but I don't know if this is true or if she's just trying to curb my drinking and/or scare me.

I've also heard that people who experience either total blackouts or fragmentary blackouts while drinking, especially with low amounts of alcohol, a at a much higher risk of becoming alcoholics as other people. This, too, concerns me -- it doesn't take much to get to the point of fragmentary blackouts.

I'm also unsure just how much Celexa affects tolerance lf alcohol -- the warning material supplied with it says it can decrease alcohol tolerance.

But on friday night, after simply 1 355mL Smirnoff Ice, I was feeling a bit buzzed. 2 more later, plus about 200mL of a Screwdriver and my memory pretty much sucks from that point on.

Other people, younger than me, drank far more than me (7 beers, etc) and remember absolutely everything.

So what's the deal? What are the true risks of being an alcoholic given a family history on one side, and also having memory loss very early?

[Sava]

Addiction is hereditary... alcoholism is the medium.

[Whaleboy]

I get memory loss after a moderate amount, I wouldnt worry too much about that.

I dont know if its hereditory or not, but if it is, then the risk is elevated but not certain, but you should probably cut down to be safe.

[Bereta_Eder]

3 smirnoffs ice and a screwdriver and you had a memory loss?


yep that's pretty rare AFAIK.

It would take a whole bottle of vodka to make me have a memory loss but even that doesn't make it. it has been tested and i dont drink a lot, more like once every 2 months or so will i drink more than just a couple of beers, so its not "thanks" to higher tolerance.

[Ecthy]

never had a memory loss from drinking, at least no major ones

one night we had seevral beers and whiskey at a school party, then went to a pub in town owned by a former schoolmate. he gave us, for free, in short time, 2 double vodka Absolut, one shot ob absinth, and a B 52...

that added to the vast amounts of beer, wine, sparkling wine and whiskey that we had earlier, produced the most enormous plastering I've had so far... and still no memory loss

[Dis]

never had memory loss- that I know of

even when I passed out standing up against a tree.

[Asher]

I guess that makes me a supreme lightweight then. Or maybe it's the mix with the drugs (the label clearly says avoid alcohol).

I guess it's a good thing, saves me money.

[Bereta_Eder]

the only memory loss I ever had from drinking was during the 5day holiday we have near the end of highschool. we went to a nice island

I drunk so many kamikajies...


after that they called kamikajie

of course I was a "light case" a couple of other students had to be taken to the hospital and given caffeine shots.

Ah those poor professors of ours, to how much stress we have put them to



funny thing from memory loss is that thenext day you have so many different people telling you different things about what you did!

and you also have people you never met before (or so you think) saying hi to you out of the blue.


ah happy days.

[Sava]

I guess that makes me a supreme lightweight then. Or maybe it's the mix with the drugs (the label clearly says avoid alcohol).

I guess it's a good thing, saves me money.

Be very careful if you are on any meds. Those labels are there for a reason.

Also, if you are not a regular drinker, don't weigh a lot, or drink on an empty stomach, smaller amounts of alcohol will **** you up more than they would other people.

[Asher]

Originally posted by paiktis22
funny thing from memory loss is that thenext day you have so many different people telling you different things about what you did!

and you also have people you never met before (or so you think) saying hi to you out of the blue.

ah happy days.

I had sex and don't remember a damn thing about it.

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Asher


I guess that makes me a supreme lightweight then.

too supreme lightweight.. I doubt anyone is. Which makes me believe that

Or maybe it's the mix with the drugs (the label clearly says avoid alcohol).

that could be it.

[Cruddy]

Re: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Originally posted by Asher
Recently I've been told some things that concerned me about alcohol. Namely, my great-grandfather and grandfather on my mother's side are alcoholics. My mom says alcoholism could be heridetary, but I don't know if this is true or if she's just trying to curb my drinking and/or scare me.

I would say that's a TINY exaggeration... TENDENCY to alcoholism may be hereditary, but just because it is more common in a family doesn't make it a certainty a given individual will hit the stuff... and never stop.

Originally posted by Asher
I've also heard that people who experience either total blackouts or fragmentary blackouts while drinking, especially with low amounts of alcohol, a at a much higher risk of becoming alcoholics as other people. This, too, concerns me -- it doesn't take much to get to the point of fragmentary blackouts.

I'VE NEVER HEARD THIS... but I'll take it onboard. Could it be some alcoholics like the "blackout effect" and use alcohol to forget some trauma? Possible explanation there.

Originally posted by Asher
I'm also unsure just how much Celexa affects tolerance lf alcohol -- the warning material supplied with it says it can decrease alcohol tolerance.

I would guess this is down to the individual... it seems you are less tolerant of the combination.

Originally posted by Asher
But on friday night, after simply 1 355mL Smirnoff Ice, I was feeling a bit buzzed. 2 more later, plus about 200mL of a Screwdriver and my memory pretty much sucks from that point on.

Possible explanation here - the screwdriver had more than 1 shot of alcohol in it.

I've gotten SERIOUSLY SMASHED on just one mixer and alcohol bought by a "friend" - the "friend" thought it would be hilarious to put 6 shots into it!

Originally posted by Asher
Other people, younger than me, drank far more than me (7 beers, etc) and remember absolutely everything.

So what's the deal? What are the true risks of being an alcoholic given a family history on one side, and also having memory loss very early?

Tolerance to alcohol varies not only with the situation, but also with how often you do the stuff. Like everything else really...

I would guess that you hadn't been drinking for a while (sensible ) and so, with the medication, it hit you harder than normal.

If you are worried about becoming an alcoholic, I would keep an eye on it - and don't be afraid to have "dry" evenings out where you avoid it completely. At the same time, a little bit once in a while has been shown to lead to a longer, happier life...

It's when you can't stop that you get labelled as an alky.

Hope this helps.

[Zylka]

Asher... you're not technically supposed to drink while taking SSRIs. The medication near QUADROUPLES many people's reaction to alcohol - I personally will be way past tipsy after nursing even one beer. 3 drinks in a night is safe while using anti-depressants, you simply can't binge safely as you used to. Basically a glass of wine with dinner here, or a beer at the bar there is seen as ok. Multiples exaggerate the effect, and once you get beyond 5 or 6, you're going to probably be straight f*cking hammered (as is the case for myself) - and not with good social results

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Asher

I had sex and don't remember a damn thing about it.

now that would be sad.

[Whaleboy]

I guess it's a good thing, saves me money

So thats how you afford windows licences!!