Effects of Alcohol on Bipolar Disorder and Medications Bipolar & Alcohol

If someone has both conditions, it matters which condition appears first. People who receive a diagnosis of AUD may recover faster than people who first receive a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Some theorize that when AUD appears first, it can trigger bipolar disorder. Others have suggested that bipolar and AUD may share genetic risk factors.

What is alcohol dependence syndrome?

Theories suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder. Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem. An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help. If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person.

• If left untreated, alcohol dependence and withdrawal are likely to worsen mood symptoms, thereby forming a vicious cycle of alcohol use and mood instability.
• Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic illness characterised by the inability to control alcohol consumption despite its negative consequences.
• For example, you might forget to take a dose of medication or miss a treatment appointment while drinking alcohol or recovering from alcohol use.
• Alcohol use may worsen the clinical course of bipolar disorder, making it harder to treat.

Understanding the Effects of Alcohol on Bipolar Disorder

• However, also the reverse is true (66), the pattern and frequency of AUD can foster new episodes of BD, both mania and depression (67, 68); increasing severity of AUD predicts occurrence of a new major depressive episode (MDE) (69).
• These changes can contribute to cognitive impairments, memory deficits, and difficulties with decision-making.
• The short answer is yes, alcohol can significantly exacerbate bipolar symptoms and interfere with treatment efficacy.
• During manic episodes, individuals may be more likely to engage in excessive drinking, creating a dangerous cycle of escalating symptoms and substance abuse.
• Symptoms can cause changes in mood and behavior that can’t be predicted.

It can reduce their therapeutic benefits and increase the risk of medication side effects. Additionally, alcohol consumption can destabilize mood regulation and increase the risk of experiencing mood episodes or worsening existing symptoms. Alcohol is a commonly consumed substance that can have significant effects on mental health. Understanding how alcohol impacts the brain and emotions is essential in comprehending its relationship with bipolar disorder. People who have experienced significant life stressors, such as traumatic events or major life changes, may be more susceptible to developing bipolar disorder. Substance abuse, including alcohol and drug use, has been linked to an increased risk of bipolar disorder as well.

These symptoms all work together to keep you trapped in a cycle of depression. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a condition characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. It affects millions of people worldwide, causing disruptions in daily life, relationships, and overall functioning. On the other hand, alcohol, the beloved social lubricant, has long been known to have an impact on mental health. From blackouts to depression, its effects can be far-reaching and devastating.

Anxiety and Depression

When a person takes their medication, they are in a better position to manage their condition. However, adhering to treatment can be difficult for some people with bipolar disorder. The researchers found alcohol and bipolar disorder a direct link between alcohol consumption and the rate of occurrence of manic or depressive episodes, even when study participants drank a relatively small amount of alcohol. In the past, researchers have noted that symptoms of bipolar disorder appear as a person withdraws from alcohol dependence. Some scientists have suggested that alcohol use or withdrawal and bipolar disorder affect the same brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters. Risk factors include life experiences and stressful life events that increase the risk of certain types of mood disorders.

Consequences of Comorbidity

Whereas numbers for legal substances, e.g., alcohol, are considered as relatively robust and reproducible, many cases of illicit drug use remain undetected in patients with BD. Cannabis is likely to be second after alcohol as substance of abuse in BD patients, affecting approximately one quarter of bipolar patients (7). Bipolar II disorder involves a pattern of one or more major depressive episodes alongside at least one hypomanic episode.

You may start by seeing your primary care professional or a psychiatrist. You may want to take a family member or friend along to your appointment, if possible, for support and to help remember information. Bipolar disorder can start at any age, but usually it’s diagnosed in the teenage years or early 20s. Symptoms can differ from person to person, and symptoms may vary over time.

Shared Risk Factors

Both studies included also patients with other major mental health disorders, such as MDD and schizophrenia; thus, both do not supply information exclusively about changes in the course of BD (96, 97). The same study reports on a 1-year prevalence of 5.7% for substance abuse (except nicotine) according to DSM-IV criteria. Three percent fulfilled criteria for alcohol dependence and 1.8% for abuse (4). In a prior survey, looking at lifetime prevalence rate, the same group reports on similar numbers for BD, and 9.9 and 8.5% for alcohol abuse and dependence, respectively (5). These numbers are in a similar range as in other European countries; while prevalence rates from the US are much higher, both for BD and substance abuse/dependence (6).

Pharmacological and integrated psychotherapeutic approaches that give equal weight to both disorders, while still scarce, are recommended. CBT and IGT have the best, but still insufficient evidence- base as psychosocial treatments. Figure 1 depicts a proposed therapy algorithm based on the evidence presented in this article. Supportive pharmacotherapy should be mainly centered around BD, with mood stabilizer, e.g., lithium and valproate, still the treatment of choice.

Alcohol and Bipolar Disorder Treatment

If you or a loved one are struggling with both bipolar disorder and alcohol use, it’s crucial to seek professional help. A mental health professional with experience in dual diagnosis can provide a comprehensive evaluation and develop a tailored treatment plan that addresses both conditions. Moreover, the high prevalence of alcohol abuse among individuals with bipolar disorder underscores the need for comprehensive screening and integrated treatment approaches. Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential for co-occurring disorders and be prepared to address both conditions simultaneously. In younger patients, it appears that alcohol use and bipolar symptoms are more likely to increase or decrease in unison (64). An exploratory sub-analysis (65) examined the impact of depressive symptoms on craving and drinking behavior in 30 comorbid patients participating in a 8-week, placebo-controlled relapse prevention study (acamprosate vs. placebo).