Abstinence From Alchohol Linked to Depression
Preliminary evidence suggests that if you are a moderate drinker who plans to abstain from drinking it may be wise to take an antidepressant to avoid developing depression.
In the study, researchers took mice who had voluntarily drunk alcohol for 28 days and then terminated their alcohol consumption. The mice were then tested for "depression-like behavior" using a method called the Porsolt Swim Test. This test involves placing the mice in a beaker filled with water and allowing them to swim for six minutes. Mice are good swimmers so this is normally an easy task for them. When the mice spend time floating rather than swimming, this is considered to be a sign of depression-like behavior, as if they are in too much despair to swim. The more time the mice spend floating, the more "depressed" they are considered to be.
The researchers found that 14 days after alcohol was withdrawn, the mice were exhibiting depression-like behavior when given the swim test.
“This research provides the first evidence that long-term abstinence from moderate alcohol drinking – rather than drinking per se – leads to a negative mood state, depression,” said lead author Clyde W. Hodge, Ph.D.
The study also found that treatment with an antidepressant during the 14 days of abstinence prevented the development of depression in the mice.
Based upon these results, the authors speculate that treatment with an antidepressant may also be helpful to humans who are discontinuing the use of alcohol.
The findings from the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill appear online in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
Comments
This looks true on my personal experience as a recovering alcoholic. i relapsed a couple of times due to depression and also had anxiety problems. my selfesteem drops, it was scary even to do minor work.
The last time i went into rehab, i agreed with my psychiatrist and readily accepted medication.yes, it helped.Today am clean for 3yrs, Thank God.
Pentru a preveni depresia trebuie prevenita starea de ALIENARE. Fiecare dintre noi avem nevoie de IUBIRE si trebuie sa invatam s-o intretinem O VIATA. Alcoolul nu trebuie sa ne conduca viata. « De obicei alcoolismul este privit sub aspectele sale inofensive, este etichetat ca « micul pacat » si beneficiaza de o indulgenta ipocrita, ignorandu-se efectele sale nefaste, ca « factor de risc » al sanatatii. Cand alcoolemia depaseste concentratia de 1 la mie subiectul este expus unor riscuri multiple , in raport cu profesiunea sa : acte necontrolate cu repercursiuni asupra propriei persoane sau a colectivitatii, accidente de circulatie, in industrie etc. Pericolele majore sunt reprezentate de cirozele ficatului si complicatiile neuropsihiatrice , la care se adauga tuberculoza , ulcerul gastro-duodenal si alte afectiuni. In realizarea tablourilor clinice ale afectiunilor produse de alcoolismul cronic, pe langa factorul TEREN – pe care evolueaza – si TOXICITATEA proprie a etanolului, un rol important este reprezentat de factorul NUTRITIONAL. Din anamneza putem retine faptul ca intr-o prima perioada alcoolismul cronic , a fost precedat de anorexie foarte accentuata (uneori varsaturi si diaree) insotita de o slabire rapida. Se creeaza astfel « un cerc vicios » :carenta de aport secundara tulburarilor digestive , se asociaza de un dezechilibru alimentar, precum si de carente de absorbtie si de asimilare, antrenate de gastrita si hepatita. Alcoolismul cronic induce profunde tulburari ale homeostazei metabolice, cu rezonanta asupra intregului organism. » Viorel Gligore –“Semiologia Medicala”, Ed.Didactica si Pedagogica, Bucuresti, 1977, p.54. Professor +chemist+oficer Cornelia Vodoiu.
I am a recovering alcoholic. The more I drank, the more depressed I became. I made no headway at all healing from depression until I stopped drinking. It has been eighteen years since my last drink, and I feel better than ever.
Today, the 23rd, is my 2 month mark of sobriety. I have taken medication for depression for about 6 years but drank for 20 years. Although life is so much better without alcohol I still rely on my depression medicine. I think maybe depression is what made me start drinking in the first place…that and other normal factors.
Alcohol withdrawal in my opinion, and from my personal experience has always been followed by “depression.” There certainly are some chemical changes that are occurring in the brain, so to me it certainly made sense to be treated. Naturally, all of us are different in our level of addiction and affects on the brain. As a result, no one medication works the same for each of us withdrawing from alcohol. I needed to try several different medications for depression before I got comfortable and felt it’s effectiveness. Over time, that medication needs to be dose adjusted, and sometimes changed to a different medication to continue to relieve my depression.
Working with a medical professional during your treatment is important, and it is also important to appropriately adjust meds under their advise, especially if you decide a med may not be working. In other words, don’t just stop taking depression medications. There is a proper way to taper off and on of medications for depression and anxiety in order to avoid unwanted reactions in the brain and body. One day at a time!
The alcohol was causing the depression. At first I was still drinking and taking SSRI’S. No help whatsoever,however when i quit alcohol alltogether my body and mind began to accept antidepressants.Today after 3 years sober I honestly am happy, and can take life as it comes at me.
I quite drinking almost 5 years ago. I used AA for recovery and have never looked back. No one ever said “just don’t drink”. They said things like “why do you have to drink so much?”, “just have a couple”, etc. It started with a depression I experienced in my mid-twenties and lasted until I was in my mid-Fifties. So much wasted time. Yes, the oringinal depression never went away because by drinking I kept adding to it, including the shame, regret and hopelessness the drinking added to it. If this sounds anything like you “just don’t take that 1st drink one day at a time” or one hour, or one minute. Ask for help! By the way, my life is now filled with love and joy and happiness and gratefullness, more than I ever thought possible! God Bless!
i think i suffered from a depressive personality for a long time (still do). i started drinking when i was in high school, experimenting with that and other drugs. i found the drugs fairly unsafe for me so quit that but kept my relationship with alcohol. i believe i had my first real problem with a severe depression while in college. then, when married, i suffered another very severe depression. i chose to give up alcohol when i became pregnant during my first marriage. i had another severe depression about 20 years ago (after giving up alcohol)after my first marriage ended. i had a recent severe depression about 8 years ago as well. my severe depressions all seemed linked to loss (all were a result of a loss of a relationship).
i have taken anti-depressants twice and also anti-anxiety medication with the anti-depressants as directed by a psychiatrist.
i joined a 12 step program about 20 years ago and have not used any alcohol for 23 years.
i think not drinking is a great way for me to ward off depression and stay healthy.
i also attend alanon, since my problems are more about the way i work things out in relationships. i was able to stop drinking without help, since i wasn’t a big drinker in the first place, so i never was in AA. two glasses of wine was about it for me, most of the time. when much younger, i did drink and got very drunk on several occassions.
if i hadn’t gotten into 12 step and also made a choice for myself not to drink as a lifestyle value, i might be the type of person who would drink daily to ease emotional pain.
depression is still mysterious to me. i don’t know why i haven’t been depressed for a period of years now since i have had some very big challenges, especially in regards to relationships. i do think it is healthy for me to stay away from drinking, even though i am in a drinking environment. for me personally, i don’t see any benefit for using alcohol. the depression seems to have a mind of it’s own, and also seems that if i am doing things that are healthy for me as often as i can, then i stay healthier and out of the grip of depression. we are all too individual for any one way to work for all, but i know i feel much better not drinking, even when i am in a depression.
whenever i stop drinking, 2 days later experience mania, quite the opposite from reports.
But doesnt the alcohol cause the depression in the first place and not the absence of it. if you didnt drink heavily in the first place, there would be no absence and no depressed period. I realise everybody has a different tolerence to it but i dont accept the idea that the absence causes the depression. the absence is a result of the drink intake