But before you drink any alcohol, you should take Lexapro long enough to know how it affects you and which side effects you have with it. Try to drink slowly and eat while you drink to tamp down alcohol’s possible effects. Because of this shared liberty cap gills connection, treatment for both should include a diet to improve gut function and reduce endotoxin load that contributes to neuroinflammation. Following a Mediterranean diet rich in omega-3s, for example, might be one recommendation.
Individuals diagnosed with clinical depression should be extremely cautious when it comes to using substances such as alcohol. According to Kennedy, for those taking antidepressants, combining them with alcohol can reduce their efficacy. Depending on your intoxication level, you may experience decreased inhibition, loss of judgment, confusion, and mood swings, among others. That’s why your doctor or psychologist will work with you to create a treatment approach that addresses both issues. Individuals with alcohol use disorder may drink too much alcohol, too often. Alcohol and some antidepressants compete for the same metabolic systems in the body—that is, they both head for the exit doors at the same time once the body has ingested them.
- Substantially higher use of antidepressants was reported by depressed respondents than by nondepressed respondents (30.7% v. 3.2% for men; 36.6% v. 6.2% for women).
- If you have trouble avoiding alcohol, consult a healthcare provider or licensed therapist.
- The most common treatment options are included below, but know that recovery requires a personalized treatment plan that best suits your mental health needs.
- For others, alcohol abuse and depression are actually two separate diagnoses that exist at the same time (the so-called dual diagnosis), making each more complex and difficult to treat.
The “burst” of energy from alcohol can be a welcome relief against some symptoms. For example, alcohol may temporarily reduce anxiety and lower inhibitions. During and within two weeks after treatment with MAOIs, you must NOT consume any foods or beverages that are high in tyramine content. When MAOIs are combined with alcoholic beverages high in tyramine, serious heart-related effects, such as dangerous high blood pressure (called a hypertensive crisis), may occur. Many foods may be high in tyramine as well, like such as aged cheeses and cured meats. The bottom line is that there are many reasons not to combine alcohol with antidepressants.
Risks of Alcohol/Antidepressant Interactions
It helps people understand events and thought processes that lead to depression and substance misuse. Likewise, if you’re diagnosed with one of these conditions, your doctor may ask about symptoms of the other. This is a common part of diagnosis because both so frequently occur together.
Prioritize what’s best for your health, and choose options to help your well-being. SSRIs like Zoloft also come with a boxed warning due to the increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors when used in adolescents and young adults. Additionally, people with vaginas are more likely to get depression than people with penises. Finally, I’ll explore what to discuss with a doctor for tips to manage antidepressant side effects.
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
More than 20 million Americans struggle with substance use, and 7.9 million people have both substance use issues and mental health diagnoses. There is help available, in the form of detox services, medication-assisted treatment, and dual diagnosis care. When mixed with alcohol, antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors https://sober-house.org/ (MAOIs) can create a dangerous reaction, causing a person’s blood pressure to rise to hazardous levels. People with depression may turn to alcohol to try to feel better in the short term; however, alcohol can worsen their condition. If you find it difficult to avoid drinking, you should reach out to your provider for guidance.
In some cases it may be OK to have an occasional drink.
Because of this competition, the body’s levels of both the antidepressant and alcohol can be higher than with either alone. With a higher level of each in the system, potential side effects of both may be exacerbated. These can range from sedation and dizziness to falls and even fatal overdose. Given the prevalence of both antidepressants and alcohol use, it’s not surprising that the two often collide.
If not treated, alcohol use disorder can become a life-long struggle. Almost 30 percent of Americans will experience alcohol use disorder at some point in their lifetimes. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include Micromedex (updated 1 Apr 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 2 Apr 2024), ASHP (updated 10 Apr 2024) and others.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Some liquid medications, such as cough syrups or NyQuil, may also contain alcohol. Always check the warnings and interactions in the labeling for your antidepressant. You can always ask your pharmacist if you can take any medicine with alcohol. And never abruptly stop taking an antidepressant unless directed to do so by your doctor.
Don’t stop taking an antidepressant or other medication just so that you can drink. Most antidepressants require taking a consistent, daily dose to maintain a constant level in your system and work as intended. Stopping and starting your medications can make your depression worse. While most antidepressants (specifically SSRIs) work in a comparable way and generate similar side effects, individuals taking these medications can experience a wide range of effects.