Author: Charles Frank

Antidepressants and Alcohol Interactions

Oftentimes that effect is harmful because prescription medication was not meant to be altered by other substances. At best, mixing alcohol and antidepressants leads to minor reductions in the effectiveness of the medication. At worst, it can cause serious health risks that require emergency medical attention to remedy. For people on MAOIs, alcohol can cause dangerous, potentially deadly increases in blood pressure.

1. The depressive effect of alcohol layered on top can lead to potentially deadly consequences.
2. In some cases, mixing these two substances can be a sign of a deeper problem.
3. In some cases, alcohol use can trigger or worsen symptoms of depression in at-risk individuals.
4. For people on MAOIs, it’s important to discuss with their doctor what foods and drinks are safe to consume while taking the medication.

If you wish to drink alcohol while taking an antidepressant, do so moderately and safely. Treatment providers are available 24/7 to answer your questions about rehab, whether it’s for you or a loved one. Submit your number and receive a free call today from a treatment provider. If you or a loved one seems to be having trouble with alcohol, know that you’re not alone. Acknowledging that you need help is an important step towards feeling better and leaving bad habits behind. There are treatment providers available to talk about this issue and issues like it; reach out to learn more.

Follow Mayo Clinic

At SUN Behavioral Kentucky, we know that every patient’s healing journey is unique. That’s why we offer a large variety of programs for alcohol use disorder treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 13% of Americans have a prescription for antidepressants. If you’re a part of that 13%, you may be curious about what is and isn’t healthy to take alongside your medication. Surprisingly, most food and many beverages are safe when taking antidepressants, but there are exceptions.

People with an untreated substance abuse disorder or depression that is not responding to medication are at high risk of abusing alcohol and their prescription medications. These side effects are most pronounced during the first few weeks after someone starts taking the medications. It’s not a good idea to drink soon after starting on TCA medications for depression.

One of these exceptions is alcohol, which should never be taken with antidepressants. We’re here 24/7 to help guide you or your loved on through rehab and recovery. You should avoid the use of alcohol or any other substances while you’re taking antidepressants. Speak with your treating physician if you have any questions or if you’re unsure of what you can and cannot take while on your medication.

People who take an MAOI need to be particularly careful with their diet. If inpatient treatment doesn’t work for your schedule or your lifestyle, outpatient and PHP can help. Outpatient programs can also act as a stepping stone between inpatient and the end of treatment. This type of care usually does not require patients to stay at the facility while being treated. When visiting the facility, patients spend time in customized sessions throughout the day. This can be beneficial for full-time employees seeking treatment because it allows patients to continue to maintain a life outside of treatment.

Drinking alcohol while taking antidepressants is generally not recommended because both of these substances can make you drowsy, less alert, and uncoordinated. However, since many patients are not willing to give up alcohol completely, it is important to combine alcohol and antidepressants in the safest way possible. Different kinds of antidepressants address different kinds of chemical shortages or surpluses in the brain. When drinking alcohol along with taking antidepressants, both substances create an effect in the brain.

Dangerous Reactions

The alcohol interacts with the antidepressants to stop them from working as well as they should. The depressive effect of alcohol layered on top can lead to potentially deadly consequences. Different kinds of antidepressants react differently when paired with alcohol. Effects can even depend on brand because of the variety of available antidepressants available.

Some of the AddictionLink services are also available in Swedish, English and Russian. You can contact the nearest health and social services centre (sosiaali- ja terveyskeskus) if you have issues with alcohol or drug use. Different wellbeing services counties may use different names for health and social services centre, such as terveysasema, terveyskeskus or hyvinvointiasema. Some liquid medications, such as cough syrups or NyQuil, may also contain alcohol.

Significant imbalances between these chemicals can cause or contribute to mood disorders like depression. The medications included in this classification primarily interact with the neurotransmitters in the brain. These small structures on the outside of braincells send chemicals back and forth as a kind of communication. Some antidepressant medications do not interact dangerously with alcohol. Also, light drinking on some prescriptions, such as TCAs, is not necessarily dangerous after several weeks have passed on the new medication. An inpatient rehab center will be able to address alcohol abuse while still assisting the patient with their depressive symptoms.

During inpatient treatment, patients stay on sight at the rehab facility 24/7. Tricyclic/Tetracyclic Antidepressants, or TCAs, work to block reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. They also end up blocking several other chemicals from being reabsorbed, which causes several side effects when compared to the other types of antidepressants. Antidepressants function as tools that can manipulate the chemical balance in the brain.

For people with depression who struggle with alcohol use disorder, it’s crucial that they receive integrated care both during and after treatment. Inpatient rehab centers give people access to trained, qualified therapists and a support network. If you are struggling with depression and alcohol abuse, please reach out to an addiction counselor today. SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors don’t usually cause problems if someone drinks while taking them. But, these medications can make patients drowsy, and alcohol can intensify this effect. S.S.R.I. medications — which include citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft) and escitalopram (Lexapro) — are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants.

Mixing Alcohol and Antidepressants

You’ll come in and meet with one of our clinicians to be assessed for your needs and to create some goals for yourself. People choose to stay at our detox facility so we can monitor their condition, treat their withdrawal symptoms, and help them heal safely and efficiently. It’s not unnatural to want to drink as a way to unwind, but it’s important to make sure that it’s completely safe to do so. Mixing a new prescription with alcohol before you know the possible side effects could lead to disastrous results. Call now to connect with a treatment provider and start your recovery journey. While some combinations only incur minor side-effects, others can drastically impact both mental and physical health.

For many health care providers who treat anxiety and depression, the concern about whether it’s safe — or even advised — to drink alcohol while taking an antidepressant is a common one. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant. It’s hard to know exactly what’s going wrong in the brain of someone with depression, but these medications stop the brain from absorbing serotonin at its usual rate. When the brain can’t clear out the serotonin, it builds up and the excess chemical leads to a more sustained “feel-good” response.

A-Clinics offer, among other things, outpatient clinic services, substitution treatment and detoxification. While it is rare, drinking while taking antidepressants can be fatal – and not always in the way(s) you might think. Because it causes a lack of coordination and impaired decision-making, it can lead to serious injuries.

Joining a support group or a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous may help. 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. Always check the warnings and interactions in the labeling for your antidepressant.