Author: Charles Frank
Is Mixing Cymbalta and Alcohol Safe?
It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances (serotonin and norepinephrine) in the brain; alcohol may throw off this balance. You should also be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications, supplements, or substances that you are taking. Other substances that can interact with Cymbalta include other antidepressants, blood thinners, and St. John’s wort.
This is because alcohol produces a lot of toxins when it breaks down. Your liver can become overworked from having to remove these toxins all the time. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of medication and increase your dose after one week. Your healthcare provider will want to see you often while you are taking duloxetine, especially at the beginning of your treatment.
Taking duloxetine in higher doses or more often than prescribed will not make it more effective, and may increase side effects. Antidepressant medications such as duloxetine are used to treat depression and other illnesses. If you’re having a mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You can also get free 24/7 support from a suicide and crisis expert by calling or texting 988. If you’d prefer to chat online, you can chat with a suicide and crisis expert by visiting the Lifeline Chat. But drinking alcohol while taking Cymbalta can still exacerbate unwanted adverse effects.
Talk to your doctor before consuming alcohol while taking this medication. Be sure to always read the label and follow the instructions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist. Alcohol mixed with Cymbalta may also cause liver damage or disease.
What should I avoid while taking duloxetine?
Duloxetine is used to treat major depressive disorder in adults. It is also used to treat general anxiety disorder in adults and children who are at least 7 years old. Because of this, if you are trying to stop drinking or have recently quit, Cymbalta may be an option to help you with alcohol withdrawal since the drug works to calm nerves. Alcohol is a depressant and can cause symptoms of depression or anxiety to become significantly worse. Cymbalta is often prescribed to treat depression and anxiety.
Duloxetine is used to treat depression in adults and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; excessive worry and tension that disrupts daily life and lasts for 6 months or longer) in adults and children 7 years of age and older. It is also used to treat ongoing bone or muscle pain such as lower back pain or osteoarthritis (joint pain or stiffness that may worsen over time) in adults. Duloxetine is in a class of medications called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It works by increasing the amounts of serotonin and norepinephrine, natural substances in the brain that help maintain mental balance and stop the movement of pain signals in the brain. If you are taking Cymbalta (duloxetine) to treat depression or another mental health condition, it is important to avoid mixing your medication with alcohol.
- Alcohol can affect the quality of your sleep, which can contribute to worsening depression.
- It may also be prescribed off-label to treat chronic fatigue syndrome, lower back pain, and stress-related urinary incontinence.
- If you are thinking about trying Cymbalta for depression, anxiety, or other illness, discuss your options with your doctor.
- If you are concerned about your alcohol intake or want to reduce your consumption, your doctor can also help.
- It may take 1 to 4 weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of duloxetine.
Duloxetine also treats fibromyalgia, nerve pain, and chronic pain. It may also be prescribed off-label to treat chronic fatigue syndrome, lower back pain, and stress-related urinary incontinence. This article discusses the potential risks of combining Cymbalta and alcohol, including who may have the highest risk of experiencing these effects. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use duloxetine only for the indication prescribed. Duloxetine is also used in adults to treat nerve pain caused by diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), or chronic muscle or joint pain (such as low back pain and osteoarthritis pain).
What other drugs will affect duloxetine?
It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. There are 2 alcohol/food/lifestyle interactions with duloxetine. Do not stop using duloxetine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant symptoms (such as agitation, confusion, tingling or electric shock feelings). Do not take duloxetine within 5 days before or 14 days after you have used an MAO inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine.
DULoxetine may cause liver damage, and taking it with alcohol may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with DULoxetine. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs.
Why is it bad to mix antidepressants and alcohol?
Your doctor can help you safely stop taking your medication by gradually lowering your dosage. You may find that combining Cymbalta and alcohol can worsen the side effects of both substances. Refill medications and get certain necessary prescriptions with K Health from home.
By Kendra Cherry, MSEdKendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the “Everything Psychology Book.” If you experience any of these symptoms while taking Cymbalta, you should contact your doctor immediately. Mixing Cymbalta and alcohol may pose a higher risk for specific populations. Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the “Everything Psychology Book.”
Is it Safe to Drink Alcohol While Taking Cymbalta?
The study also found that this decrease in drinking was also accompanied by a drop in anxiety-related behaviors. Children, teens, and young adults may also experience increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors, particularly when they first start taking Cymbalta. Alcohol may heighten this risk if it is consumed while you are taking your medication.
Duloxetine disease interactions
This is generally more of a concern for people who are heavy drinkers or who have a history of heavy or chronic alcohol abuse. Tell your doctor right away if you have any sudden changes in mood or behavior, or thoughts about suicide. Duloxetine is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant (SSNRI). Duloxetine affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with depression. According to the label for Cymbalta, mixing the medication with alcohol should not increase the impairment of your motor and mental skills that’s caused by drinking. Cymbalta is a brand name for the drug duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).
According to the FDA’s prescribing information for Cymbalta, the medication is not recommended for people who regularly consume alcohol. People with a history of liver problems or liver damage will have reduced metabolism of this medication. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. They will be able to evaluate your lifestyle, risk of liver injury, and medical history to determine whether Cymbalta may be an effective drug for your alcohol withdrawal. One of the conditions that Cymbalta treats is depression and the symptoms that go along with it. However, this drug can sometimes also cause depression and anxiety symptoms.