What happens if I take my antidepressant with alcohol?
Alcohol and antidepressants can impair a person’s coordination, and cause confusion and severe drowsiness. People can fall and injure themselves, and it’s best to avoid driving or operating machinery if someone drinks while on any type of antidepressant.
Which antidepressants are OK with alcohol?
There are no antidepressants that are completely safe when taken with alcohol. Some providers may say that light to moderate drinking is OK while taking certain antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and escitalopram (Lexapro).
How much alcohol is safe with antidepressants?
And don’t stop taking your medication just so you can drink. Some doctors think it’s OK to drink moderately if you take an SSRI like Lexapro. “Moderate drinking” means 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women.
Can I drink on anxiety medication?
Drinking alcohol with anxiety medications, like alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan), can worsen side effects from the medication, such as extreme sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and slowed breathing. These side effects can lead to serious and sometimes fatal consequences, including accidental injuries.
What happens if a normal person takes antidepressants?
There is new reason to be cautious about using popular antidepressants in people who are not really depressed. For the first time, research has shown that a widely used antidepressant may cause subtle changes in brain structure and function when taken by those who are not depressed. The drug is sertraline.
Do antidepressants make you drink more?
Research has found that antidepressants can intensify the effects of alcohol, or can lead individuals to increase their alcohol consumption and become heavily dependent on alcohol. SSRIs induced alcoholism is likely to be relatively common but reported as being rare.
Is alcohol an antidepressant or depressant?
Alcohol is a depressant. That means any amount you drink can make you more likely to get the blues. Drinking a lot can harm your brain and lead to depression. When you drink too much, you’re more likely to make bad decisions or act on impulse.