Lexapro and Alcohol: Is Mixing Safe or Dangerous?

Not only can alcohol make Lexapro less effective, but it can also enhance the side effects of the medication. You might experience increased dizziness, drowsiness, or a persistent sense of confusion. These interactions can make your mental health struggles even more daunting.

Individuals with anxiety or depression disorders often have low serotonin levels. SSRIs like Lexapro work by inhibiting serotonin reuptake, meaning more serotonin is available to bind to receptors in the brain. This increase in serotonin can help improve mood and reduce anxiety symptoms.

For example, alcohol is a depressant, and although it may offer short-term relief from depressive symptoms, it might make depression worse over time. The excessive consumption of alcohol can upset the chemical balance of the brain, leading to an increase in feelings of depression and hopelessness. Lexapro belongs to a class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and is designed to treat depression and anxiety. The main element of its formula is escitalopram, which inhibits the reuptake of serotonin by neurons to prevent its depletion. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin available in the brain and correcting neurochemical imbalances.

Support for Those Struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder

Lexapro, or escitalopram, is one of these antidepressant medications known to help millions of people keep their depression under control. 1 Despite being one of the safest medications for depression, users must practice certain precautions to minimize its side effects. For instance, mixing Lexapro and alcohol is not recommended as it may lead to various adversities. As we’ve explored throughout this article, the combination of Lexapro and alcohol can be a tricky landscape to navigate.

While it can temporarily relax a person and improve their mood, it can have serious effects on mental health in the longer-term and can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety. Generally, it’s recommended to wait at least a couple of weeks after stopping Lexapro before drinking alcohol. Lexapro, also known as escitalopram in its generic form, is a type of antidepressant in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It’s commonly prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder and depression. Depression remains one of the most common psychiatric illnesses of all time. Given its rising prevalence, experts have been constantly investigating different medications to keep depressive symptoms under control.

Alcohol’s Effect on Depression

Instead, it means that more research is needed to understand how Lexapro and alcohol interact with each other in your brain. However, what we do know for sure is that alcohol consumption can potentially worsen depression, even in individuals taking antidepressants. If you’re unsure about how Lexapro interacts with alcohol, please speak to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. If you find it hard to abstain from alcohol, seek help from a healthcare professional immediately to avoid potential interactions and health risks. The effects of alcohol on depression and anxiety can vary depending on the amount consumed and the individual.

Although alcohol may initially seem to boost mood, it is a depressant that can actually exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety or other mental health disorders in the long term. Drinking while on Lexapro can counteract the benefits of the medication and hinder progress. With depression or anxiety, it can increase the feelings of depression or anxiety and adversely impact day-to-day functioning and overall health.

He teaches cognitive behavioral therapies, Motivational Interviewing, assessment skills using DSM-5, amongst others. In the short term, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to poor judgment, slower reflexes, and blackouts. Over the long haul, it can contribute to chronic diseases like liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, and various cancers.

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• She obtained her Masters in Social Work (MSW) at Barry University in an accelerated program.
• Educating yourself about the risks of mixing Lexapro and alcohol can help you make choices that protect your well-being.
• Have you ever tried a fun non-alcoholic beverage when you’re out with friends?
• While it can temporarily relax a person and improve their mood, it can have serious effects on mental health in the longer-term and can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• Understanding these risks is vital to making informed choices while managing treatment.
• This guidance is because alcohol can make depression worse and can counteract the benefits of a person taking antidepressants.

The most common side effect of Lexapro is sexual dysfunction, which can include a decrease in libido, difficulties achieving orgasm, or erectile dysfunction. Though this medication has proven very useful for many individuals with depression, PTSD, and panic disorder, it’s important to follow the rules to get the necessary effects. Mixing Lexapro and alcohol can cause side effects like drowsiness or extreme fatigue and reduce the efficacy of treatment. Mixing Lexapro with alcohol could make symptoms of your condition worse. Drinking alcohol may also worsen some of the side effects of Lexapro or other antidepressants, including drowsiness and dizziness.

• Lexapro generally has a half-life of 27 to 33 hours, which means that a regular dose of this medication takes up to six days or a little more to leave the body entirely.
• With or without a drug, alcohol may aggravate your symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• Not only can alcohol make Lexapro less effective, but it can also enhance the side effects of the medication.
• Some experts think that “self-medication” (drinking to try to temporarily alleviate depression) may be the reason behind many dual diagnoses of alcohol use disorder and depression.
• It’s commonly prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder and depression.

Is any amount of alcohol safe while taking Lexapro?

If you’re unsure about how alcohol might impact your treatment, don’t hesitate to discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider. They may also offer strategies to help you navigate social settings or suggest alternatives that align with your treatment goals. While the occasional small drink may not cause significant harm, it’s generally recommended to avoid alcohol https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ completely while on Lexapro due to potential risks. It is a depressant that gives rise to relaxation, sleepiness, and even drowsiness. When alcohol and Lexapro are consumed together, they interact and increase these effects to a great extent. Similar to depression, anxiety symptoms can initially seem to be alleviated by alcohol.

Serotonin is a chemical messenger that regulates mood, anxiety, and other functions in the brain. They can assess you for depression or refer you to a mental healthcare provider for further help. Talk to your doctor, who can evaluate you for other symptoms of an alcohol use disorder and discuss treatments that may help. That being said, mixing alcohol and Lexapro is not ideal and generally not recommended, says Poulakos.

Alcohol can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety and can increase the side effects of antidepressants. Alcohol can worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression, making the medication less effective. Drinking while on Lexapro can also increase the risk of medication-related side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired coordination. In addition, mixing Lexapro with alcohol can sober house increase the risk of liver damage, alcohol dependence, overdose, and even suicide.

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. You may not want to skip having a drink just because you take an antidepressant. But if you want to raise a glass once in a while, you need to do it safely. Because alcohol can cause depression on its own and make some antidepressants not work well, this could lead you to think about suicide. If you feel drowsy, dizzy, and less alert on Lexapro alone, you will likely not be able to tolerate the combined effects of alcohol.

Increased Side Effects

Lexapro belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Serotonin is a chemical messenger or neurotransmitter that affects mood. If you take the SSRI antidepressant Lexapro for depression or anxiety, you may wonder if it’s OK to have a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine once in a while.

In the short-term, alcohol can act as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, which can lead to a decrease in anxiety and a temporary feeling of euphoria. However, the effects are short-lived; in the long term, alcohol can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety. The intersection of alcohol use and mental health treatment often brings attention to the broader issue of alcohol addiction. If you find that your alcohol consumption is becoming problematic, it may be time to seek additional support. This is especially pertinent for those already dealing with mental health challenges, as they may be more susceptible to substance abuse. Recognizing the signs of alcohol addiction is a critical step towards getting the right help.