Alcohol abuse and dependence are both considered an alcohol use disorder, with studies finding that alcohol dependence is more closely tied to the persistence of depressive disorders. Many studies have found that alcohol dependence is closely linked to depression. When it comes to diagnosing an alcohol use disorder and a major depressive disorder, it’s important to address them simultaneously, as they can significantly impact your recovery. Drinking persistently and excessively can increase your risk of developing a major depressive disorder. It can also aggravate symptoms of pre-existing depression and endanger your health and mental health.
Can you drink alcohol while taking antidepressants?
While alcohol might make a person feel better for a short while, it can make them feel worse in the long run. It’s very important to be careful about mixing alcohol with any medicine. To stay safe and make sure your medicine works the way it should, it’s best to avoid alcohol while you’re taking Zoloft.
Don’t start and stop taking an antidepressant so that you can drink alcohol.
SSRIs increase serotonin levels in the brain by blocking the reuptake (reabsorption) of serotonin by brain cell receptors. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that controls mood, motivation sleep, appetite, and libido. People with depression and anxiety have lower than normal levels of serotonin in their brain. SSRIs effectively raise serotonin to improve mood and relieve depression.
If you’re finding it hard to stop drinking and are concerned about your alcohol use, there are many forms of help out there. In addition to substance abuse counseling and treatment programs, there are many support groups including Alcoholics fetal alcohol syndrome celebrities Anonymous and newer, online communities. Alcohol’s sedating properties can also increase disruptions to sleep, which in turn exacerbate mood disorders. Zoloft is an SSRI antidepressant used to treat symptoms of depression and anxiety. Sometimes, Zoloft might cause side effects like feeling sick, dizzy, or tired, which may be enhanced by drinking alcohol.
Medical
- Always check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for possible drug interactions.
- If you’re finding it hard to stop drinking and are concerned about your alcohol use, there are many forms of help out there.
- Reach out to a mental health professional to talk about treatment and strategies for dealing with depression.
- In general, it’s not a good idea to consume alcohol while taking antidepressants.
“In our society alcohol is readily available and socially acceptable,” says Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD, author of Whole Brain Living, explains. “Depression and alcohol misuse are often tied because we take a depressant to counter a chemical depression which only what are whippets drugs makes it worse.” When Wellbutrin and alcohol are mixed together, dopamine can flood the brain, potentially causing symptoms resembling psychosis, a serious mental condition that requires hospitalization. That’s why your doctor or psychologist will work with you to create a treatment approach that addresses both issues. It helps people understand events and thought processes that lead to depression and substance misuse.
Whether you’re experiencing depression or not, it’s essential to evaluate your drinking habits and consider why you drink, when you drink, and how you feel when you drink. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that 9 out of 10 adult binge drinkers don’t have a severe alcohol use disorder, but that doesn’t mean alcohol isn’t a problem for them. Drinking to cope with depression, no matter if you have an alcohol use disorder, is concerning. No matter your drink of choice, alcohol can easily be abused and often is, especially when it’s used to self-medicate. Depending on your intoxication level, you may experience decreased inhibition, loss of judgment, confusion, and how to flush alcohol out of your system for a urine test mood swings, among others. When you drink alcohol and take Zoloft or another SSRI, you will likely feel more depressed, anxious, and impaired than if you were drinking alcohol by itself.
For example, alcohol may temporarily reduce anxiety and lower inhibitions. Depression may even cause people to begin consuming large amounts of alcohol. 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. Always check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for possible drug interactions. Always check the warnings and interactions in the labeling for your antidepressant. You can always ask your pharmacist if you can take your medicine with alcohol if you aren’t sure.
The more alcohol you consume, the higher the likelihood it’ll affect these neurotransmitters in the brain and worsen mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. It can be tempting to drink if you’re feeling unhappy, but there’s a better solution out there. When treating depression and substance abuse, consult with a mental health professional and/or an addiction specialist who can provide resources and recommendations for possible treatment options. Alcohol can also make a person’s anxiety and depression worse, which is why it’s beneficial to avoid drinking alcohol if you have a mental health condition. Contact a healthcare provider if you are experiencing unwanted or severe side effects, such as signs of serotonin syndrome or worsening mental health (such as suicidal thoughts).