The Dangers of Taking Lexapro and Ingesting Alcohol — Talkspace

The usage of alcohol and any psychiatrist-prescribed medicine is usually a harmful mixture. Lexapro, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to deal with melancholy and nervousness, isn’t any exception. So whereas it is perhaps tempting to assume you may safely mix Lexapro and alcohol in small quantities, there are dangers you want to pay attention to.

Understanding the potential risks of mixing alcohol with Lexapro is essential. Right here we’re discussing a number of the dangers and providing ideas for speaking to your physician about your issues about mixing these two substances.

Can I Drink on Lexapro?

It’s necessary to notice what’s at stake once you mix Lexapro and alcohol use. Lexapro, also called escitalopram, is an antidepressant medicine that belongs to a category of medication referred to as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medicine work by rising serotonin ranges within the mind, which might enhance temper and scale back nervousness signs in a psychological well being situation.  

When mixed with alcohol, although, one can expertise severe uncomfortable side effects of Lexapro. For instance, you would possibly expertise elevated drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion. Ingesting alcohol whereas taking Lexapro can additionally enhance the danger of creating suicidal ideas or tendencies.

How a lot alcohol are you able to drink on Lexapro?

It’s not beneficial that you just drink any alcohol with Lexapro, since even small quantities can have a major impression. Nevertheless, some folks do select to devour alcohol often whereas taking Lexapro. You need to talk about this together with your physician earlier than making any choices.

What Occurs if You Drink Alcohol with Lexapro

In case you resolve to drink alcohol regardless of warnings, monitoring your self carefully for indicators of opposed reactions is necessary. Concentrate should you’re feeling extra depressed than normal or having a rise in suicidal ideas. If any uncommon signs happen, contact your healthcare supplier instantly for recommendation.

“Medicines prescribed for temper nervousness dysfunction should cross the blood-brain barrier to work. They keep within the mind circulation as nicely when alcohol is ingested. Lexapro use with alcohol causes worsening uncomfortable side effects with a rise in drowsiness, poor coordination, gait issues, elevated agitation and lack of management in addition to the opposite frequent uncomfortable side effects.”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Muhammad Munir

When mixed with alcohol, Lexapro might enhance the danger of creating extra extreme uncomfortable side effects like drowsiness or dizziness. It’s believed that is as a result of sedative impact alcohol has on the physique. As well as, there are different potential dangers related to combining these two substances.

Elevated danger of harm

Ingesting alcohol whereas taking Lexapro will increase your possibilities of getting injured. The mixture of medication in your system could cause impaired judgment or coordination.

Interactions with different drugs

Alcohol consumption can work together negatively with different drugs chances are you’ll be taking. You need to at all times speak to your physician about doable interactions between alcohol and different medicine you’re at the moment utilizing.

Dehydration and hangovers

The mixture of alcohol and Lexapro could cause dehydration which will result in hangover-like signs. You might need complications, fatigue, or nausea following ingesting when on Lexapro. This may happen even after ingesting only a small quantity of alcohol.  

The Counteracting Impact of Alcohol on Melancholy

Many individuals imagine ingesting will assist relieve signs of melancholy. Nevertheless, analysis exhibits that over time, common consumption of alcoholic drinks can worsen melancholy, not make it higher. 

It’s because long-term use of alcohol would possibly result in a lower in serotonin ranges and manufacturing, in response to some research. As an alternative of counting on alcohol consumption as a coping device, hunt down more healthy options. Strive speaking to buddies or relations who can provide assist, understanding, meditating, maintaining a healthy diet, or sleeping nicely. Self-care can provide a constructive strategy to handle your melancholy.

“Alcohol is a chemical and has completely different results when ingested. It has an preliminary impact of getting the thrill leisure. The mid-effects are the drowsy and sluggish feeling of poor coordination and response time. The later results are long-term injury to numerous organs, the liver, pancreas circulation, and the endocrine system. In addition to the impression on different methods, alcohol impacts temper and is depressant over time which additionally will increase the suicide danger with overdose issues.”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Muhammad Munir

Discuss to Your Physician About Lexapro  

It’s crucial to grasp the potential dangers of mixing Lexapro and alcohol, particularly should you’ve ever puzzled can I drink on Lexapro.

It’s at all times finest apply to seek the advice of your physician about issues relating to ingesting on medicine, particularly should you’re taking antidepressant medicine like Lexapro. Your physician will be capable to give you customized recommendation based mostly in your medical historical past and present situation. They can assist advise should you’re additionally questioning about utilizing Lexapro whereas pregnant.

At Talkspace, we perceive how difficult it may be to handle psychological well being circumstances like melancholy, significantly should you’re attempting new antidepressants like Lexapro. That’s why our licensed therapists and on-line psychiatrists can offer you customized assist tailor-made to your wants. In case you’re questioning about uncomfortable side effects or curious whether or not Celexa or Lexapro is best for you, a licensed skilled can advise. Attain out at present to be taught extra about how Talkspace can assist you.