This is particularly concerning for individuals who are already struggling with depression or anxiety, as it can exacerbate their symptoms and make it harder for them to cope. On one hand, combining Lexapro and alcohol can intensify the sedative effects of both substances. This can lead to increased drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired coordination.
Lexapro is a brand-name drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Healthcare providers may also prescribe it off-label for other mental health conditions, including social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. While SSRIs generally have fewer side effects than other types of antidepressants, that doesn’t make it less dangerous to mix with alcohol or other substances. It’s important to note what’s at stake when you combine Lexapro and alcohol use. Lexapro, also known as escitalopram, is an antidepressant medication that belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
What Is Lexapro (Escitalopram)?
In some studies SSRIs were found even to be worse than placebo [22,23] especially when treating early onset (Type B, Type II) subtypes of alcoholics [24,25]. Treatment with SSRIs for alcohol dependence with co-morbid major depressive disorder (MDD), however, has generally produced positive results [11,12,26]. Escitalopram, https://en.forexpamm.info/how-long-does-covid-19-brain-fog-last/ the S-enantiomer of citalopram, is the most selective of the SSRI antidepressants [27]. 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.
Recent data shows that chronic alcohol use can worsen the symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. This may be because alcohol acts as a depressant and can disrupt the delicate balance of chemicals in the brain. It has been proposed that SSRIs are most beneficial for the treatment of alcohol dependence [17,18]. Some studies supported the efficacy of zimilidine and citalopram in alcoholics [18-20]. In alcoholism without depression, SSRIs have shown positive results in cases of less severe drinking [5,21].
Alcohol and Mental Health Disorders
Having high blood cholesterol can put you at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. If your cholesterol or triglyceride levels are high, your provider may suggest lifestyle changes or prescribe medication to help bring these levels down. This can result in impaired coordination, slurred speech, and slower reaction times.
- Many people feel having a drink can help take the edge off in certain situations, such as after a hectic day at work or at a social gathering.
- SSRIs are a very commonly prescribed medication for the treatment of depression and anxiety.
- Individuals with higher physical dependence are also at risk for more severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
- Long-term alcohol abuse can have serious consequences on both physical and mental health.
- For example, you might experience increased drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion.
Additionally, anxiety and depression can worsen when using alcohol and Lexapro together. This is because alcohol can lower the ability of Lexapro to treat the symptoms you are taking the drug for. As a result, it is best to avoid alcohol to ensure that Lexapro is working to its fullest potential. No test can measure serotonin levels in the brain, and it can be difficult to determine whether the symptoms are causing a deficiency, or a deficiency is causing the symptoms. In addition to reducing the effects of your medication, continued alcohol use can also cause further changes to your brain chemistry, having lasting effects on your mental health. If you are taking an antidepressant and another prescription medication simultaneously, alcohol can make the side effects of both medications more severe.
The Dangers of Combining Lexapro and Alcohol
To achieve that initial feeling of reward, you may increase the amount you consume. If you suspect that you or someone around you is developing serotonin syndrome, seek emergency help, as the condition can quickly progress to become life-threatening. Lexapro and alcohol have dehydrating properties, which may lead to symptoms similar to a hangover. Some of these alcohol and Lexapro hangover symptoms include headaches, nausea, and fatigue, which may occur even after having a small amount of alcohol. Both substances affect the central nervous system, and their combined use can have serious consequences.
The recording of alcohol consumption during the 26-week treatment period was done with a personal drinking diary for all days, including abstinent days [49]. The lifetime prevalence of alcohol dependence as well as co-morbidity with depressive disorders is high. For example, the lifetime prevalence of alcoholism was 5.4% in the United States among individuals over the age of 18 years according to the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R)[1]. Among these alcohol-dependent patients, co-morbidity with depressive disorders was 24.3% in men and 48.5% in women [2]. Alcohol-dependent patients who are co-morbid for major depressive disorder (MDD) constitute a patient group whose pharmaceutical treatment has been particularly difficult [3]. Alcohol dependence comorbid with major depressive disorder poses a major challenge in the clinical setting.
Long-Term Effects Of Mixing Alcohol And Lexapro
Doing so can potentially cause serious side effects, such as drowsiness and increased anxiety. Normally, excitatory neurotransmitters and inhibitory Mortality and life expectancy of people with alcohol use disorder in Denmark, Finland and Sweden PMC neurotransmitters are somewhat balanced in the brain. Alcohol consumption, however, creates an imbalance in the brain’s neurotransmitters.
- Joining a support group or a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous may help.
- I saw my retired GP in Asda recently and he asked me if I was back in Nursing.
- People with six or more symptoms mentioned above may suffer from severe forms of depression.
- This could all have been avoided if there had been proper warnings in place and effective communications between different authorities.
- Individuals may feel pressured to drink alcohol in social situations, leading them to disregard the potential risks and interactions with their medication.
- Each rehab facility will be different, but most tend to focus on a particular form of treatment and integrate other therapies to provide a comprehensive approach to recovery.
Doctors recommend that people who wish to drink alcohol while taking antidepressants should drink slowly and have the alcohol with food. If you are trying to change or stop your medication to be able to drink, this may be a sign of an alcohol use disorder. Once you stop taking Lexapro, it’s safe to drink alcohol after the medication is no longer affecting your thoughts and behavior. This can help people regulate their emotions and improve overall symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Alcoholics Resource Center
We believe that a direct comparison of memantine, with the commonly used escitalopram, can provide useful information for clinicians on the treatment of alcohol dependency co-morbid with MDD. Results shall lead to a better understanding of the induction of craving in VR cue exposure as well as the link between subjective and physiological parameters. This could offer new diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives, e.g., providing a basis for future biofeedback training in VR exposure therapy. As regards the direct benefit for patients, the VR experience in this study and future VR application can be an individually tailored tool to identify high-risk situations and practice coping skills.