Anti-depressants and Alcohol

[Tele2047]

So my girlfriend's on anti-depressants as of a couple weeks ago, and I see that you're not supposed to drink alcohol when you're on them. Now I'm not one to disobey doctor's orders, but I'm curious... has anyone had alcohol while on anti-depressants and can tell me what happens?

 

[Lucky Girl]

.....

 

[eudaemonia]

Alcohol tends to negate what the Rx is trying to do, be it treat depression or anxiety disorders. An occassional glass of wine is generally fine. But I noticed when I was on Effexor XR (for GAD), that more than a glass or so of wine made me waaaay anxious. Not good. And at $120 for a month's supply that makes for very expensive urine.

 

[M's girl]

So my girlfriend's on anti-depressants as of a couple weeks ago, and I see that you're not supposed to drink alcohol when you're on them. Now I'm not one to disobey doctor's orders, but I'm curious... has anyone had alcohol while on anti-depressants and can tell me what happens?

Never combined the two myself but I've seen people (who were on anti-depressants) drink too much and that was not pretty (hell, it's never pretty if someone is too drunk to stand on their own two feet and behaving nasty but medicine with alcohol combined just makes it go quicker).

 

[didijune48]

Let me tell you something from my own experience.

If you want her to die, ok, get a lot of bouse!

My lungs collapsed because I mixed alcohol and antidepressants and just at the moment I was starting to feel a bit better of my depression! I spent 1 week on a respiratory machine in ICU! They told everybody I would never make it and die which happens in 55% of the cases.

We were at a dinner with familly and I just had 1 bottle of wine! That's all it took me! So, please, be smart! Don't play with someones life!

 

[SolidState]

No alcohol with these drugs. Bad juju. Seriously fucking up brain chemistry you're attempting to fix.

 

[The Gimp]

Mixing alcohol with mind altering medication does two things.

First off it negates the effect of the drug. They don't exactly cancel each other out, but a person who drinks regularly will most likely have to take a higher dose of the medication to get the same effect.

Secondly, the mixing the drugs with alcohol intensifies the effect of the alcohol. Maybe you'll end up with a better buzz or maybe you'll black out and wake up on the wrong end of a felony. I've done both.

 

[JennyOmanHill]

Not a good idea

I've been on antidepressants and antianxiety meds for years now (different kinds, different doses).

Depending on a person's system, alcohol either intensifies or decreases the effects of the meds.

I used to drink mixed drinks earlier in my life, but now I usually consume beer. Beer doesn't effect me as much, but my doctors have warned me about not letting it get too out of hand.

My results seem to be I feel less anxious, but wind up more "down" in the long-run.

If your girlfriend is just beginning with these meds, she really should be very careful. It is common for meds to be changed and/or regulated to see if they are actually doing any good. So it would be best for her to be "settled" with her med routines before she "gambles" mixing drugs and drink.

Good luck.

 

[naughtygirl69s]

Let me tell you something from my own experience.

If you want her to die, ok, get a lot of bouse!

My lungs collapsed because I mixed alcohol and antidepressants and just at the moment I was starting to feel a bit better of my depression! I spent 1 week on a respiratory machine in ICU! They told everybody I would never make it and die which happens in 55% of the cases.

We were at a dinner with familly and I just had 1 bottle of wine! That's all it took me! So, please, be smart! Don't play with someones life!

I seriously doubt taking anti-depressants and drinking wine caused your lungs to collapse....

 

[didijune48]

I seriously doubt taking anti-depressants and drinking wine caused your lungs to collapse....

Well, beleive me! It is a true story sadly! It really happened to me in 1999. That's the reason the doctors told me.

 

[PhxPlay4n6]

This was a major concern for me after going on Wellbutrin because I'm now a social drinker, but it's all about what your body can handle. I basically only drink beer because I know it's a slow buzz for me. I can take a shot here or there along with the beer, but I would never go out and start hitting one shot after another or drinking Jack and Coke or anything that I know hits me quickly.

The main concern with Wellbutrin is seizure from drinking alcohol, but the same warning is on there for caffeine. Everyone is different. Seems to be getting drunk quickly and heavily would be the worst recipe for seizure, so I avoid that, and so far in 2 years of being on 300XL, I haven't had a problem. *knocks on wood desk* And yes, the medicine has helped tremendously. 2 years ago, I would have been scared to death to walk into a bar and actually socialize with people.

 

[didijune48]

This was a major concern for me after going on Wellbutrin because I'm now a social drinker, but it's all about what your body can handle. I basically only drink beer because I know it's a slow buzz for me. I can take a shot here or there along with the beer, but I would never go out and start hitting one shot after another or drinking Jack and Coke or anything that I know hits me quickly.

The main concern with Wellbutrin is seizure from drinking alcohol, but the same warning is on there for caffeine. Everyone is different. Seems to be getting drunk quickly and heavily would be the worst recipe for seizure, so I avoid that, and so far in 2 years of being on 300XL, I haven't had a problem. *knocks on wood desk* And yes, the medicine has helped tremendously. 2 years ago, I would have been scared to death to walk into a bar and actually socialize with people.

Yes, I guess it is a matter of what each person limit is.

I was on Effexor. I have to say I was on a massive dose because my depression was not showing any sign of getting better. When I started to feel better, they didn't want to cut the doses because they were worry I would relapse. I was on depression since 3 years!
That night I was feeling better and I was with all my familly. When we got back home, my husband went to bed and I said: "I'll be right there, just taking my medication"

When he realized I was not coming upstairs, he came down to see why and found me on the couch unconscious and not breathing. He called the ambulance and I was lucky they were enought close to be there before I suffer some lack of oxygen! They said I might have regurgitate in my lungs because of the medication. Anyways, I don't wish that experience to nobody!

I finally do well today without any medication and I pray for that to continue!