The Hope House, a luxury addiction treatment center in Scottsdale, Arizona, is committed to assisting individuals in their fight against addiction. We offer personalized treatment programs, including a dual diagnosis program, to support individuals in overcoming Lexapro and alcohol addiction. Don’t hesitate to call The Hope House to get the professional help and guidance needed for a successful recovery journey. In conclusion, while alcohol may initially provide relaxation and lowered inhibitions, excessive and long-term alcohol consumption can have severe consequences on the body. From liver damage to cardiovascular problems, the effects of alcohol can be far-reaching. It is important to be aware of the potential risks and to consume alcohol in moderation, if at all.
Understanding the Effects of Lexapro on Mental Health
- Depression remains one of the most common psychiatric illnesses of all time.
- When considering the combination of alcohol and Lexapro, medical professionals generally advise caution.
- People who drink alcohol while taking Lexapro may feel more depressed or anxious, and these symptoms may then become more challenging to treat.
- It works by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which can improve mood and reduce anxiety.
- Lexapro may cause insomnia or vivid dreams, while alcohol can disrupt the normal sleep cycle and lead to poor sleep quality.
But if depression is interfering with your daily life, make an appointment to see your doctor. Since Lexapro has a half-life of hours, a regular dose of Lexapro will leave your body after a little more than six days. Additionally, research links alcohol use and increased rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts. Lexapro and other SSRIs block serotonin from being reabsorbed by the brain after it’s been used. The study was funded by the National Public Health Institute, the Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Research. Furthermore, predictors of treatment response by medication were analyzed with multiple linear regression analyses by adjusting for the baseline OCDS and AUDIT scores.
The Importance of Consulting a Healthcare Professional
Combining other substances, such as Lexapro and alcohol, worsens the situation that patients have with their mental health. Transcend Recovery Community is here to shed light and help you with everything there is about this condition and what to do to get better. Once you stop taking Lexapro, it’s safe to drink alcohol after the medication is no longer affecting your thoughts and behavior. Antidepressants in particular can interact with alcohol, so it’s important to talk honestly with your healthcare provider about your drinking if they suggest you begin taking Lexapro. When considering a medication that you will use long-term, it’s important to think about your lifestyle, including if you drink alcohol.
Medical Advice and Recommendations; Alcohol and Lexapro
It is a depressant that slows down brain activity and impairs cognitive and motor functions. If you suspect that you sober house or someone around you is developing serotonin syndrome, seek emergency help, as the condition can quickly progress to become life-threatening. Always consult with your doctor beforehand to see whether drinking while taking Lexapro is safe for you. If you feel drowsy, dizzy, and less alert on Lexapro alone, you will likely not be able to tolerate the combined effects of alcohol. It is not recommended to drink alcohol while taking Lexapro or other SSRIs. The danger of alcohol may also be greater depending on the dosage you take.
Lifestyle Quizzes
Located in New Hampshire, Liberty Health Services offers exceptional medical detox and customized addiction treatment for individuals throughout New England. Our supportive environment and experienced team are dedicated to helping you start your path to long-term wellness and recovery. Medications like Xanax (alprazolam), which are often prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders, can have their own set of risks when combined with alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking Lexapro may worsen the medication’s side effects, such as drowsiness and dizziness. The sedative properties of both substances can intensify, leading to increased drowsiness, decreased alertness, and impaired coordination.
However, this self-medication approach is not recommended and can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental well-being. While the short-term effects of alcohol are concerning, the long-term effects can be even more detrimental. https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview Long-term alcohol abuse can have serious consequences on both physical and mental health. For example, chronic alcohol use can lead to cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and an increased risk of stroke.
Efficacy of Lexapro While Drinking Alcohol
The answer is yes, according to a recent case study in the CMAJ of a 52-year-old woman who developed severe alcohol use disorder after taking escitalopram for depression and anxiety. It is a comparative study of two medications and is limited by the absence of a placebo group. Both treatment groups improved significantly and a placebo-effect could be significant in both groups, as has been observed in earlier studies 52. Spontaneous recovery and intermittent periods of lower alcohol intake are of typical in alcohol dependence 54,55. Detoxification and a certain period of abstinence could influence the results. For example, alcohol is a depressant, and although it may offer short-term relief from depressive symptoms, it might make depression worse over time.
For those in need of guidance and support in addressing alcohol dependency, our Alcohol Addiction Treatment Page offers valuable resources and information. She experienced increasing issues with depression and anxiety due to forced social isolation during the covid pandemic and was prescribed escitalopram. Her dose increased from 5mg/day to 20mg/day over a six-month period, without improvements in mood.
If you’re at low risk of alcohol misuse and want to have a drink once in a while, it might be OK. Anyone who wishes to drink alcohol while taking Lexapro or any other medication should speak to their doctor first. Developing alcohol use disorder can affect a person’s relationships and cause social problems, such as unemployment, divorce, and homelessness.
Then I’ll detail the side effects of Lexapro as well as how soon you can start drinking after going off of the medication. Had many patients with destructive habits over the years start an SSRI and then not care about the destructive behaviour and increase that behaviour. Fact is most drugs are unpredictable in outcome and need monitoring and individual tailoring.
This underscores the importance of understanding the long-term consequences of mixing alcohol with medications like Lexapro. How amazing-millions of people’s alcohol consumption went UP during covid and then DECREASED after it finished, and yet their antidepressant dosages did not change at all during that time. Perhaps Covid stress had something to do with it as well- I have yet to meet anyone unscathed ( in Victoria anyway).