The effects and consequences of taking antidepressants and alcohol They are rather negative. Although in principle it will depend on several factors (punctual or continuous alcohol consumption, type of antidepressant consumed and dose, etc.), it is not very convenient to make this mixture of substances due to the chemistry they generate with possible harmful reactions for our body.
Below, from Psychology-Online we will explain in a little more detail some aspects to take into account in this situation.
What happens if I take alcohol and antidepressants?
The mix of alcohol and antidepressants It can be due to several reasons:
- The person is taking antidepressants and occasionally considers drinking alcohol (at lunch or dinner, for example).
- The person is following treatment with antidepressants and the same depression leads them to frequently consume alcohol.
- The person regularly consumes alcohol (cases of “alcohol dependent syndrome”) and, since alcohol abuse generates a depressant effect, decides to take antidepressants.
In the three possible cases, the most advisable thing would be for a doctor to adequately inform us about the convenience or not of the combination of both substances. However, it is possible that this decision is made unconsciously (especially in cases 2 and 3), normally pushed by an internal discomfort that does not allow you to make responsible decisions for one’s own health.
In cases of treatment with antidepressants, personal characteristics and the type of antidepressant taken and its dose will determine the effectiveness of the treatment, the manifestation of side effects and the specific interaction that the drug has with alcohol intake. In the case of people with alcohol dependence syndrome, it is recommended, before sporadically and unconsciously consuming antidepressants, to seek professional help to solve their problem.
Interaction between alcohol and antidepressants
Both alcohol and antidepressants have, among other effects, a direct action on the serotonin secretion in our brain. La is a neurotransmitter that functions as a regulator of certain behaviors and bodily needs, favoring the effective self-regulation of the body. Depression generates a deficit in the availability of serotonin that causes imbalances in said self-regulation (sadness, loss of interest, appetite and sleep disorders, fatigue, thoughts of suicide, etc.).
Antidepressants, as their name indicates, work to counteract the effects of depression by synthesizing serotonin in the brain to restore unbalanced functions. There are different types:
- (such as imipramine and nortriptyline)
- MAOIs or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (such as tranylcypromine and phenelzine)
- SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (such as , paroxetine, and sertraline)
- SNRIs or Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine)
Currently, the most used are SSRIs and SNRIs because they produce fewer side effects.
The alcoholon the other hand, when it involves moderate consumption has an antidepressant effect while increases serotonin availability in the brain. For this reason, the interaction between antidepressants and alcohol causes an excessive increase in serotonin in the brain that manifests itself with several effects that we will discuss in the next section. On the other hand, when alcohol consumption becomes continuous and prolonged, its effect changes, generating a greater demand for serotonin in the brain and, therefore, contributing to increasing (or recurring) depressive symptoms.
In the following article you can read the .
Effects of mixing alcohol and antidepressants
As we have just mentioned, the mixture of alcohol and antidepressants contributes to unnecessarily increase serotonin levels in the brain, mainly causing:
- Alterations of the musculoskeletal system.
- Psychoorganic disorders and psychological disorders due to their effects on the body.
- Repercussions on the cardiovascular system, increasing blood pressure.
- In general, the consumption of alcohol together with antidepressants has adverse effects causing greater symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The most serious symptoms caused by the intoxication of this serotonin syndrome can be:
- High fever
- Epileptic attacks
- Irregular heartbeats
- Unconsciousness, which can cause death
Consequences of alcohol consumption and antidepressants
Taking into account everything mentioned, the consequences of consuming alcohol and antidepressants will be one or another depending on the person and the treatment and dose they are taking. However, in general, we can talk about adverse and harmful effects on health due to the chemical interaction that the mixture causes in the body: increased risk of accidents and falls, dizziness, behavioral disturbances, even overdose.
Can you take antidepressants and non-alcoholic beer?
Consulting various sources, it has not been clear to us whether the consumption of non-alcoholic beer is appropriate or not if one is undergoing antidepressant treatment. In principle, the appropriateness of its consumption will depend on several factors:
- that non-alcoholic beer does not contain any degree of alcohol (there are “without” beers with small percentages of alcohol)
- consumption should be occasional and moderate
- It will depend on personal characteristics and the type and dose of treatment, as we mentioned previously.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to What happens if you take antidepressants and alcohol?: Effects and consequenceswe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- Estruch, R. (2002). Effects of alcohol on human physiology. Addictions, Vol.14., Supl.1.
- Moreno, RA, Moreno, DH, & Soares, MBDM (1999). Psychopharmacology of antidepressants. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 21, 24-40.
- Royal College Psychiatrists (March 2007). Antidepressants. Ed. Philip Timms
- Stahl, SM, & Pérez, VS (2009). QEssential psychopharmacology/Neuroscientific bases and clinical applications (No. 159.91: 615). Ariel,