ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND ALCOHOL: SIDE EFFECTS - ARTE - 2025

There are many people who combine antidepressants with alcohol, perhaps because they do not know the consequences that they can have for their body. 15% of people with affective disorders (such as depression) are dependent on alcohol.

It is not strange, since when someone suffers from symptoms of apathy and deep sadness they tend to use alcohol as an escape route to feel better. Another typical sign of depression is insomnia; Some people with depression may try to alleviate it with alcohol, since it has relaxing and sleeping effects.

If they also start taking antidepressants, they may not give up their addiction to alcoholic beverages and combine all the substances at once.

The exact effects of the mixture of alcohol and antidepressants are not really known with absolute certainty. Some experts say that if you consume alcohol in excess and then restrict yourself, withdrawal syndrome occurs.

This syndrome is characterized by a series of symptoms very similar to those of depression, and if we add it to the fact that the individual is depressed, the results can be devastating.

Likewise, alcohol intoxication itself can cause, after euphoria and relaxation, feelings associated with depression. Therefore, according to experts, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol whether you have depression or have already started antidepressant treatment.

Interaction between alcohol and antidepressants

The exact interaction between alcohol and antidepressants is not known. Also because it can depend on the amount of alcohol that is consumed or the type of antidepressants that are used.

For example, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants raise levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter in our nervous system that is associated with feelings of well-being.

This is because depression is linked to low serotonin levels. If you want to know more about this topic, you can visit "Low serotonin: How does it affect depression?"

These antidepressants work by preventing serotonin from being reabsorbed by the nerve cells that secrete it, thereby increasing the available level of this substance.

On the other hand, alcohol also increases serotonin levels, but only temporarily. If a person takes antidepressants and alcohol, they are at risk of having too much serotonin in their brain; appearing serotonin syndrome.

This is characterized by restlessness, agitation, high blood pressure, muscle spasms, and diarrhea. In the most severe cases, it can be life-threatening.

However, if alcohol consumption is chronic and prolonged, it can lead to low levels of serotonin. This happens because our body is dynamic and tends to adapt to psychoactive substances, a phenomenon called habituation.

Thus, when you get used to alcohol, depressive symptoms appear because the available serotonin decreases. If antidepressants are also taken, the result will be that they will have no effect on our nervous system.

Side effects of combining alcohol and antidepressants

You may feel more depressed or anxious

Consuming alcohol can counteract the beneficial effects of antidepressants, making it more difficult to treat symptoms.

Despite the general belief that alcohol seems to improve our mood, this effect is only short-term. The result that is generally obtained is an increase in the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Side effects can be worse if you also take another medication

Many medications can cause problems when taken with alcohol, this includes anti-anxiety medications, sleeping pills, or pain relievers.

This triple combination (antidepressants + other medications + alcohol) implies an increase in the severity of side effects such as: nausea, insomnia, drowsiness, diarrhea… Even, in the worst cases, to cause liver damage, heart problems, internal bleeding or increased blood pressure.

It affects your thinking and alertness or vigilance

Alcohol is commonly known to affect coordination, thinking, and reaction times.

If you combine these two substances, these effects will be amplified to a greater extent than if you only consume alcohol, implying more risks or making it more difficult to perform tasks that require attention, concentration and precision.

For example, if you operate heavy machinery and your reaction and coordination times are affected, you are more likely to have an accident or put the people around you at risk.

May have sedative effects

Some antidepressants cause drowsiness, just as alcohol is known to have the same effect. Therefore, when both substances are taken together they can intensify this effect, the risks being much greater.

For example, if you drive, there is a greater risk of you having a car accident. This occurs when you lose focus, concentration, and precision due to sedative effects. Many accidents occur when the driver inadvertently falls asleep due to the combination of these substances.

Death risk

In the worst case, this combination can cause death. Drinking alcohol can lead to a temporary rise in serotonin.

If you also take antidepressants (whose effect is that there is more serotonin in the brain), the result you get is an excessive level of serotonin. This can cause the serotonin syndrome or serotonin syndrome, already mentioned.

The most serious symptoms of this syndrome are high fever, epileptic seizures, irregular heartbeat and unconsciousness, which can cause death.

On the other hand, a study by Cheeta et al. (2004) found that the combination of alcohol and antidepressants increases the probability of death. This is because the intoxication produced by the mixture of both increases suicidal behaviors (violent behavior, mania and aggression).

First, antidepressant medications have such behaviors as a side effect. It happens that, in a state of depression, patients have suicidal ideas, but do not dare to carry them out due to their immense apathy.

However, antidepressants take you out of that state, making you feel more active. For this reason it is important to go to psychological therapy when taking antidepressants.

Therefore, this side effect of antidepressants together with the typical disinhibiting effect of alcohol (such as euphoria, false self-confidence…), makes it easier for the person to "dare" to commit suicide or to carry out self-injurious behaviors.

In fact, these same authors point out that 80% of deaths caused by antidepressants were suicides.

Treatment of alcoholism in patients taking antidepressants

Depression and alcoholism have an important link. In alcoholic patients there is usually a high incidence of depressive syndromes, as well as, people with depression tend to use alcohol and other drugs as a therapeutic remedy. So it is not surprising that they become addicted.

When there is depression and an addiction to alcohol or other drugs at the same time, it is called dual pathology. In many detoxification or drug rehabilitation clinics, therapies are carried out that treat both problems together for a comprehensive recovery of the person.

Therefore, a total alcohol detoxification process, without substitutes, is recommended in these cases.

Once the period of cessation is over, little by little different aspects of the person will be worked on to strengthen their coping capacities such as social skills, combat phobias, increase their self-esteem, etc.

At this time it will be necessary to strictly follow the medication with antidepressants indicated by the professional.

In these patients, group therapy, intervention with relatives and couples, as well as individual cognitive-behavioral therapy are also often used.

Conclusions

Due to the dangerous consequences derived from the simultaneous consumption of these two substances (or combined with other medications), it is advisable to consult with a health specialist about the side effects of antidepressants.

Before a treatment with this type of medication, it is important that the specialist takes into account whether or not other medications are consumed, the medical history, or whether there is an addiction to alcohol or not.

Depending on each case and the type of antidepressants or their dose level, the doctor may occasionally allow the consumption of alcohol in low doses or restrict it completely.

On the other hand, it is convenient to read the drug leaflets to know the effects that they can produce and in which cases they can be consumed, as well as to consult all the doubts with the specialized doctor.

References

1. Alcohol and Medication Interactions. (sf). Retrieved on November 8, 2016, from WebMD.
2. Baulkman, J. (April 26, 2016). Drinking Alcohol While Taking Antidepressants Could Exacerbate Depression, Increase Drug's Side Effects. Obtained from Medical Daily.
3. Carter, A. (July 29, 2016). The Effects of Mixing Lexapro and Alcohol. Obtained from Healthline.
4. Ochoa, E. (nd). Depression and anxiety in alcohol dependence. Retrieved on November 8, 2016, from Dual Pathology.
5. Rubio Pinalla, P., Giner Ubago J., Fernández Osuna, FJ (1996). Antidepressant treatment in alcoholic patients in the cessation phase. Intus: Journal of the Department of Medical Psychology and Psychiatry and the History of Medicine UD, 7 (1): 125-142.
6. Tracy, N. (nd). Antidepressants and Alcohol Don't Mix. Retrieved on November 8, 2016, from Healthyplace.