does alcohol affect the effectiveness of prozac?

Question

is it safe to drink on it - as i have been drinking but only socially

Answer 1

Alcohol decreased the depth of sleep as does prozac. So, patients taking both are often tired.

Alcohol is a depressant so, doesn't make a lot of sense to treat depression with one drug and cause it with another. However, moderate intake has no contraindication, (some sources argue that it should be contraindicated even though there is no hard evidence to suggest so)

So, it would seem that you *can* drink on it (one to two drinks seems to be the consensus), but if you can avoid it, then do.

My doctor wouldn't give me the thumbs up to drink while on antidepressants, so it is your descision. I haven't taken prozac, but have taken similar antidepressants, and had a negative reaction that I think could have been due to drinking whilst taking it.

Its your call :)

Answer 2

As far as I know there has not been any research into a correlation but from anecdotal experience I would say that in some individuals there is a correlation but I also know of some exceptions. Also remember being small in effect reduces tolerance. I am a naturally large male and drink up to about 300 units a week of alcohol if I am in a lot of pain (my pain medication is useless) I get regular liver checks and there is no sign of damage - I also have a very high tolerance to an anti=depressant that is used to treat my nerve damage. Basically usually people get 2mg or 5mg doses with 10mg being enough to sedate people. I regularly take 20mg on top of alcohol (which doubles the effect with this particular drug) for virtually no effect.

Answer 3

The general recommendation is that people who are depressed should not use or over use alcohol as it is a depressant. This is a massively undersresearched area. I am not aware of any conclusive studies that show that social drinking is a causative factor in depression. Certainly, heavy drinking can be caused by depressive illness. I am not aware of any research that shows that social drinking interferes with modern anti-depressants. Also, modern anti-depressants are less likely to be sedative and hence do not have the same complications in interaction with alcohol that older anti-depressants had.

Moderate alchol consumption is unlikely to interfere severely with the prescribed anti-depressant. It is probably important for the prescriber to know if you ar using alchol as a coping mechanism or to excess.

In summary, avoiding alcohol whilst on anti-depressants is one of those bits of 'medical knowledge' which is not securely evidence based.

As a practitioner I was never too concerned if people were maintaining their previous and healthy levels of alcohol intake. I was more concerned that asking people to give up a social prop at the worst possible moment was more detrimental to their mental health.

Answer 4

Alcohol destroys the neurotransmitters that Prozac is trying to raise. It should not harm you as in any nasty side effects, unless it is excessive drinking. You may as well quit prozac if you plan to drink all the time. It is just wasted money then. You should not be drinking on it at all.

Answer 5

Alcohol is a depressant drug itself and should be avoided when you are depressed whether being treated or not. It can increase the symptoms! It will counteract the effects of any anti-depressant, and increase any sedative effect that the drug has.
Always read instructions on bottles and leaflets as mixing some drugs can have serious side effects.
If in any doubt avoid drinking and stay safe!

Answer 6

I have never heard of prozac, but if it is a drug, then it isn't good to drink on it since alcohol increases the effect of any drug with which it is taken.

Answer 7

Unfortunately it is not safe to drink alcohol when on Prozac. I would be careful if I was you.

Answer 8

Well YEAH! Alcohol is a depressant - Prozac an anti-depressant.

You can only do more harm to yourself and state of mind by combining the two

Answer 9

it not good to drink on it