FAQ:Depression 101/Alcohol and Medicine

Depression 101: Alcohol and Medicine

Can I drink alcohol while taking antidepressants?

Answered by:

Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Mixing antidepressants with alcohol is a very dangerous combination. There are a number of ways alcohol reacts with antidepressants:

Antidepressants may make you especially susceptible to the intoxicating effects of alcohol.
Alcohol acts a depressant, so by drinking it, you could counteract effects of your medication and lessen their benefit.
Alcohol can prevent antidepressants from being effective. it is because of the effects of alcohol upon brain chemistry.
Both alcohol and some antidepressants, especially bupropion (Wellbutrin), increase the possibility of seizures.
Some antidepressants cause drowsiness, and so does alcohol. Mixing the two could make you sleepy, which is dangerous in situations where you need to be alert, such as driving, or at work.
Studies have proved that even social drinking may impair your ability to react quickly and remain alert while driving, even hours after consuming a single alcoholic drink.
Finally, if you are taking an antidepressant that is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), mixing it with alcohol can be very dangerous. The combination can cause a dangerous spike in blood pressure, leading to a stroke.
If you are determined to drink despite taking antidepressants, you should discuss the matter with your psychiatrist.

Dr. Padder is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is currently medical director of two mental health clinics in Columbia, Maryland, and a consulting psychiatrist at Howard County General Hopsital, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Write to Dr. Padder at tanveerpadder@gmail.com.

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