Zoloft and Alcohol: Avoiding a Risky Combination
Depression medicines mixed with alcohol may increase central nervous system (CNS) side effects, like dizziness, drowsiness, confusion and trouble concentrating. Tell your doctor or mental health provider about your medical history and symptoms, as well as any alcohol, drug, or supplement use, so they can prescribe the best one for you. Tell your provider about any other medications you are taking, including over-the-counter medications and supplements, to avoid negative drug interactions.
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If you’re concerned about your alcohol use, you may benefit from substance abuse counseling and treatment programs that can help you overcome your misuse of alcohol. Joining a support group or a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous may help. Combining the two can make you feel very drowsy, which can be dangerous. A case study reported that people who took Zoloft could experience drowsiness and sedation from the drug.
Besides reducing effectiveness, alcohol can make you feel more tired, dizzy, or sick when consumed with antidepressants. Evidence suggests people living with depression often have a harder time managing alcohol use. If this is the case for you, know you have many options to get support. Alcohol can also increase the sedative effects of Zoloft, Downing says, which can worsen the above symptoms. Research has shown that combining alcohol with any antidepressant may be fatal, in some cases. This is because your liver may not be able to process all of the toxins present in your body when you combine the two.
SSRIs and alcohol were involved in each, and the results included assault, unintended sexual encounters, suicides, and even eight homicides. Limited research exists on how drinking small amounts of alcohol with Zoloft will affect you. Furthermore, mixing alcohol and Zoloft can lead to trouble reacting and what is smack drug thinking clearly.
Types of Drug Interactions With Alcohol
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- The risk of drowsiness is higher if you take larger doses of Zoloft, such as 100 milligrams (mg).
- It is not uncommon for people with depression to reach for a glass of wine or two as a way to cope, even when they are taking Zoloft or other antidepressants.
- The interaction can cause depression, which may hinder the effectiveness of an antidepressant.
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Zoloft (sertraline) is an antidepressant prescribed to help people with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. It belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Alcohol can also make a person’s anxiety and depression worse, which is why it’s beneficial to avoid drinking alcohol if you have a mental health condition. Zoloft is an SSRI what is salvia trip antidepressant used to treat symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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Both Zoloft and alcohol are central nervous system depressants, meaning that they slow or suppress brain activity. This can be dangerous, and in severe cases, it can cause slowed breathing, coma, and death. Liquid medications, such as NyQuil or other cough syrups, may also contain alcohol. Review the ingredient labels on over-the-counter (OTC) products to check for active and inactive ingredients, like alcohol.
Antidepressants and Alcohol Interactions
It is a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. Heavy drinking can even send you in a downward spiral in terms of your mental health. This is because alcohol suppresses neurological signals that can alter your ability to think and reason, so drinking can make your condition worse.
