Antidepressants and Alcohol – Mixed Feelings You’d Better Avoid Antidepressants and Alcohol – Mixed Feelings You’d Better Avoid

Antidepressants and alcohol are two opposite things. Alcohol is considered a depressant, which is able to cheer up, accelerate the heart rate, increase blood pressure, forcing the person to be active. It is much stronger than various antibiotics, including antidepressants. Simultaneous use of antidepressants and alcohol minimizes the effect of different drugs. In some cases, you may experience an unexpected reaction of the particular components of pills and alcohol, and then the body can react unexpectedly – good mood or hospitalization and even coma.

Antidepressants are most often used to resolve such problems as depression, melancholy or irritability, sleeping or eating disorders, difficulty with concentration or memory, fatigue and lack of energy, nervousness, tension, and anxiety. Depression is a serious and widespread disease that can lead to disability. However, over time, the depressed person feels better. Depression usually occurs because of various life stresses – changes in family and marriage, difficulties at work, change of the living place and more. It can also be associated with health problems or with the presence of a chronic somatic disease, which is accompanied by acute pain. All these life stresses and problems can lead to neurotransmitter imbalances in the nervous system. As a result, symptoms occur such as sleeping problems, loss of appetite, lack of energy, difficulty with concentration and chronic pain. Antidepressants can restore the normal balance of chemicals and ease some of these symptoms.

When alcohol is an antagonist of the cure

Antidepressants are drugs that destroy monoamines in the body. These biological substances influence the mood and body. These include epinephrine, melatonin, serotonin, dopamine, and histamine. Alcohol also enhances the effect of monoamine and neutralizes an antidepressant. Simultaneous use of them is strictly prohibited. But it is important to mention that in some cases alcohol can accelerate the action of the drug – removes discomfort and soothes.

Interaction of antibiotics and alcohol is described below. Alcohol can reduce or increase the effect of pills, alter the nature of the drug, as well as neutralize the effect of pills. Today, the problem of antidepressants and alcohol has not been fully studied, so it is quite difficult to say exactly what the reaction will be after use of certain spirits in conjunction with antidepressants. This reaction depends on many different factors: individual characteristics of the organism, the type of antidepressants and alcohol, the amount of consumed alcohol, and summer or winter.

Before breaking the rules, try to observe them

Some doctors allow patients suffering from depression drink alcohol. But in this case, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules. First of all, mixing alcohol with antidepressants is possible only with a doctor’s permission, and only those types that the doctor allows. Since the beginning of the treatment, a minimum of 2 weeks must pass, so that the body has had time to get used to the pills and their effect. Consuming alcohol can be no more than once every two weeks, and only in small doses (less than 40 g). Besides, you can‘t drink the entire dose at once, you should drink for some period of time

If the patient fails to follow the rules of the use of alcoholic beverages, and the treatment suffers, then it is better to refuse from alcohol. The main feature of antidepressants is that treatment with these drugs must be continuous, otherwise, the process of treatment may be ineffective. And if you consume alcohol, the treatment is considered to be violated. In order to restart treatment after consuming alcohol, it is necessary to stop taking antidepressants for about 2 weeks, and it may affect the psychological state of a person, provoke headaches and unpleasant thoughts. But also, liver and kidneys should be cleaned in order to prepare the body for the resumption of treatment.

Related: Antidepressants – What should I know about them

Antidepressants and alcohol: Possible consequences

It goes without saying that it is always better to avoid mixing alcohol with any medications that have an impact on the nervous system. Combining alcohol with antidepressants can worsen the condition of the patient, and sometimes lead to terrible consequences. There are several potential consequences of such a combination.

After consuming alcohol depression, which is treated with certain medications, can significantly get worse. Alcohol interferes with medicines and affects the course of the disease. In some cases, people suffering from mental disorders may feel emotional lift after drinking alcohol, but this effect is short after the euphoria depression always gets worse. In no case, you should not drink alcohol in order to beat depression because it can lead to the treatment of alcoholism. Furthermore, the combination of alcohol and various depressants adversely affects reactions and the mental process. In some cases, there is a strong hypnotic effect and retardation, it is extremely dangerous to those who drive or work in conditions where attention and reaction are required. Also, it is important to note that side effects of antidepressants play a crucial role. Many drugs in combination with alcohol are considered as poison for the body. The combination of MAO inhibitors (phenelzine, isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine, etc.) with alcohol is the most dangerous. These drugs and alcohol cause high blood pressure, which leads to stroke or other complications. If MAO inhibitors have been prescribed, you should consult a doctor, he will tell you what you should eat – while taking these drugs, even food can be dangerous.

According to various researches, people suffering from various depressive disorders are at high risk to develop alcoholism. It is not necessary to stop taking the antidepressants in order to have the opportunity to consume alcohol. If you expect the treatment to be correct and effective you should take antidepressants regularly, according to the regime. Even a short break can ruin all the results of treatment. You should remember that while suffering from mental disorders drug abuse is unacceptable, it only makes the situation worse. If there is an important reason to drink, you should speak with your doctor. He may allow you a small dose of alcohol in some cases. But do not forget to tell about your health condition and what medicines and dietary supplements you are taking. References

1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/antidepressants-and-alcohol/faq-20058231

2. http://www.pdrhealth.com/antidepressants/alcohol-and-antidepressants

3. http://www.healthyplace.com/depression/antidepressants/antidepressants-and-alcohol-dont-mix/

Additional:

4. https://rethinkingbipolar.com/2012/03/17/do-ssri-drugs-cause-some-people-to-drink-more-alcohol/

5. http://ahangoverfreelife.com/2014/02/10/alcohol-and-depression/

6. http://www.nationalelfservice.net/mental-health/depression/depression-in-patients-with-alcohol-use-disorders/

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