on meds now

It probably isn't. I remember being on Zoloft several years ago and I had three quarters of a cooler and felt as if I had mixed several drinks, drunk and nauseated-as if I'd had six or seven..

Then again I am female and I probably weighed less than you. Still... drugs can't seem to really work if you're drinking. Antidepressants=a boost, Alcohol=depressant... it's a bit counterintuitive... Sorry to hear about that. But it will most likely make it harder for the drugs to carry out their purpose and you might feel a drop in mood for several days after as a result. At least, I remember doing so.

 

Bad idea. And not just because "drinking is bad."

Some studies indicate that alchohol has the effect of increasing the rate at which serotonin is released. SSRI's like Zoloft inhibit the re-uptake of serotonin. The results can be unpredictable. In RaeofLite's case, one drink felt like several. Moreover, extremely high levels of serotonin (from excessive drinking) could produce confusion or manic behaviors which may include suicidal thoughts or actions.

 

I don't know about Zoloft (what your on) but i do know that Wellbutrin which i used to take could cause grand mal seizures when taken with alcohol, but wellbutrin was a norepenephrine reputake inhibitor, where as zoloft is an SSRI. There both antidepressants but a whole different class of drug, so my recommendation would be to ask your pharmacist next time you get it filled they will be happy to answer your question and they know the RIGHT answer.

 

I think what Spectre meant was that if you don't have confusion or manic (anxious, uppidy feelings) already, then you'll have them afater mixing your meds and alcohol. And if you do, then there's a chance you'll feel confused(mental processing will be slower and clouded) and there may be another dip in depression because serotonin (the happy mood regulating chemical) will slow down its creation of feel good feelings after you stop drinking. And this will mess things up.

I've heard of several friends who've been on meds and they said that their doctor's told them to abstain or seriously cut back on drinking.

 

Correct. Just because someone is on an antidepressants does not necessarily mean they are confused or manic. But the combination of alchohol and SSRI's could lead to high levels of serotonin in the brain, which can have adverse effects such as mania. And this can create a mixed episode (depression and mania simultaneously) in which there is an increased probability of suicide.

As far as your liver goes, both alcohol and Zoloft are metabolized in the liver, and taking both can stress it.

 

There's not a specific contraindication to the use of Zoloft and alcohol. The drug has been tested in alcoholics to reduce craving for alcohol, so the drug has been used to treat people who consume alcohol on a regular basis.

However... I have to question the logic of drinking for someone who is depressed enough to take an antidepressant.

Alcohol is a mood-altering substance. For a lot of people, it makes for a great mood when you're drinking it and for a pretty shitty mood the day-after. If you're depressed, why would you want to take a substance that is going to make you have ups and downs in your mood?

It's kind of like asking if there's an interaction between Krispy Kreme donuts and insulin. The two things aren't going to have an adverse reaction but it just seems illogical- if you're diabetic, shouldn't you skip the donuts to begin with?

 

Rather off topic, but how much has it "worked" ?

 

I was on Sertraline this time last year. I was incredibly cautious when I started drinking again whilst on it as I hadn't drunk for a few months beforehand, I can be a lightweight and get sick easily, and I didn't know what to expect with the sertraline in my system.The first night out drinking on it I took it easy enough and had the best time I had had in months! Mixing alcohol with the sertraline didn't seem to be any different than just being drunk and really, really happy.

The only problem I had with mixing sertraline and alcohol was that I had 0 inhibitions, I could have only two drinks in me, barely drunk, but it would be enough to throw out my usual timid, cautious nature altogether which never ever happened to me before so it was definetly because of the sertraline.

Hangovers were killer, emotionally moreso than physically, so for your own sake do no drink too much or too often, good luck!

 

This could explain a lot in my case.

 

Well, speaking from my 2 year expreance with zoloft, while it initally helped me over come my panic attacks (the main reason my doctor put me on it in the first place), the overall bad side effect for me was it killed any chance of me "getting my rocks off" (for lack of a better word), it didn't matter if I was alone or with my boyfriend. :icon_sad: I finally just decided I was better off not taking the medication at all.

 

I'm not sure I understand what the "little something" you were planning was. Because I haven't found many activities that can't be performed alcohol-less. Was it just "we were gonna get a bottle of Jager and have a good time"?

Lex

 

How long did it take for the medicine to start working?

 

My interest in Abnormal Psych has nothing to do with that question. I also don't see how I'm treating you as a "case study" when all I did was ask you a question.

I asked you that question because it usually takes 3-4 weeks for SSRI's to build up in one's body and start working properly; you reported that it started working after about 2.

 

You or the health care professional?