Can You Drink on Prozac?

Many people use anti-depressants like Prozac for mental health issues, but when you have an AUD and combine use these substances, it will bring many health issues such as alcohol poisoning. Both substances will act in the opposite way to the other.  It is never your fault, and neither is it something that cannot be reversed. You can always get rehabilitation and receive alcohol detox or residential treatment from The Haven Detox. 

Normal daily doses of Prozac range from 10 mg to 80 mg. Doctors also need a complete history of your health because there may be dangerous side effects. Prozac is a kind of medication classified among selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). 

Even if you take medicine as prescribed, you may still experience side effects (at the correct dose and by itself). Clinical experts say that a slow metabolism makes treatment more likely to cause harmful side effects. See a doctor immediately if these symptoms don’t go away or worsen. 

The serious side effects of using too much Prozac include the following:

• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Not being able to stay awake or go to sleep
• Heartburn
• Increased sweating
• The heart rate increases
• Suicidal thoughts

What Happens When You Drink on Prozac?

Even though it seems apparent that you shouldn’t mix antidepressants and depressants, many people still do. Alcohol and other drugs that make you sleepy slow down and block some brain signals and transmissions. The side effects of drinking on Prozac on the brain are like being tired, losing your balance, and not being able to move as well as you should.

Long-term Effects of Drinking on Prozac

Even though there isn’t much evidence from research and studies, there may be long-term effects of drinking while taking Prozac. If you drink and take Prozac, the results may worsen. Note these pieces of medical advice often given by treatment professionals:

• It takes a long time for Prozac to work, and alcohol may stop it from working. 
• While on Prozac, you should talk to your doctor about how much alcohol you drink.
• While taking fluoxetine, your doctor may tell you not to drink alcohol at all,

Your physician may tell you that you can drink alcohol sometimes. Don’t forget that you should always do what your doctor tells you to do. If you think you might be addicted to alcohol, the first step to getting better is to stop drinking. But doing it at home is not recommended. Withdrawing from alcohol can be painful and even dangerous, especially if the body is dependent on the drug.

Under the supervision of a doctor, detoxification programs give you the medical help you need to stop drinking safely and pleasantly. Also, these programs give people a place to go through detox without being pushed to drink or use drugs. 

Partial hospitalization programs are the most common types of therapy for people who want to live at home. If you don’t know what kind of care would be best for you, our experts can help. Call (561) 328-8627 to learn more about our programs.

Taking Prozac and Alcohol at the Same Time

Because the effects of both drugs are more potent when they are brought together, the combination of alcohol and Prozac could be dangerous. For example, the tiredness that Prozac causes turns into too much sleepiness. Here are some examples of things you’re more likely to see:

• Accidents and slips
• Hard time making decisions
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• Low blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• A feeling of helplessness 
• Thoughts of suicide

People over 65 who drink or take Prozac are more likely to have health problems. They have to take more medicines at once, which makes them more likely to have harmful side effects. As you age, it takes your body longer to break down alcohol, and stays in your bloodstream longer. This makes it more likely that chemicals will react badly or that someone will take too much.

When Can You Drink on Prozac?

You might think it’s safe and won’t hurt you to drink alcohol hours after taking Prozac. This is not true because the metabolite of this drug stays in the body for a long time. Prozac has a half-life of between 2 and 7 days. This means that it takes between 11 and 38.5 days for the body to get rid of it. After the last dose of this medicine, you shouldn’t drink alcohol for at least a month.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

MAOIs were widely used before the advent of SSRIs and SNRIs because they were effective and had fewer side effects. The effectiveness of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) lies in their ability to suppress certain brain functions. 

Increased serotonin levels in the brain are associated with fewer mood swings. Drugs, alcohol, and antidepressants can all raise blood pressure when used with MAOIs. These are antidepressant medications. monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are the older versions of the class of drugs that Prozac belongs to. SSRIs are the second generation.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

These antidepressants effectively treat various conditions, from chronic pain to anxiety. Researchers believe tricyclic antidepressants improve mood by lowering acetylcholine and increasing serotonin and norepinephrine levels. 

Tricyclic antidepressants link to hypertension. Many patients with alcohol use disorder may experience poor judgment, difficulty with coordination, and delayed reaction times when they combine alcohol and medications. These medications act the same as SSRIs do and help to prevent presynaptic reuptake of serotonin Nortriptyline, Doxepin, and imipramine are all examples of tricyclic antidepressants (Tofranil).

What to Do if You Drink on Prozac

If you or someone you care about requires Prozac to manage a serious mental health condition, know that you are not alone. 

However, if they are taking an antidepressant like Prozac, the likelihood of an overdose increases with alcohol dependence. When two illnesses collide, such as alcoholism and mental illness, they can antagonize each other: it’s best to employ a dual diagnosis approach that addresses both problems simultaneously.

Dangers of Drinking on Prozac

There is a substantial increase in danger when senior citizens mix Prozac and alcohol. They’re more likely to have adverse medication effects because they must take so many medications at once. When more drugs are available, there may be more dangerous.

Furthermore, the rate at which the body absorbs alcohol decreases with age. It has a longer half-life with age. As a result, it increases the likelihood of an adverse chemical reaction, and overdose symptoms should not be ignored. Overdosing may cause coma or possibly death. Since Prozac and similar antidepressants can, in some cases, create sad emotions and negative thoughts, it should be no surprise that adding alcohol to the mix can increase your likelihood of obtaining these potentially dangerous symptoms. 

Even more so, because intoxication impairs judgment, it may be more challenging to attribute sudden suicidal or self-harming thoughts to your mental illness, increasing the risk of acting on them. Regular alcohol consumption has been shown to decrease the effectiveness of antidepressants like Prozac and may even be dangerous.

Is Drinking a Problem for Prozac Users?

You may have a drinking problem while on antidepressants if you can’t help drinking. Self-medicating with alcohol can have this impact; avoiding drinking is important before starting an antidepressant. 

A co-occurring disorder occurs when you treat mental health problems alongside substance abuse. You can stop turning to alcohol or drugs as the first line of defense when depressive symptoms become difficult, even when combined with a good antidepressant. Regular use of Prozac and alcohol is common, and it is normal to have difficulty breaking the habit once it has begun.

Trying to self-medicate with alcohol, you may have picked up an alcohol use disorder unwillingly. You may develop an addiction while dealing with a mental health issue, so help is all you need for a co-occurring disorder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Freedom with a Sober Life from The Haven

You can get help with dual diagnosis therapy at The Haven. If you drink and take an antidepressant simultaneously, you are more likely to become dependent on alcohol. When someone has an alcohol use disorder (AUD) and a mental illness, they need dual-diagnosis therapy. 

Depression and drinking can both be helped at the same time. Cognitive behavioral therapy and evidence-based modules can help you get recovery. Contact us at (561) 328-8627 or verify your insurance to get help immediately.