Their inclusion does not guarantee they will be prescribed to any individual, as treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of healthcare providers. Healthcare providers may prescribe other medications or recommend non-pharmacological treatment based on the patient’s unique health circumstances and needs. Read more
Highlights
- It is not recommended to drink alcohol while taking Lexapro.
- Mixing alcohol and Lexapro can lead to increased side effects like brain fog, dizziness, and nausea.
- Alcohol is a depressant which can cause a mood crash and worsen anxiety or depression symptoms that Lexapro is being used to treat. This could potentially lead to serious consequences including increased suicidality.
- Lexapro doses should not be skipped, as it can lead to discontinuation syndrome and still increase the risk of side effects if alcohol is consumed.
- If you consume alcohol while taking Lexapro, avoid further alcohol consumption and focus on hydrating and eating nutritious food while you monitor your side effects.
Lexapro is one of the commonly prescribed medications for depression and anxiety. Usually, the basic instructions from healthcare providers include recommendations on the dosage and the schedule for taking medication, but it’s essential to discuss other aspects of treatment too. For example, how to deal with potential side effects and whether it’s safe to drink on Lexapro.
Depression and anxiety disorders require careful treatment, so it may be necessary to make certain lifestyle adjustments. Read on to learn how Lexapro interacts with alcohol, what possible dangers are, and how alcohol can affect mental health overall.
Get personalized treatment
About Lexapro
Lexapro belongs to a class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and is designed to treat depression and anxiety. The active ingredient is escitalopram, which inhibits the reuptake of serotonin by neurons to prevent its depletion. So, Lexapro works by increasing the amount of serotonin available in the brain and correcting neurochemical imbalances, which helps treat certain mental health conditions. Lexapro is also available as a generic medication called Escitalopram, and both Lexapro and escitalopram interact with alcohol.
Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Lexapro?
Though this medication has proven useful for many individuals with depression, PTSD, and panic disorder, it’s important to follow the rules to get the necessary effects. Mixing Lexapro and alcohol can cause side effects like drowsiness or extreme fatigue and reduce the efficacy of treatment.
Alcohol can impair judgment and affect mood, so drinking on Lexapro also brings the possibility of emotional changes. It’s also good to know that drinking on Lexapro may prevent your body from processing serotonin correctly, leading to additional side effects like vomiting or diarrhea.
Can You Have an Occasional Drink on Lexapro?
Any type of alcohol, whether it be wine or beer, can cause increased side effects on Lexapro. These side effects can include unpredictable drowsiness, and no amount of alcohol is considered safe.
Does Your Lexapro Dose Change the Risk?
No, your Lexapro dose does not change the risk of interaction. Whether you are taking a 5 mg or a 10 mg dose of Lexapro, it is still not recommended to mix it with alcohol.
What Happens If You Drink While Taking Lexapro?
If you drink alcohol while taking Lexapro, you can be at an increased risk of side effects. Its symptoms include agitation, anorexia or weight loss, and fever or chills without apparent cause. One may also experience insomnia or hypersomnia for more than 12 hours a day for more than five days in a row. A few other risks of drinking on Lexapro are explained below.
Reduced Effectiveness of Lexapro
Alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of Lexapro by worsening the symptoms the medication is intended to treat. Alcohol can disrupt the serotonin balance in your body, making it more difficult for Lexapro to correct the neurochemical imbalance.
Increased Side Effects
Both alcohol and escitalopram (Lexapro) can affect the central nervous system (CNS), but in different ways. So, when they are used together, it can increase the risk of certain side effects and make the treatment of a mental health condition less effective. Combining them can cause the following:
- Increased sleepiness, dizziness, headaches, and central nervous depression
- Impaired judgment, coordination, and an increased risk of accidents
- Worsening of gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and stomach upset
Mixing alcohol and Lexapro can also cause worsening of depression and anxiety, including a next-day mood crash. Many people have mood swings and increased irritability when mixing alcohol and Lexapro.
Lexapro and Alcohol Blackouts
Mixing these substances can increase the risk of Lexapro and alcohol
Effects of Alcohol on Mental Health
Alcohol consumption can have a
In addition to anxiety and depression, alcohol can affect mental health, worsen existing conditions, and interfere with treatment in the following ways, to name a few:
- Cognitive Impairment: Chronic alcohol use can impair memory, concentration, and decision-making. This can be especially troublesome for people who already struggle with cognitive issues related to a mental health condition.
- Suicidal Ideation: Alcohol use disorder is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, which is concerning for those with mental health conditions.
- Interference With Treatment: Alcohol consumption may reduce the efficacy of the antidepressant medication or some other medicines, making symptom management more challenging.
What Can Make the Combination Riskier?
The dangers of mixing Lexapro with alcohol can vary depending on the individual person. It’s possible that the interaction can be riskier with the following characteristics:
- Taking other medications (prescription, over-the-counter, or supplements). Combining Lexapro, alcohol, and other CNS depressants like benzodiazepines, sleep aids, or opioid pain medications can cause dangerous side effects like excessive drowsiness, impaired coordination, and problems breathing.
- Pre-existing health conditions. Certain health conditions, such as liver problems, can impact the way the body processes substances and lead to an increased risk of side effects.
- Drinking history. Chronic heavy alcohol use or binge drinking can increase the risk of worsening depression and other side effects.
Can I Skip a Dose of Lexapro to Drink?
To effectively manage a mental health condition, it’s important to take your medication consistently. Your treatment may be disrupted if you miss a dose. Avoiding alcohol instead of skipping a dose is the safest way to prevent interaction.
Moreover, skipping a dose of Lexapro is not an effective way to avoid its interaction with alcohol. Lexapro has a half-life of about 27 to 32 hours, meaning this is how long it takes for half of a dose to be broken down by your body. Skipping a dose of Lexapro to drink does not mean you will avoid any interactions with alcohol as the medication will still be in your body.
Stopping your Lexapro dose suddenly can also cause discontinuation symptoms, including the following side effects:
- Severe headaches and dizziness
- Rebound anxiety or increased irritability
- Nausea and flu-like symptoms
What to Do If You Have Mixed Lexapro and Alcohol
If you are taking Lexapro and have accidentally mixed it with alcohol, don’t panic. Stop drinking alcohol and move to a safe environment where you can sit or lie down and drink plenty of water. Let a trusted family member or friend know what has happened so they can monitor you and help you seek medical attention if needed. It is important that you do not drive or attempt to operate any machinery.
If alcohol is consumed despite your provider’s recommendation, the following precautions may help reduce the risk of adverse effects. However, they do not make combining alcohol with Lexapro safe:
- Avoid drinking multiple alcoholic beverages over a short period. Rapid alcohol intake increases the risk of side effects.
- Avoid drinking on an empty stomach because food can help slow alcohol absorption.
- Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the evening/event.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Help
If you have certain side effects, it is important that you go to the nearest medical center or call 911 (or 988, Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). These include:
- Extreme drowsiness or an inability to stay awake.
- Difficulty breathing or shallow breathing.
- Confusion, inability to speak clearly, or loss of consciousness.
- Sudden suicidal ideation, desire to self-harm, or an increase in anger or agitation.
- Signs of serotonin syndrome, such as high fever, severe tremors, rigid muscles, or seizures.
Although they are rare, these side effects can lead to dangerous and even fatal outcomes.
Summing Up
Mixing Lexapro and alcohol is not recommended since their interaction can cause agitation, insomnia, irritability, hangover, increased anxiety, tension, restlessness, paresthesias (numbness or tingling), tremors (shaking), and sweating (diaphoresis). Possible effects also include the worsening of depressive symptoms.
Remember to always check with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment regimen to avoid adverse effects on your mental health. If you are experiencing depression symptoms and exploring ways to get help, see a licensed medical provider at MEDvidi to get assessed and receive depression treatment online.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long after stopping Lexapro can I drink?
Because Lexapro has a long half-life, it can take nearly a week for it to be completely eliminated from the body, making it safe to drink alcohol. It’s important you never stop taking Lexapro suddenly to drink alcohol as this can lead to discontinuation symptoms, and do not change your Lexapro dose without consulting your healthcare provider first.
Can I take my Lexapro after drinking alcohol?
Consuming alcohol while taking Lexapro is not recommended. If you happen to have a drink, note that skipping or delaying a dose of Lexapro does not prevent its interaction with alcohol, so be sure to monitor your response attentively. If you have drunk a large amount of alcohol and are not sure what to do, you should seek immediate medical help.
Does Lexapro make hangovers worse?
Yes, it is possible that Lexapro can make hangovers worse. Combining Lexapro with alcohol can lead to dehydration and increase both headaches and nausea. It can also lead to increased anxiety or hangxiety.
Does Lexapro make me sensitive to alcohol?
Yes, it is possible that Lexapro can lower your tolerance to alcohol or make you more sensitive to alcohol.
