Posted by jojo on July 24, 2001, at 13:32:58
In reply to Alcohol and Anti-Depressants, posted by KARAsweet on July 24, 2001, at 11:35:47
> I know it's not good to mix, but what kinds of experiences have any of you had when drinking and being on an SSRI?
>
> Depressants + Anti-Depressants = don't mix..
>
> but I do like to have the occasional drink, unfortunately.I have not noticed any additive effects of alcohol and SSRIs, but it appears that they are both degraded by some of the same sets of P450 liver enzymes, whose activity is induced by taking these drugs. Therefore, it could be expected that taking one will decrease the serum level of the other, by induction of these enzymes.
BTW, following the "Use of alcohol with this drug cannot be recommended" insert statement, which I believe is a legal, not medical document, could be deadly for pathological alcohol users with depression, or for any other reason, such as anorexia, who are prescribed SSRIs, and are afraid to take them because they
are not able to give up the use of alcohol. My non-professional advice is to take the SSRI (or Neurontin, if prescribed), and do the best that you can with the alcohol.
poster:jojo
thread:71630
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71643.html