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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Glydin on October 15, 2005, at 20:44:52
I'm wondering about the warning of not to consume alcohol while on SSRI's.
Does alcohol potentiate SSRI's or render them ineffective or is it because alcohol is a depressant?
The obvious fact of not mudding the waters by using a substance with a potential for problems is, well, obvious. I'm just wondering if there is a BIG psychopharm rationale - as in a biodynamic interaction - for the warning.
Posted by rjlockhart98 on October 16, 2005, at 18:48:06
In reply to SSRI's and alcohol, posted by Glydin on October 15, 2005, at 20:44:52
Mmmm.... I take Prozac 20mg. I have had a drink before, i didnt know much change. I think with more Serogeneric SSRI's like Paxil would cause more sedation but Alcohol (ethanol grain) effects GABA receptors, i dont know about serotonin. Small doses i read release some dopamine thats why it feels "stimulating", but thats at like .02-.04 concentration in the blood stream. Higher drinks would not, and sedation would happen, and then spell drunk.
Matt
Posted by Glydin on October 17, 2005, at 7:44:18
In reply to Re: SSRI's and alcohol, posted by rjlockhart98 on October 16, 2005, at 18:48:06
Thank you Matt for your response. It would appear I don't get a big turnout here.
I drink very rarely as quite a while back it started to not like me. I think that's probably a blessing as it can just make a difficult problem worse in the long term.
I have had folks tell me SSRI's can be a potentiator for alcohol. I tend to believe that. I find smaller amounts of alcohol have an impact greater than they should and the hangover intensity and time lasting is worse.
Posted by michael on October 18, 2005, at 15:38:55
In reply to Re: SSRI's and alcohol » rjlockhart98, posted by Glydin on October 17, 2005, at 7:44:18
...> I have had folks tell me SSRI's can be a potentiator for alcohol. I tend to believe that. I find smaller amounts of alcohol have an impact greater than they should and the hangover intensity and time lasting is worse.
>My experience w/celexa was that it significantly potentiated alcohol. Caught me off guard the first few times, until I figured it out - got pretty hammered on just a few drinks, which previously, I would've barely noticed.
Fwiw, effexor isn't an ssri, but I did NOT have a similar experience with it - didn't notice a difference - w/respect to alcohol consumption.
Posted by Sebastian on October 22, 2005, at 16:06:58
In reply to SSRI's and alcohol, posted by Glydin on October 15, 2005, at 20:44:52
They say not to drink on these meds because the meds intensify the effects of alcohol. I would not worry too much about it, as I drink all the time on meds and don't notice much difference, other than my tolerance to the alcohol is less. So you don't have to drink as much.
This is the end of the thread.
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