Alcohol combined with Fluoxetine?
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi all, I think I have a problem with alcohol. I seem to be drinking it all the time lately and its starting to concern me. I am going to try my best to either give it up for a while or to only start having it once a week, because its turned too regular for me this past month. Often I will drink in the excess instead of just a few. I am on the medication fluoxetine for severe anxiety and depression. When I drink alcohol it makes me feel a lot better and the anxiety seems to go away so I think thats why I keep going back to it. Lately I get very bad anxiety the day after drinking. Theres just a feeling that I can't shake and I feel like something terrible is going to happen. My brain also thinks differently it seems.
How safe is drinking alcohol on Fluoxetine? My doctor hasn't really mentioned that there can be any risks with combining the two other than it not working if I drink everyday. I'm a young guy and pretty much rely on alcohol to leave the house if I want to go out with my friends. I have tried medication and therapy, but nothing seems to work. I feel like its very hard to get treated for mental health issues as I've been in a constant struggle for years now and things just don't seem to be getting better. Social anxiety is my biggest obstacle at the moment because I can pretty much not leave the house unless I am intoxicated on alcohol. I just don't know what to do anymore, I want to change and not be like this. My anxiety seems to control my life and I just want to take charge but I don't know what steps I can take to achieve this. Thanks for reading.
1 like, 4 replies
princesscjs Beezwax
Posted
I asked my doctor about this as well, and she said 'you can still have a drink or 2' ..which didn't help, because I am a student and have a lot more than 1 or 2 drinks on a night out.
I have the same experience as you, having bad anxiety the next morning or sometimes I am completely emotionless and can stare at the ceiling or wall for hours with no thoughts in my head. I never had any anxiety before going on Fluoxetine so this is not familiar to me.
I don't think they mix well at all, my biggest warning to people on this is to be careful how much alcohol you have.
I know it's not legal but I smoke cannabis instead as this calms me down and helps me get out of bed or leave the house.
Beezwax princesscjs
Posted
Hey, thanks for the reply! I am also of that age and used to go to uni so when I go out, I like to drink excessively to enjoy myself and because all of my friends are doing the same.
I have that a lot the day after, I find I cannot concentrate very well and also get that stare at walls thing. Its unusual that you didn't have anxiety before starting Fluoxetine, What did you go on the meds for?
I must admit I have tried that before, though it seems rather costly and made me pretty paranoid, but I'm guessing I just thought too much into it because of my anxiety.
princesscjs Beezwax
Posted
Hi,
I was prescribed Fluoxetine for depression which it's seemed to help with a lot (I don't cry in public or at work etc anymore) but it's also given me those weird anxious side effects when I drink alcohol. yeah it's annoying because there seems like there's no way around it, the only times I don't wake up feeling lost is when I only sleep a few hours (I guess because I'm probably still drunk lol).
And yeah, it is expensive but as a student I hate being sober when all my friends are enjoying themselves so I smoke instead and can still have a good night but I guess it's different for everyone!
Beezwax princesscjs
Posted
Hey again, I'm glad to hear that the fluoxetine has helped with your depression and that you're better in public. I ended up going out last night and drinking excessively. Now I've woken up today and can't really remember the night so I'm now dwelling on it and can't get out of my own head. I feel that the tablet makes me black out once I've had a certain amount of drinks and I just can't remember the night the next morning. I may have to try what you suggested because booze seems to be not settling right with me whilst I'm on fluoxetine