Drinking on sertraline
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi all, I’ve been on sertraline for nearly a month now and last night I had a drink and I got so crazily drunk. Luckily it was at my mam and stepdads house so they looked after me but I was rolling around on the floor and screaming and crying saying I wanted to die and I needed to be in a mental hospital and I tried to call 999 to help me. I couldn’t walk I couldn’t even remember any of this when I woke up this morning. I was also attacking myself scratching punching nipping and pulling out my hair and I couldn’t breathe properly. My stepdad brought me home and I fell to sleep and this morning I feel mortified and disgusting. I have never acted like this when I’ve been drunk before I feel like I was a woman possessed and everything I’ve been feeling all just came out.
1 like, 15 replies
Aspinan ellie_30462
Posted
Hi Ellie, it's crazy what being drunk can do, we can lose control, do random things all because it drops our inhibitions and makes us drop all our internal firewalls.
My advise would be to contact your family members and simply apologise for your actions, I'm sure they already understand and will let it go, just say that all the pent up feelings just came out due to the alcohol.
Finally having a couple of drinks is OK despite what folk say it's just some anti depressants can magnify the alcohol effects so you have to be very careful which I'm sure you will in future.
Neil
ellie_30462 Aspinan
Posted
MelvZz ellie_30462
Posted
Hi Ellie,
Drinking alcohol and being on Sertraline isn't exactly great, but it's not going to kill you, just make you feel awful. I'll try and explain it as briefly as I can without getting into too much detail.
SSRIs such as Sertraline improve the function of nerve cells in the brain to reuptake neurotransmitters. When alcohol is mixed it slows down the nervous system as it is a sedative/depressant. This disrupts the Serotonin levels in your brain, which ultimately stops the antidepressant from working therefore making you feel even worse.
Alcohol seems like a short term solution too because for that time where you feel tipsy you feel great, but then you run the risk of crashing back down again and feeling the heightened symptoms such as your motor skills (why you couldn't walk)
I'm on my 8th day of Sertraline. I like to party and club too like there's no tomorrow but I'm always weary just incase I have an episode like you did whilst out. I'm speaking from experience here and I'm studying pharmacology at university so I'm pretty well informed about the stuff. All I'm going to say is be care and know your limits.
If you need any more information or advice just drop me a message Hun! X
ellie_30462 MelvZz
Posted
MelvZz ellie_30462
Posted
UK-Rose MelvZz
Posted
Quick Question - With alcohol being a sedative / depressant... would the same rule apply when taking a diazepam/ Xanax??
Meaning would this also disrupt the serotonin levels and stop the anti- depressant from working as well as it should??
MelvZz UK-Rose
Posted
Hi Rose,
This might be a slightly longer answer so you're going to have to bare with me on this. I'll try and simply it so you're not reading a dissertation!
SSRIs such as Sertraline works by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain, therefore making more serotonin available which directly results in regulating mood, this is use to treat a wider range of depression.
Benzodiazepines such as diazepam/ Xanax work by enhancing the GABA receptor in your brain allowing more Chloride ions flow through the receptor ion channel. This causes an increased nerve calming effect and relaxation. This is used to treat anxiety
Alprazolam or Diazepam is the best add-on because it's fast working and short duration of action so that if someone has an increase in anxiety or a panic attack the person can have quick relief and be back at baseline without being inebriated for a long period of time. That's why it's mostly used with an SSRI as a primary drug.
Xanax/Diazepam is an anxiolytic, and Sertraline is an antidepressant, not an anxiolytic. They are considered two totally different classes of drugs used to treat two different disorders.
Hopefully that cleared things up for you!
MelvZz UK-Rose
Posted
Hi Rose,
I did reply to this, but it's waiting to be moderated I didn't realize how much I actually wrote! I'm sure you'll get notified when it's published.
Melvin x
UK-Rose MelvZz
Posted
Fantastic Answer, Thanks alot MelvZz 🌹
MelvZz UK-Rose
Posted
Anytime rose 😊 x
linda40544 MelvZz
Posted
I've been on sertaline for 3 yrs doing amazing till few weeks ago I was. Abusing alcohol I just wondered how long I need stop drinking before I can be right again I feel so low and poorly hope you can help xx
jordan51031 MelvZz
Posted
I was on 25 mgs of sertraline as of start of last week, had some drinks around my brothers on the Friday and felt severe panic coming through. I am now as of this week on 50 mg as per gps advice.
My mahooooosiiive concern is that I love clubbing and partying, not going to lie. I also have a massive party coming up too.
I’m interested to know how you get around this? I have heard suggestions that people don’t take the pill for the day they are going out etc
Take care, Jordan
greg01610 ellie_30462
Posted
So the research on this is still pretty spotty and most people's answers seem to amount to "you shouldn't, but it's okay if you do." I have similar questions and maybe a few answers.
Reactions will vary, of course. One person can probably drink easily on sertraline while another will be blackout drunk after a couple drinks. This depends upon the severity of the clinical issues being addressed and the seratonin/chemical levels in each person's body.
I'm on 50mg and have been for a few years. The drug has helped me control anxiety, mostly, though my moods are generally better too, I think. Anyway, usually when I drink (and sometimes I drink to excess), I get way drunker and the hangover is markedly awful. Once or twice, I was outrageously depressed the day after drinking a lot. This doesn't seem to happen often, but when it does it sucks. I'd tell everyone not to drink to excess (and I mean like 8+ drinks in a few hours). You're really toying with your chemical levels if you do.
My partner is also on sertraline, though a higher dose. Her doctor told her that skipping the dose the day you drink is not such a bad idea, or maybe just taking a half dose that day. I think this has something to do with the drug's being digested versus its level in your system ie skipping a dose may reduce some bad effects with the alcohol because they're not being digested simultaneously. I don't know exactly. I'm drinking tonight (possibly to excess) and plan to take a half dose today, just to test it out.
I'd really appreciate more specific responses re: skipping a dose to drink and how people feel afterwards. There's very little info on this, though I've seen a few people say they do feel better after drinking if they've skipped a dose. Just don't skip multiple doses in a row!
jordan51031 greg01610
Posted
I am
Currently taking 50 mgs of sertraline, and have a big party coming up in the next few weeks.
How did it go with halfing your dose? Was the reaction with alcohol okay?
Jordan
K44501 greg01610
Posted
Hi, I have been on sertaline for couple of months, on high dosis 200 mg. Occasionally had couple of drinks 4-5 beers with no issues at all. Last week thou I went out in a great mood after 4, and had another 3 after that (within 3h). I called I'm going home and few minutes later I lost control. I couldn't walk strait, fell off twice where second time was unpleasant contact of my face with a sidewalk. Luckily there were some people who helped walk me home, as I wouldn't be able on my own. So I advise to have someone with you, that is informed about possible outcome and be aware it could be a big surprise how quickly sircumstances can change. Could be a painful experience too.