Sertraline & Alcohol

Have you guys attemepted to go for gluten free regimen for a month at least before taking anti depressant. I would suggest go gluten free for some days and see its effects on your brain. I killed my depression completely by going gluten free. Who suspect food ? Last thing to be qestioned ... right? Best of luck.

A few units is okay, anything more will destroy ur progress on this drug and make you feel strange mentally

Everyone’s body is different. I take 100mg of Zoloft every day and have for about 7 years now. I stopped drinking when began taking it as Alcohol is a depressant and may interfere with the meds working and being most effective.  After the anxiety, depression, and ocd I experienced I didn’t want to chance anything since it pretty much made all that go away. Years went by, all became a memory and I started drinking socially. Ever since taking Zoloft I found I could drink and drink to no end and black out. Not to be gross but without Zoloft if I drank too much I’d get sick. Taking Zoloft that no longer happens. I had never experienced anything like this before or had experienced black out drunk. I think in some way the Zoloft effects the way my body metabolizes alcohol? It’s the total opposite of what most people experience. Overall I reccomend not drinking with it to allow it to work as effectively as possible with no interferences.

Hope this helps, take care.

Hi Guest and forum. this is my first post.

I have been a sufferer of depression since the 1980's, when I was in my late teens. I also have a low alcohol tolerance which means 4 pints of ale at 3.8% is generally my limit once a week. However, if I go over this limit (4,5,6,7 pints in an evening) then things go down hill. Symptoms include the next day, headache, vomiting, sweats and chills etc not good!

My medication history has been patchy to say the least...I went years without meds then got back on them again decades later. This is what i have been on lately (2015-2018):-

Diazepam/valium: no effect on depression/anxiety/aggression/hangovers/insomnia. Brain fog. Still depressed.

Amiltriptyline: perfect for jet lag, 3 hours to the land of nod. Not so much brain fog. Better than before.

Sertraline: not perfect but...my emotions are shrink wrapped (I don't get angry and I don't laugh). But I have zero Brain fog and NO hangover effects. YAY! I like this one!

My short term memory has always been atrocious: my long term has been the better means of storage. The drugs have had no effect what so ever.

I always find it hard to go to sleep and then hard to wake up, always have at least 10 hours sleep Saturday an Sundays.

I will say this though; I am a fully qualified Health Trainer and this means I can direct the public to various agencies/bodies who can get their life back on track regarding sexual heath, exercise, drinking and smoking cessation. So I do know the difference between anecdotal and clinical evidence (blind and double blind testing).

So going back to the start; doctors don't want you drink (on medications) because:-

It makes your conditions worse.

The dosage strengthens.

The dosage weakens.

Your decision making, lifestyle choices MAY not be the best (the most honest reason: medical students do drink a lot!).

So my response is this "I know what ales (ails) me". Doctors don't know everything, so seeing as it's YOUR body you DO know it better than anyone. 

Assuming you are a sensible adult, take it slowly, write a diary and monitor and share the results. Some of the best experiments on stomach ulcers have been tested on the researchers themselves. Science IS based on testing: the good, the bad and the boring

Hope this helps!