For individuals living and coping with a mental illness, psychotropic medications such as Zoloft can provide relief. Zoloft is especially effective in patients experiencing depression and its symptoms, including depression accompanied by anxiety symptoms.
When looking at depression, research has shown that the most effective treatment option is a combination of both medication and therapy.
Although medications like Zoloft have been prescribed for quite some time now, there is little clinical research regarding the impact that drinking alcohol can have on a person who is also taking this medication. That is not to say that there is no consequences known to occur Zoloft and Alcohol. Keep in mind that mixing medications and alcohol puts you at risk for harmful reactions.
Zoloft and Alcohol- Drinking alcohol while taking Zoloft or any other antidepressant is not advised due to the inconsistent and complex chemical reactions of brain neurotransmitters and ethanol, the psychoactive substance found in alcohol. Alcohol could trigger depression itself and likewise keeps some antidepressant medications from working as efficient as they should.
In addition to provoking the familiar "drunken" behaviors exhibited by individuals who are drunk, ethanol also modifies production of neurotransmitters in the brain, specifically serotonin and norepinephrine, which directly influence thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
By distorting Zoloft's influence on an individual's thinking processes, alcohol could cause extreme behaviors to manifest themselves that otherwise would not be seen.
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Lead Writer/Reviewer : Kayla Loibl
Licensed Medical Health Professional
Hello!
I am a Mental Health Counselor who is licensed in both New York (LMHC) and North Carolina (LCMHC). I have been working in the Mental Health field since 2015. I have worked in a residential setting, an outpatient program and an inpatient addictions program. I began working in Long Island, NY and then in Guelph, Ontario after moving to Canada. Read More
Sources:
MIMS. Zoloft. https://www.mims.com/malaysia/drug/info/zoloft?type=full
Northern Arizona Center for Addiction. ZOLOFT AND ALCOHOL. January 22, 2021. https://nacatreatment.org/zoloft-and-alcohol/
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Mixing Alcohol With Medicines. 2003. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/harmful-interactions-mixing-alcohol-with-medicines
National Alliance on Mental Illness. Medication Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.nami.org/FAQ/Mental-Health-Medication-FAQ/Can-I-drink-alcohol-while-taking-antidepressants
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