The risks of drinking on Prozac are widely debated, with some studies suggesting total abstinence is best, and others stating moderate alcohol use is safe.
Together, let’s explore the risks of drinking on Prozac, and help you make a safe decision that protects your health and wellbeing.
If you’re struggling to give up alcohol, please get in touch with our wonderful team here at Rehab 4 Alcoholism.
We’re ready to introduce you to some life-changing treatment options, so call us on 0800 111 4108 (UK) or +44 345 222 3509 (international) whenever you’re ready!
Prozac is an antidepressant that treats mental health disorders including depression, panic disorder, anxiety, bulimia nervosa, pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
It’s also been used to treat menopause symptoms and premature ejaculation.
Prozac belongs to the SSRI category of antidepressants, along with Cipramil (citalopram), Cipralex (escitalopram), and Lustral (sertraline), amongst others. This type of medication is commonly prescribed in the UK, but it still comes with risks.
In this blog, we’ll use the terms “Prozac” and “fluoxetine” interchangeably. We’re still referring to the same SSRI medication, but fluoxetine is the chemical name, whereas Prozac is a brand name.
As a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), Prozac inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, which increases serotonin activity. It does this without significantly affecting other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine (1).
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps with emotional wellbeing, mood regulation, wound healing, and sleep. When serotonin activity is insufficient, which is common in people with certain mental health conditions, it can cause symptoms such as brain fog, excessive worrying, and low self-esteem.
To manage these symptoms, Prozac is used. It isn’t a one-stop solution for mental health disorders, but it can help reduce symptoms, erase some symptoms, and make patients feel calmer, happier, and more regulated.
Although Prozac can be incredibly effective, it can also come with side effects for some individuals. These may include:
There’s no major direct risk associated with drinking small amounts of alcohol while taking prozac.
However, while it’s possible to drink safely with Prozac, it’s generally not recommended, as it’s not worth the risk.
Anything more than a very small amount of alcohol involves potential risks, and these risks are exacerbated if someone is drinking excessively, frequently, and/or binge drinking.
Three of the main risks are:
Alcohol doesn’t prevent Prozac from working, but it can cause symptoms that counteract the benefits of Prozac.
For example, excessive alcohol consumption is linked to insomnia, disturbed sleep, low mood, and anxiety. Because Prozac is commonly prescribed to help with symptoms just like this, drinking alcohol can work against the intended benefits of fluoxetine.
Alcohol can also make it harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle that supports your wellbeing.
Excessive drinking often results in dehydration, poor nutrition, disrupted sleep, and reduced motivation or energy to stay active through exercise. This works against Prozac.
When the patient’s lifestyle is significantly affected by alcohol, they’re less likely to feel the full benefits of fluoxetine.
The potential side effects of fluoxetine and alcohol can overlap. These include:
Without alcohol, it’s much easier to manage side effects, because you’re only dealing with the effects of one substance (fluoxetine), and you may find it easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle that helps you manage symptoms.
However, when alcohol is introduced alongside Prozac, side effects can become more severe, as they’re coming from two different directions.
Some people start taking Prozac and assume it’s not working for them, without stopping to consider their relationship with alcohol.
If you’re drinking alcohol, you may still be experiencing mental health symptoms because of your alcohol use, not because fluoxetine isn’t working.
Until you manage how much alcohol you’re drinking, it’s tricky to know the answer.
There’s a possibility that you could feel the full benefits of Prozac if you reduced your alcohol intake, or pursued sobriety.
The initial effects of alcohol can make you feel more relaxed, content, and motivated to continue drinking.
Because of this early change in mood, many people incorrectly assume that alcohol is a mood-boosting substance.
When we zoom out, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Alcohol is a depressant. No matter how great you feel at the start, there’s no denying the fact that it slows down brain activity, which leads to symptoms including a lack of coordination, poor decision-making, anxiety, and depression.
Over time, you may become reliant on the dopamine that alcohol provides, and this can lead to unhealthy fluctuations in dopamine, and eventually, dopamine deficiency.
This is often what triggers alcohol dependence, as people want to keep experiencing the initial boost in mood that they get from alcohol, so they increase their alcohol use and keep adapting to more alcohol.
In the addiction field, we call this tolerance, and it’s a key symptom of alcohol dependence.
So, you may feel that your mood is better when you’re drinking alcohol with Prozac, but it’s a trap.
The long-term mood benefits come when you use Prozac safely, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, and incorporate healthy coping skills into your life.
It isn’t widely proven that Prozac makes you more sensitive to alcohol, but some research suggests that it can, which means it’s sensible to avoid alcohol when you’re taking Prozac.
Mixing alcohol and Prozac could potentially make you:
If you already experience any of these symptoms from alcohol alone, it’s even more important to take caution.
That said, everyone should be careful, as combining these two substances could potentially alter your typical drinking experience.
The safest option is to avoid alcohol completely, or stick to very small amounts of alcohol, for as long as you’re taking Prozac.
We know this may be hard to hear, but even though serious risks aren’t guaranteed, it’s better to stay on the safe side and protect your health.
The initial weeks are the most important. This is when your body is still adjusting to Prozac, and you may experience temporary side effects including anxiety, headaches, fatigue, and nausea.
Staying away from alcohol during this time helps protect you against stronger side effects.
However, it’s not only the start of treatment that matters. We strongly recommend sticking to sobriety throughout your time taking Prozac, as it will give you the best chance of a positive treatment that truly improves your life.
Having one drink while taking Prozac is very unlikely to cause any serious problems.
However, the reason we generally recommend total abstinence is that people rarely stick to one drink, and may assume that regular, moderate drinking comes with no risks at all.
What’s more, even one drink could potentially cause you to feel more unwell than normal when you’re taking Prozac, including dizziness and mood changes.
It’s important to consider your personal situation before making decisions about alcohol and fluoxetine.
For someone with a very healthy relationship with alcohol, it can absolutely be possible to keep drinking small amounts and not feel any worrying effects.
On the other hand, someone with a history of alcoholism may find it exceptionally hard to maintain moderate alcohol use, which is when moderate to serious risks may arise.
Alcohol consumption is a common topic in doctor’s surgeries, regardless of the issue.
It’s particularly common for GPs to ask about your alcohol use before prescribing Prozac, because harmful alcohol use can affect:
Once your GP understands what your relationship with alcohol use looks like, they can recommend the healthiest form of treatment for you, whether that’s Prozac or something else.
If you’ve been looking for a time to bring up your alcohol use with your GP, now’s a great time.
Even if you’ve already contacted Rehab 4 Alcoholism, it’s still a great idea to inform your GP of your alcohol problem, and rely on any further support they can offer.
For someone with no dependence or addiction, giving up alcohol may sound simple. You just stop drinking.
At Rehab 4 Alcoholism, we know that it’s more complex than that for many of us.
If you’re unsure how you’d possibly give up alcohol, it’s time to question whether your relationship with alcohol may be unhealthy.
This can look like harmful drinking, alcohol dependence, or alcohol addiction.
Specific signs include:
Please feel reassured that you can access many different forms of professional support to help you give up alcohol gradually and safely.
Call our 24/7 helpline on 0800 111 4108 (UK) or +44 345 222 3509 (international) for in-depth support and advice.
As you can see, various risks are associated with drinking while taking Prozac, and while some of them are unlikely, it’s still sensible to choose abstinence in order to have the best possible experience on Prozac.
If you’ve previously battled alcohol dependence, or you’re struggling to give up alcohol currently, staying sober is highly recommended, as all of the risks we have discussed are much more serious when dependence is involved.
To find out how you can get help with sobriety today, including admission to alcohol rehab, give us a call on 0800 111 4108 (UK) or +44 345 222 3509 (international).
Below, we answer some common questions around this topic:
Limiting or avoiding alcohol is sensible if you have depression.
Alcohol can cause or worsen depressive symptoms, especially if you’re drinking frequently or binge drinking.
That’s not to say that nobody with depression can maintain a healthy relationship with alcohol. It’s certainly possible, but it should be approached carefully, looking out for potential risks to mental health.
It’s recommended to avoid drinking when you’re taking an SSRI, whether that’s fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, or any other antidepressant in this category.
All SSRIs can potentially affect how you feel when you’re drinking alcohol (e.g., contributing to dizziness), and alcohol can hinder their positive effects, as well as making it harder for you to determine their efficacy.
Again, small amounts of alcohol are rarely dangerous, but the general advice is to avoid combining SSRIs and alcohol due to the potential for risks.
No, please follow your doctor’s guidance for taking Prozac, which includes consistently taking doses.
If you skip a dose, the effectiveness of fluoxetine could drop, which could have an effect on your mood, sleep, emotional wellbeing etc.
It’s also wise to consider why you’re wanting to prioritise alcohol over Prozac. It doesn’t necessarily signify alcohol use disorder, but it’s a potential indicator that you may need some support with your alcohol use.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554406/
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