Guide to Fluoxetine and Alcohol

Fluoxetine is an anti-depressant commonly consumed in the United Kingdom. Fluoxetine is also known as Prozac. Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Fluoxetine works by manipulating neurotransmitters located in the brain.

Mixing fluoxetine with alcohol has many undesirable side effects. These side effects include drowsiness, coordination problems, and dizziness.

Due to these side effects, we recommend you avoid taking Fluoxetine if you are addicted to alcohol. Despite the ill effects of mixing Fluoxetine with alcohol, many GPs in the United Kingdom actively prescribe Fluoxetine to patients who they know suffer from alcoholism.

Fluoxetine works by inhibiting the uptake of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to control your mood.

What psychiatric disorders does fluoxetine treat?

Fluoxetine is frequently prescribed to treat the following health problems:

• Panic disorder
• Depression
• Bulimia nervosa
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Major depressive disorder (MDD)
• Bipolar disorder

What happens to the brain when you drink alcohol?

Many people consume alcohol for social reasons. Others prefer to drink alcohol for effect. This is when you drink alcohol to alleviate pain or anxiety. It’s thus not difficult to realise that drinking alcohol is perhaps more common amongst people who suffer from depression. However, alcohol is itself is a depressant. When you consume alcohol, your brain’s central down regulator, GABA-A, is stimulated. GABA-A depresses your body and mind. This is because GABA-A is an inhibitory neurotransmitter.

What are the effects of alcohol if I suffer from depression?

Because alcohol is classed as a depressant, when you drink alcohol, you aggravate the symptoms of your depression. This means it’s never a good idea to drink alcohol if you suffer from depression. If you don’t suffer from depression, drinking large amounts of alcohol may actually cause you to start suffering from clinical depression.

What are the symptoms of depression?

You may suffer from depression and not even be aware that you suffer from depression. Symptoms of depression to be on the lookout for include:

• Feelings of worthlessness
• Suicidal ideation
• You lose interest in hobbies you used to enjoy
• Frequent feelings of sadness

The dangers of mixing fluoxetine and alcohol

The main side-effects of fluoxetine include tiredness, impaired coordination, and alertness. The side effects of fluoxetine are thus somewhat similar to alcohol’s side effects. Combining alcohol and fluoxetine will, therefore, compound these shared side effects. In fact, mixing alcohol and fluoxetine may make you feel sedated. This is clearly dangerous if you operate a vehicle of any sort or heavy machinery.

Below, we list the most common side effects experienced when you mix fluoxetine with alcohol:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Dizziness
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Suicidal ideation

Does alcohol stop fluoxetine from working?

When you consume alcohol, you will diminish the positive effects of fluoxetine. Alcohol stops fluoxetine from working properly. Many people may consume fluoxetine as a way of preventing the depressive effects of alcohol. This thinking is purely fictional. Taking fluoxetine will not prevent the depressive effects of alcohol.

To get the full benefits offered by fluoxetine, stop drinking alcohol immediately. If you suffer from alcoholism, you will need to start a medically assisted detox programme because abruptly stopping alcohol could lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Once you’ve conquered your addiction to alcohol in a safe and controlled manner, you may then resume your usage of fluoxetine. In fact, for those of you who are recovering from alcoholism, taking fluoxetine may actually help you avoid relapse.

Can I stop taking anti-depressants if I’ve drunk alcohol?

We advise that you do not stop taking anti-depressants without your doctor’s advice. When you abruptly stop taking anti-depressants, you may suffer from a range of adverse withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms could have major psychological ramifications. It may be particularly unpleasant if you abruptly stop taking antidepressants and then return to their use within a few days’ time.

Getting help now

If you suffer from alcoholism and you are a user of fluoxetine, you may benefit by contacting Rehab 4 Alcoholism today on 0800 111 4108. When you contact us, we carry out a telephone assessment. This assessment allows us to assess your needs so that we may advise you on attending a rehab programme that’s right for your needs.

Related posts