anti depressants and alcohol side effects?
916525
iT IS NOT A GOOD THING TO BE TAKING ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND ALCOHOL.  THE SIDE EFFECTS COULD BE DEADLY.
281864
I have some medical background and am a nursing student right now. I don't think that antidepressants change your personality, or restore it.  They mask it. They change the chemical effects of your brain, and try to suppress what ever chemicals that are being overproduced, that are affecting your mood. Some antidepressants are so strong, they make people appear intoxicated. I think that is very sad. I think they are horribly over perscribed.  Many people truly need them, most people don't. You can't solve your life problems with a daily pill. Face what is bothering you, and make the changes you need to to better you life, your decisions, your family, and your health. Society is so over medicated as it is.  (I think short term antidepressants are a good idea, but not long term).
880557
One of the side effects of several of the antidepressant drugs is weight gain.  Have your doctor prescribe another one.  I have been on Paxil for several years and have not had a problem with increased weight.
30119
Alcohol is a sedative drug. It is a CNS depressant that paradoxically seems to act as a stimulant by depressing the levels of judgement -- even to being able to tell how tired we are.\n\nThis sedating effect, reducing anxieties and inducing relaxation when taken in small quantities, has been valuable throughout the history of Western civilization. Problems occur when it is responded to with "if a little is good, a lot is better" outlook.\n\nWikipedia:\n"Note that many sedative agents are cross-tolerant with alcohol (meaning that these agents can be taken instead of alcohol to relieve withdrawal symptoms or to maintain the level of sedation provided by alcohol). A more general diagnosis than alcohol dependence is that of sedative dependence. Whether an individual uses alcohol or another sedative, if they meet the criteria above, the process is likely the same." (1)\n\nTranquilizer, drug, and alcohol comparison:\n"Minor tranquilizers seem to have direct depressant effects on brain areas that regulate wakefulness and alertness, very similar in effect to alcohol and sedative barbiturates. They enhance the action of receptors that inhibit central nervous system stimulation, and conversely, inhibit the action of receptors that stimulate the nervous system." (2)
713569
what medication(s) are you taking.  if you're taking an anti-depressant, it takes a good 6-8 weeks for you to feel the total clinical effect of this classification of drugs.  hopefully, you are receiving medication for the anxiety, also.  \nit's none of my business, but the drinking can intensify the effects of the medications you are taking.  alcohol is a depressant.  it can cause the depression and anxiety to become exacerbated.   \ni suggest you get to see a psychiatrist ASAP.  discuss all your symptoms with/him/her and let them decide on a recovery method best suited for your needs.  don't try to solve the problem by yourself.  it doesn't work that way.  depression, anxiety, and alcoholism are major problems that need to be addressed and monitored by a trained doctor.\nin the eent that you are entertaining negative thoughts about suicide, please remember, SUICIDE IS A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO A TEMPORARY PROBLEM.  fight to live.  it's bound to be difficult, but you deserve the right to live your life free from these three crosses.\nbest of luck!
1180508
Depends greatly on your medication. It is ALWAYS a good idea to ask your doctor about possible drug interactions with alcohol.  It should also say on the side effects issued to you by the pharmacist.
897462
Heather, I'm sorry you're not feeling well and I'll try to give you the best advice I can, based on what you've told me.\n\nFirst, you should expect that every psychotropic medication you read about will come with side effects.  Most if not all side effects usually occur within the first two weeks and are completely manageable.  There are cases where some people will experience more severe side effects than most, but these cases are extremely rare and unlikely to happen.\n\nIt's natural to feel this way towards any type of psychotropic med, as this is unknown territory for most people and people naturally fear what they don't know.  You're Dr will be well aware of the proper titration for the medication and bring you on so you don't experience harsh side effects.\n\nFrom what you described, you discussed having mood swings.  My question from there would be, have you had a diagnosis for a certain type of mood disorder?  If the answer is yes, then Amitriptyline is going to make you worse.  \n\nAmatriptyline is part of the Tricyclic Antidepressants group and used to treat extremely low levels of depression.  For patients that have mood disorders, this is one of the worst medications you can take and will further exacerbate mania and cycling.\n\nZoloft (sertraline) is part of the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) group of antidepressants.  Again, this is a class of medication that doesn't work for those with mood disorders and will actually make your depression worse.  Zoloft happens to be the worst for mood disorders of the SSRI meds.\n\nI have no idea what you've been diagnosed for, but from what you're discussing, you are experiencing some sort of mood disorder, such as bipolar, cylcothymia or BPD, etc.  If I'm correct, it's possible that you've been misdiagnosed, where it's common for most mood disorders to be misdiagnosed as some sort of depression disorder.  If that is the case, you're either not giving your Dr all the details of how you're feeling or he/she is not experienced in treating mood disorders and you'll have to find someone else.\n\nI hope that this helps and that you get better soon.
610341
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. It is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine, passes into the bloodstream, and is then widely distributed throughout the body. The effects of alcohol on the body are directly related to the amount consumed. In small amounts, alcohol can have a relaxing effect. Adverse effects of alcohol, can include impaired judgment, reduced reaction time, slurred speech, and unsteady gait (i.e., difficulty walking); When consumed rapidly and in large amounts, alcohol can also result in coma and death. In addition, alcohol can interact with a number of prescription and non-prescription medications in ways that can intensify the effect of alcohol, of the medications themselves, or both. Furthermore, alcohol use by pregnant women, can cause serious damage to the developing fetus.\nSO YES IT IS A DRUG.
691779
Go back to your doctor, it sounds like you need a different anti-depressant...  You're having too many side-effects...  Good luck and i hope you feel better soon...
72329
The effects of depressants on a person's central nervous system.
772343
Well as far as I know they are not allowed to tell your mom anything about what you are taking or what you are doing.  Aside from that you should tell them that you do drink occasionally.  Drinking does have a negative effect on anti-depressants as in it totaly negates the effect the anti-depressant will have on your brain.  Be honest with your dr.  its the only way he/she can help properly.
137094
Prozac has many side effect.  Loss of sexual drive, weight gain, paranoia (rare).  Any pharmacist can give you a print out.  Likewise, the net offes many sites to help.  \n\nI've included one link below.
970585
St. Johns is not a good idea to take.. It's been a long time but I used to take that and had bad side effects. (dizzy, sick, headaches)  I've been on Prozac and gain weight with that... I've also been on Effexor XR.  If the DR ever prescribes you Effexor XR do not take it! It was the worst feeling I have ever had when trying to get off of it!!!  I have been on others and after the Effexor incident I will not take prescriptions anymore... I did a lot of research on what would be safe and I found a herbal pill called 5-HTP, it works I've noticed I've been calmer, happier, I can sleep at night, and I don't have panic attacks anymore.  You can find it online... I buy it from an online company Swanson... I've been using them for years for vitamins and such. They are trustworthy.  I've also seen it in CVS.
407515
you really need to speak to a qualified doctor about this, since two people on the same anti depressant can experience varying degrees of the same side effects or in fact different side effects altogether.\n  I take efexor and it took many years of trying various anti depressants at varying doses before I found one that worked for me and that I suffer little or no side effects with.  The only unpleasant side effect happens if I miss a dose.
554248
friend of mine takes celexa and on the rare occasions she drinks she has been fine, but each person is different. would talk to your doc first. always the safest bet.
738576
I would say a couple of drinks while taking cymbalta to be like a glass of wine at a wedding or a beer at happy hour - not one every nite or mutliple every day.  In that case it is OK in moderation.  Do be warned that alcohol may and / or will intesifiy the actions of the drug itself.  If you are worried about it, chat up your dr or have some liver enzymes run.
107770
I take Wellbutrin & have for 18 months now.  I never experienced any side effects like I did with other anti-depressants.  I felt a marked improvement in my mood within a month on wellbutrin.  I highly recommend it.  Good luck.