People with depression are being prescribed with a well-known anti-depressant Zoloft. The generic name of this antidepressant is Sertraline. Besides treating depression, the drug is known to cure multiple other mental disorders like Obsessive-Compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and other mood and behavioral disorders.
In this content, we will peek through the effects caused on the body when Zoloft and Alcohol are mixed. You will further know about the preventive measures one can take if they have taken Zoloft and alcohol together.
Contents
Is mixing Zoloft and Alcohol harmless?
Alcohol and Zoloft are the two drugs that cause the same effect on the brain. The person gets drowsy and gets in a constant state of confusion. In short, the ability to think clear goes away with both Zoloft and Alcohol. Most people also ask “Can Zoloft and alcohol kill you?” the answer to this question is no it doesn’t kill someone it only worsen the side effects.
If these drugs are taken together, the side effects linked to it can get worsen causing more trouble to people than the relief they are expecting. That is why the doctor advice people not to take them together.
Several conducted studies suggest that Zoloft does not impair the motor or mental skills but alcohol abuse does affect these two badly. In general, doctors advise people not to binge Alcohol when they are suffering from depression. The reason behind it is that alcohol possesses a depressant nature and when a person drinks it in the great amount on daily basis the symptoms of depression gets severe
What are the side effects of Zoloft and alcohol?
Brain function is massively triggered by both Zoloft and Alcohol. Alcohol decreases the potential of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers located in the brain). Zoloft, on the other hand, is known as SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. In short, it alters the brain’s level of neurotransmitter commonly known as Serotonin.
Alcohol also affects badly on the mental or physical stimulus. Here are the following adversities that you can feel:
- Euphoria
- Constant state of confusion
- Memory loss
- Low blood pressure rate
- Reduced inhibition
- The lower level of anxiety
- Lowered muscle coordination
- Increased drowsiness
- Reduced pain perception
- Mortality in case of high alcohol consumption
- Decreased heart rate
Zoloft alters the chemical imbalance in the brain of people. While alcohol targets many neurotransmitters in the brain, Zoloft targets a specific one known as Serotonin. This neurotransmitter is known to balance the mood, motivation, and behavior of a person.
Following are some Zoloft side effects:
- A constant state of nervousness
- Altered appetite
- Decreased sex drive both in men and women
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Troubled ejaculation in men
- Headache
- Imbalanced acid production in the stomach
- State of Nausea
- Sleeping disorders
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
As the two interact, Zoloft might show some unexpected adverse effects on the body. When both Zoloft and alcohol are taken together, not only the effects intensify, they start appearing quickly. The most noted adversity is the problems with sleep. Either a person sleeps all the time or doesn’t sleep at all and carries on with the day with lightheadedness.
Can you drink alcohol while taking antidepressants?
People often raise the question that apart from Zoloft can a person drinks while taking any other anti-depressants. Well, to answer the question drinking with anti-depressants is not a good idea no matter what form and kind of the drug you are using. No matter medication you are using alcohol can worsen the side effects associated with the anti-depressants.
What should you not mix with Zoloft?
Physicians generally forbid people from taking MAO inhibitors like linezolid, methylene blue, and Safinamide, etc during the ongoing treatment of Zoloft. It is highly suggested that the MAO inhibitors should be taken two weeks before and after the treatment plan.
The real deal of mixing Zoloft and alcohol
When a person is taking prescription drugs or even the over-the-counter medication it is important to learn every fact about it have a thorough discussion with your doctor about your medical history, allergies or any addiction that you had.
Following are some of the information that you must take into consideration before Zoloft and alcohol use:
• Submit the medical history
Avoid submitting pretenses before getting the prescription of the message. Share through details of your medical history. If you have any other mental disorder, epileptic seizure, or addiction to the substance before so that physicians should vary about prescribing the dosage of Zoloft.
• Risk Analysis vs. Benefits
Physicians before prescribing usually go through the risks and assure that there are lesser of them in comparison with the benefits. If you are going through substance abuse, you may want to visit the rehab to get diagnosed both for depression and alcohol addiction. Young people might get suicidal when taking Zoloft, so counseling is even more important
• Increased in intoxication
Alcohol does not only enhance the adverse effect of Alcohol, but this antidepressant also increases the adversity of Alcohol. Some people also reported that after taking both alcohol and Zoloft together, the level of intoxication increases in the body.
• Missed dosage
A very strong reason as to why Alcohol is not suitable with Zoloft is that it can make people forgetful and non-serious towards following up the medication regimen. People usually get too drunk to observe their surroundings and ultimately forget to take Zoloft.
• Giving up on Alcohol is the key
Avoid substance abuse or Alcohol in general when you are prescribed with Zoloft. Zoloft and alcohol interaction should be avoided on all costs. It also defeats the purpose of taking Zoloft in the first place.
Final Words
Zoloft is an antidepressant used to treat depression. The medication is by far the most effective in the market against many mental disorders like OCD and Social anxiety etc. People often raise the question of whether Zoloft and alcohol together is a good idea or bad. To answer the question it is highly forbidden to drink alcohol when you are prescribed with Zoloft as it can trigger and enhance the side effects. If you are taking alcohol while treating depression all your hassle is of no use because the treatment does not improve the condition. Though no case of Zoloft and alcohol death was ever reported but one must be conscious.
