drinking and taking lexapro please read!!

living_4_the-future · Post by **living_4_the-future** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:44 am

Last night I went out with some friends and I normally dont drink much at all,so I only had one drink but it was in this small bucket thing I want to say like 32 oz and it had like 6 or 7 different rums in it there was like cocunet run, orange rum, banan rum, dark rum, pinapple rum, and like 4 juices, it was one part of all those rums and than 1.5 parts of each juice so i dont know how strong it was. But i didnt even drink it all and I felt buzzed and i started to feel drunk. I drank a little more than half of it and threw it away. I am on 10mg of lexapro and today I couldnt sleep well at all and I have been having anxiety all morning you know the shaking, racing thoughts, body feels tight, you feel weird and out of it. I did take my meds last night, but I dont know how only one of those could have made me feel this way. Has anyone ever drank on lexapro and is it safe? Will it harm me? Please answer

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:10 am

Usually after a night of drinking, people who have anxiety have those symptoms you are experiencing. I am not on Lexapro, but I am on an antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication and my doctor told me I should avoid drinking alcohol and smoking pot because it affects the way the medication works. Im not sure if it could seriously harm you, but why take the risk? I know its hard not to drink in a social situation, I was having a hard time with this at first, but I do want to get better and if that means no booze, then so be it. I would recommend laying off the alcohol completely, at least until you are off the medication, or until you have completely recovered. I hope that helped a bit. And you can have fun not drinking... maybe from now on you can help your friends out by being their designated driver? Im sure they would appreciate that

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:04 am

I take Lexapro 10mg and is working well for my anxiety. On my bottle is clearly states, Do Not ATake Alcholic Beverages While on This Medication! so I havent and I wont.

I dont think what you took will harm you but it could make you feel the way you do. I have heard alcohol intensifies and changes the medication components. Also alcohol is a depressant and Lexapro is an anit-depressant so these two things are contradicting each other.

If I were you I wouldnt drink on it anymore as you dont like the side effects of doing so.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:16 am

Found this info online, makes sense. most Likely the Lex you took last night isnt working like it should becasue of the alcohol you took. That drink probably had more than you think in it.

Lexapro is an ANTIDEPRESSENT. Alcohol is a DEPRESSENT. Therefore, the Lexapro may not work as intended when mixed with alcohol. As with many other medications, you should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while being treated with Lexapro.

So there you have it. I am sure by tomorrow you will feel ok. Drink lots of water today.

Angie S · Post by **Angie S** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:51 pm

Thanks for the replys I do feel better right now, But i was thinking. If alcohol makes the medication not work like it should than is this going to be the way i feel when i do wean myself off of lexapro I sure hope not. My Dr. has given me the ok to wean myself off she said this like 2 months ago but I have not done it yet, I am kinda stalling because of the fear of the withdraws.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 2:16 am

I've been told by my psychitrist - the medication will magnify the effects of the alcohol - so say that, for example - 1 drink(rum n coke) for ex - has the equivalent of 1 SHOT of rum. Drinking that drink while on a depression or anti anxiety med will be as though that same drink has 3 shots of rum(in terms of the alcoholic effects on you).

I have recovered fr anxiety disorder & currently recovering fr depress I have for the 1st time in my 39 yrs. During these 3 1/2 yrs, I DON'T DRINK. Not because I am HOLYIER THAN THOU - not. Trust you me - I'm no saint. I am careful & responsible w/ any & all medications I have to take. Combining medications, esp those as potent as anxiety or depress meds, can create great risk - this is not said to frighten you - but to make you aware - to be GROWNUP about it.

Oh, there have been many occasions during the past 3 1/2 yrs, where I could have - but didn't: holidays + bdays + anniversary(wedding) + outings w/ friends + dinners @ restaurants, etc. These events are not going away - I will have many more. The alcohol won't go away either - Sometime in the future - I will be able to enjoy a drink or 2 - when I am off ALL MEDS(now its only the depress med). Until then, I am willing to wait + be responsible + play it safe. I had never taken any med's b/4 anxiety disorder triggered & I needed anxiety med + 2 sleep aids. So, sure as heck, I'm not gonna mess things up by adding alcohol to the mix. How could I say what the effects of that combo would be? Again, not to scare you - but there are serious ramifications for combining both - I personally wasn't willing to take that risk. My time will come - lol, I have it already set, lol - it's spring or summer time - I'm in an outdoor cafe w/ hubby / family or friends. I'm sitting back - knowing I don't need to be or want to be anywhere but RIGHT THERE. The gentle breeze is brushing against my face - w/ the sun shining on me. There is chatter & laughter all around. In my hand is my RUM N COKE W/ SLICE OF LIME - the drink I earned & worked hard for. Not only can I truly enjoy this drink cause of the hard work I've done - I can also enjoy it FREE of worry/concern/risk - cause I'm not on any meds at all. AHHHHHHHH, THAT DRINK TASTES GOOD - even a little better than I had ever had 1 in yrs gone by. " I look forward to that day in my outdoor cafe.

Finally: I've never had depress b/4 in my life - so obviously I've never taken a med for it or nothing. I did research to inform & empower myself. The %age of people who are depressed(& w/ anxiety disorder too) who ABUSE ALCOHOL is somewhere @ 50% + - that is a statistic way too high for me. Now, I've never been an alcohol b/4 - thank goodness. But, the emotional pain of depression is HELL ON EARTH - so I could literally see - how many would say "I'm just gonna have this 1 drink - it feels good & I don't feel bad - no pain" - w/o even realizing it - 1 becomes 2 or 3 - the # of times increases - all to numb the pain or symptoms. My best friends older sister is a working alcoholic - though she'd never admit it. My friend believes she also has depress & may also be taking a med for it(her sister is guarded about her business ) - every time I am w/ that family for whatever the reason - this sister is drunk - for it is easier to have a drink - than to face/feel/deal/address all that is behind the depression or anxiety disorder - IT IS VERY TEMPTING.

Now, you may be saying to this screen as you're reading this book I'm writing here, "I just went out & had 1 drink" - lol, sweetie, you may even roll your eyes @ me(I'm joking w/ you) - I want you to be safe/responsible about you + your recovery + any MEDICATIONS you are taking on your journey to recovery. Again, I'm am not trying to scare you - but these things do happen - subtley. Look @ Anna Nicole Smith or Heith Ledger - both of these individuals had mental & emotional disorders(anxiety & depress) - their pain was such - that it became easier for them to NUMB THEMSELVES w/ prescription meds & alcohol - they didn't think it was no big deal. It was just a little something here & there. To them, NO BIG DEAL. When I saw those tragedies, I knew I would ever have a drink until I was off all meds - I would rather deal & feel & face whatever I had to NOW & let that cafe & rum n coke wait for me. It's so easy for all of us to say, "oh, that wouldn't be me - that would never be me - I would never do that". I'm pretty darn sure, Anna & Heith didn't think that either.

Pls just be safe & responsible - take care of you & your recovery.

Your Friend,
LENORE

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:33 am

Speaking 4 myself. Towards the end of my alcohol abuse, I felt the same way that you are talking about in the mornings. Now ath the time I was on no medication. I just drank. Although you dont drink much the after effects of alcohol can still be there. The anxiety, guilt, racing thoughts........these feelings all caused me to drink again...it was the only thing I knew that could get rid of those feelings only to come back worse the next morning after. Dont know if that helped any, but hollar if u need me

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:29 am

thanks guys, I only had one drink but I do not thionk I will drink again nothing hard anyways. I dont even really like to drink anymore the only reason I really do it is to loosen up at the bar because other wise i am up tight and I wont dance or do anything really bc I think I look "stupid" but the alcohol even one drink makes me feel like I can. I dont like the after effects and its just not worth it to me the next day is the worst feeling even if i do only have one drink I FEEL IT. So next time I will get a sprite like I do most of the time when I go to the bar and if someone asks I can lie or I can tell the truth on whats in my cup, they will never know. Because I am not a out of control person when I drink anyways "I never drink enough to get drunk"

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 11:43 am

Originally posted by living_4_the-future:
Thanks for the replys I do feel better right now, But i was thinking. If alcohol makes the medication not work like it should than is this going to be the way i feel when i do wean myself off of lexapro I sure hope not. My Dr. has given me the ok to wean myself off she said this like 2 months ago but I have not done it yet, I am kinda stalling because of the fear of the withdraws.

No I dont think it will make you feel the same as the alcohol did. If you wean properly and slowly than you should have minimual side effects. That being said, if the anxiety comes raging back then perhaps its more of a chemical imbalance and you may need the meds. How long have you been on Lex so far?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:43 pm

I have been on lexapro for about 5 years I got on it after taking paxil when I was 16 paxil made me gain to much weight so i switched. Now lexapro and the mix with birth control is making me gain about 10-15 pounds a year when i started meds i was very skinny and now well i am not where i want to be. I am not fat either just not fit. Anyways I dont even know what it feels like to be off of medication bc i have been on it for so long. I re started the program again for like the 5th time i always stop doing it, it is always so hard for me to stick to it for some reason, but once I get over some humps i am going to wean off lexapro my dr said i can go ahead and experiement with it and see how i do.