However, doctors strongly recommend that people avoid drinking while taking antidepressants. Alcohol can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety and can increase the side effects How To Clean Your System From Alcohol In 24 Hours? of antidepressants. Lexapro, also known as escitalopram in its generic form, is a type of antidepressant in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Lexapro and other SSRIs are used to treat the symptoms relating to these psychological disorders to give patients relief and help them feel more “normal” in their day-to-day lives. Alcohol cravings are common, especially when you first try to change your drinking habits. It could take some time and effort to find a strategy that helps you navigate them effectively, but you do have plenty of options for support. The new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes cravings as part of the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD).

How Common Is Lexapro Addiction and Abuse?

This article will explore the effects of combining alcohol and antidepressants like Zoloft. If you have narrow eye angles, tell your doctor before starting Lexapro. This an eye condition in which your iris and cornea are closer together than usual. Lexapro may widen your https://trading-market.org/uk-construction-dives-amid-housebuilding-slump-and/ pupils, which could lead to closed-angle glaucoma in people with narrow eye angles. Due to this risk, your doctor may suggest you have an eye exam before starting Lexapro. If you have a bleeding problem, such as hemophilia, talk with your doctor before taking Lexapro.

• This can lead to liver damage due to the increased alcohol usage over time.
• And if you find it hard to abstain from alcohol, seek help from a medical professional to avoid any potential interactions and health risks.
• Specifically, this risk is higher in people ages 24 years and younger.

They recruited 32 people to take the SSRI escitalopram (also known by the brand name Lexapro) or a placebo for one month. Then they asked the people to take a PET scan at the end of the trial, and used radioactive tracers to track where in the brain new synapses were forming. At the end of the day, just remember you don’t have to run the course alone — connecting with a therapist or joining a recovery program can make all the difference. Maybe you experience your strongest cravings when you feel anxious or stressed or find yourself facing conflict with someone you care about.

Treatment Locations

Attempting to suddenly discontinue alcohol use can lead to alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which is in part related to these changes in neurotransmitter and neurotransmitter receptors. Alcohol withdrawal can lead to symptoms such as seizures, hallucinations, anxiety, increased heart rate, tremors, nausea, and vomiting. https://accountingcoaching.online/how-to-build-alcohol-tolerance-the-best-tips-from/ Patients with existing health conditions related to the heart, liver, or kidney are at increased risk for side effects. They should discuss whether or not it is safe to drink alcohol while taking Lexapro with their healthcare provider. Most people should not drink alcohol during treatment with the medication.