Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

What Are the Dangers of Taking Lexapro & Alcohol Together?

What Are the Dangers of Taking Lexapro & Alcohol Together? thumbnail
Lexapro can strengthen the negative effects of alcohol.

Lexapro is an antidepressant medication that corrects chemical imbalances within your brain to reduce depression or anxiety. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that slows brain activity. These two drugs can interact to cause significant adverse effects.

  1. Effects

    • Lexapro strengthens some of the negative effects of alcohol. If you combine these drugs, you may have impaired thinking and motor skills, as well as slower-than-normal reflexes.

    Considerations

    • According to its manufacturer, Lexapro may increase the depression that some people experience when they drink alcohol. When added to the underlying depression that triggered the need for Lexapro, this enhanced depression can be serious.

    Expert Insight

    • According to the manufacturers of Lexapro, it's best to avoid alcohol while taking this antidepressant. If you do drink, limit yourself to a light to moderate level. That means one drink a day for women and two for men.

    Time Frame

    • If you do drink while taking Lexapro, time your medication dose for an hour when you're not drinking alcohol to lower your risk for dangerous interactions.

    Warning

    • If you're on both alcohol and Lexapro, reduce the danger to yourself or others by avoiding activities that require concentration and rapid responses. This can include work activities, driving a motor vehicle or even leisure activities.

Related Searches:

References

Resources

  • Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of thebittenword.com

You May Also Like

  • Dangers of Stopping Lexapro

    Lexapro is a selective seritonin reuptake inhibitor used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder. As with all SSRIs, there are dangers...

  • About Using Lexapro for Anxiety

    Lexapro is a medication often prescribed for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, more commonly simply called "Anxiety." Often Lexapro can help manage the symptoms...

  • About Alcohol & Lexapro

    Lexapro is an anti-depressant medication that is also used to treat generalized anxiety disorder. It is a prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor...

  • What Happens When You Drink Alcohol While on Antibiotics?

    Antibiotics are drugs made, in whole or in part, from microorganisms such as bacterias, molds and fungi. Antibiotics are designed to treat...

  • What Are the Dangers of Alcohol?

    Excessive alcohol consumption can affect a person's life in many ways. Alcohol can be destructive to one's physical, mental and emotional health....

  • Can Zoloft & Lexapro Be Taken Together?

    Lexapro (escitalopram) and Zoloft (sertraline) are both SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor). They should not be used together unless under the close...

  • Side Effects of Lexapro When Used With Alcohol

    Lexapro is a medicine commonly prescribed for anxiety or depression. Lexapro does have common central nervous system effects, precisely as alcoholic beverages...

  • Can You Mix Alcohol & Lexapro?

    Lexapro is a common anti-depressant medication with the potential for serious side effects. Consuming alcohol while taking Lexapro is not recommended, but...

  • What Are the Dangers of Lexapro?

    Lexapro is a brand name for the prescription medication escitalopram. Despite its effectiveness in the treatment of depression and generalized anxiety disorder...

  • Dangers of Drinking Alcohol While Taking Antidepressents

    If you are taking antidepressants, it usually means you may suffer from depression, bipolar disorder or another mental illness. Deciding to mix...

  • Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Methotrexate?

    Methotrexate is an antifolate drug used to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer. Methotrexate works by inhibiting the use of folic acid in...

  • Can You Drink Alcohol While on Antibiotics?

    Drinking alcohol while simultaneously taking antibiotic medication can cause dangerous and sometimes life-threatening effects and should not be done without the ...

  • What Are the Dangers of Alcoholism?

    Alcoholism is the consumption of alcohol to the point where it interferes with your physical and mental health and has harmful effects...

  • What Are the Dangers of Mixing Drugs & Alcohol?

    Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that slows breathing, heart rate and cognition. When mixed with other mind-altering substances, alcohol increases...

  • How to Detoxify Naturally From Lexapro & Seroquel

    Lexapro and Seroquel are both anti-psychotic drugs, available only by prescription. Lexapro is usually prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders, while Seroquel...

  • The Effects of Alcohol & Lexapro

    Sometimes people can experience the "blues" from time to time. When these "blues" do not seem to go away within a few...

  • Lexapro Instructions

    Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, form of antidepressant that is prescribed to patients with depression and anxiety troubles....

  • What Alcohol can a Diabetic Drink?

    People with diabetes can drink, but they must be careful. Even small amounts of alcohol can effect blood sugar levels. Certain types...

  • Bad Side Effects of Quitting Lexapro

    Lexapro is a prescription antidepressant drugs used to treat depression and anxiety. It is in the group of medications referred to as...

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured