The combination can also raise your risk of other dangerous or unpleasant side effects from Zoloft. A case study reported that people who took Zoloft could experience drowsiness and sedation from the drug. The risk of drowsiness is higher if you take larger doses of Zoloft, such as 100 milligrams (mg). If you have other questions about taking Zoloft and Pepcid together, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Yes, it’s considered safe to take Zoloft with famotidine (Pepcid). Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may block your body from breaking down Zoloft after you take a dose.
- The prescribing information explains that Zoloft can make you sleepy, affect decision making, and impair reaction time.
- Limited research exists on how drinking small amounts of alcohol with Zoloft will affect you.
- Another similar group of antidepressants called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) interact with SSRIs (including Zoloft).
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions. A 2017 clinical trial found that caffeine increases the effectiveness of antidepressant medications in rodents. To determine if it affects humans in a similar way, the authors tested it on 95 male participants who took antidepressants. However, some people who take Zoloft find that they can drink small amounts of alcohol without negative effects. An older study found that the combination did not cause significant impairment.
How can I prevent interactions?
You should also never skip doses of your medication to drink alcohol. Doing this can make your condition worse, and the drug will also likely still be in your body. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Zoloft. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Zoloft for you. SSRIs like Zoloft have the potential to interact with alcohol, increasing the risk of negative adverse effects, such as dizziness or sleepiness.
If you have questions about receiving vaccines while you’re taking Zoloft, talk with your doctor. It’s possible that grapefruit or grapefruit juice interacts with Zoloft. But if these two substances do interact, it isn’t thought to be a serious interaction.
This is serious, and it can heighten when a person taking this medication also consumes alcohol. The interaction can cause depression, clindamycin hcl oral which may hinder the effectiveness of an antidepressant. The combined effects can make a suicide attempt more likely.
Can You Drink Alcohol Safely While Taking Zoloft?
Below, learn more about the risks of consuming alcohol while taking Zoloft. Remember, the key is to find activities that you enjoy and that align with your interests and values. Prioritize what’s best for your health, and choose options to help your well-being. There are currently no reports of Zoloft interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Zoloft.
If your doctor gives you this medication, you may wonder if it’s safe to drink alcohol during treatment. Due to this risk, doctors typically avoid prescribing more than one SSRI at a time. Taking multiple SSRIs together can raise your risk of side effects. And combining SSRIs hasn’t been shown to work better for depression than using just one SSRI.
Zoloft is prescribed to treat clinical depression and several other mental health conditions. If you still have questions about Zoloft and medications and drugs that cause hair loss its possible interactions, talk with your doctor. One possible side effect of Zoloft is an increase in suicidal behavior and thinking.
Interaction with other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Anyone taking any medication should try to prevent drug interactions. If a person is taking Zoloft, they should avoid drinking alcohol. And there are two additional complications of drinking while taking an antidepressant to treat your depressive symptoms. Even if you don’t take Zoloft, you shouldn’t drink alcohol if you have depression. This is because alcohol is a neurological suppressant that changes how your brain functions.
Vitamin C and Adderall interactions
Zoloft belongs to a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). They work by blocking the brain’s serotonin receptors, causing more serotonin molecules to circulate. Serotonin stabilizes a person’s mood and is known as the “feel-good” hormone. Having more of this hormone in the brain can benefit mood, sleep, and emotions. People with depression may turn to alcohol to try to feel better in the short term; however, alcohol can worsen their condition.
Alcohol affects the brain in various ways and is considered a depressant. It disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain that control emotions, which results in psychological changes. While alcohol might make a person feel better for a short while, it can make them feel worse in the long run.
Medical Professionals
If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and connect with a trained counselor. For more mental health resources, see the National Helpline Database. Besides reducing effectiveness, alcohol can make you feel more tired, dizzy, or sick when consumed with antidepressants.
There are currently no reports of Zoloft interacting with vitamins. But this adhd and alcohol doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future.
It is impossible for a doctor to estimate how much alcohol might be safe for someone taking Zoloft. Each person metabolizes alcohol and antidepressants differently, and a safe amount for one person may not be safe for another. If a person does decide to drink while taking Zoloft, they should do so with caution, and stop consuming alcohol if any adverse effects develop. The short answer is no, it’s not safe to mix Zoloft with alcohol.