{"id":60295,"date":"2023-09-08T10:34:03","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T14:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60295"},"modified":"2024-11-13T19:31:47","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T00:31:47","slug":"lexapro-and-alcohol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/lexapro-and-alcohol\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it safe to mix Lexapro and alcohol?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many people feel having a drink can help take the edge off in certain situations, such as after a hectic day at work or at a social gathering. But if you\u2019ve been prescribed <\/span>Lexapro<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>escitalopram oxalate<\/span><\/a>), you may want to think twice before sipping your favorite beer, wine, or cocktail. It\u2019s important to know how alcohol interacts with your medications, and this is especially true of prescription antidepressants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lexapro is a brand-name drug <\/span>approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<\/span><\/a> to treat major depressive disorder and generalized <\/span>anxiety<\/span><\/a> disorder. Healthcare providers may also prescribe it off-label for other mental health conditions, including social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is classified as a <\/span>selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor<\/span><\/a> (SSRI). While SSRIs generally have <\/span>fewer side effects<\/span><\/a> than other types of antidepressants, that doesn\u2019t make it less dangerous to mix with alcohol or other substances.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mixing Lexapro and alcohol has serious side effects, risks, and potentially dangerous long-term consequences. Read on to learn what health experts say about the proper use of this antidepressant medication and why mixing it with alcohol could prevent you from getting the best results and lead to severe repercussions.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>RELATED: <\/b>Lexapro side effects and how to avoid them<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens if you mix Lexapro with alcohol?<\/span><\/h2>\n

When you drink alcohol\u2014a depressant that affects your body\u2019s <\/span>central nervous system<\/span><\/a>\u2014brain activity slows and affects coordination, mood, behavior, and inhibition (self-control). In addition, as an antidepressant, Lexapro<\/span> also affects the central nervous system, balancing serotonin levels in the brain. <\/span>Mixing Lexapro and alcohol may both increase certain side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[Combining the two] can lead to <\/span>impaired motor skills<\/span><\/a>, memory loss, confusion, dizziness, and an increased risk of suicide or depression,\u201d says <\/span>Paul Daidone<\/span><\/a>, MD, an addiction medicine specialist and medical director at True Self Recovery in Rogers, Arkansas.<\/span><\/p>\n

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