Lexapro and Alcohol

Lexapro, which is the brand name for escitalopram, is one of the most effective selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), used for treating anxiety and depression in adults and adolescents over the age of 12 years old. While it is highly effective in most people, there are a number of side effects that you can experience, which can be made worse by combining Lexapro and alcohol. Anyone that is taking escitalopram and alcohol at the same time should be very careful and consult medical advice to ensure that they are not doing long term damage.

Side Effects Lexapro

The side effects that you can expect when taking Lexapro without alcohol include: nausea, changing in weight, dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, troubles sleeping, and mild to severe sexual complications. Lexapro can also affect the heart and in rare cases people have been allergic to one or more of the ingredients in the medication. Make sure that if you are taking Lexapro and are experiencing any of these side effects that you consult with your physician, and if you are unsure about the severity, seek immediate medical attention.

The Lexapro Alcohol Combination

When you are taking any SSRI you should be very careful about consuming alcohol as it can decrease the effectiveness of the medication, and even lead to complication or negative side effects. Escitalopram and alcohol is a combination that you shouldn’t experiment with as you can increase the likelihood of some of the more severe side effects such as suicidal or self-harming thoughts. If you are thinking about taking Lexapro and alcohol, be aware that even the mild side effects of one or the other on its own, such as dizziness, can be amplified to dangerous levels when they affect you at the same time. The best solution is to avoid alcohol completely, but if you really want to have a drink talk with your doctor about the possible negative side effects, be cautious, and try to drink less than you normally would otherwise drink.

Being mindful of this potentially dangerous combination can allow you to avoid the complications that can occur when combining Lexapro and alcohol. The Lexapro alcohol drug interaction is one of a number of different interactions that you should be aware of and try to avoid. Reading the label carefully will make sure that you have a good amount of information, but discussing possible drug interactions with your physician and/or pharmacist will give you a better idea. Whenever you are taking more than one medication it is important to make sure that they are compatible and discuss other option with your physician. If you can, avoid escitalopram and alcohol in the same day.