Antidepressants and alcohol - are they compatible?

What happens when you take antidepressants with alcohol?

A combination of antidepressants and alcohol is strongly discouraged. There have been repeated reports of deaths due to a mixture of both preparations.
Because the effect of certain antidepressants is increased when alcohol is taken at the same time. This is the case with the tricyclic antidepressants, the MAO inhibitors (here only tranylcypromine) and with alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists. Alcohol is an absolute contraindication here.
Combination with alcohol is also not recommended for SSRIs such as citalopram or fluoxetine, but the risk of interactions is low.

Read more on the topic: Citalopram and alcohol - are they compatible?

Combination of tricyclic antidepressants and alcohol

The simultaneous use of tricyclic antidepressants and alcohol causes one Enhancement of the sedative effect the antidepressants.
So it does not stay with the desired calming effect, but it can go beyond that Loss of consciousness up to Elimination of protective reflexes come.
In the worst case, this means one Decrease in respiratory drive, the level of carbon dioxide in the blood rises while the level of oxygen falls. Without countermeasures, this leads to Apnea.

Combination of MAO inhibitors or alpha antagonists and alcohol

When combining these two antidepressants with alcohol, the Effect of alcohol intensified in an unpredictable way. Often, even small amounts are enough to get a “feeling of intoxication”.
At the MAO inhibitor tranylcypromine must also be noted when taking In addition, the breakdown of the amino acid tyramine is inhibited becomes.
Therefore, when taking tranylcypromine, a low tyramine diet are preferred (for example avoiding red wine, cheese, etc.). Otherwise, it can lead to a build-up of tyramine severe and potentially dangerous increase in blood pressure come.

Can taking antidepressants and alcohol together be fatal?

The Combination of alcohol and antidepressants can actually fatal be. Therefore, alcohol should only be used with great caution drink or dispense with large quantities or, if possible, completely dispense with alcohol. Alcohol and antidepressants work in part on the same receptors in the brain. This can exacerbate side effects that affect, for example, the circulatory system and the work of the heart. Again, it also depends on which Type of antidepressant is taken. So can antidepressants of the group Tetracyclic e.g. Maprotilin, Mianserin and also the MAOIs Cause high blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias.
Additional alcohol consumption can ultimately lead to heart failure and death. Tetracyclics can also narrow the bronchi, which in the worst case can lead to respiratory failure. Therefore, alcohol should only be consumed while taking antidepressants, even in small amounts Consultation of the attending physician.

Personality changes when taking antidepressants and alcohol

From one Personality change you speak when the character of a person changes and he reacts differently to different situations than you are used to.
It can be that people react more irritably to certain situations or are more nervous and reckless than usual. Since alcohol and some antidepressants can cause personality changes even when taken alone, the Combination of both Increase the likelihood of behavior change occurring, or a Reinforce personality change. For example, in the group of tricyclics (bupropion, imipramine, methlphenidate, etc.), nervousness, confusion, perception disorders, anxiety and hyperactivity were found as side effects, which can cause personality changes or are perceived as such. Because this group of antidepressants works on the same receptors in the brain as alcohol, taking them at the same time can increase the risk of personality changes.

Psychosis from taking antidepressants and alcohol

At a psychosis the patient loses that for a while relation to reality and perceives the environment and people differently. It can too Anxiety, Delusions, Hallucinations, Changes in touch, smell and taste come. Some antidepressants can induce delusions and hallucinations like this.
alcohol can also change perception in certain quantities and thus also ensure that people perceive the environment in a different way. Because the effects of alcohol and antidepressants can be increased when taken at the same time Psychosis more likely. The risk of developing psychosis is therefore another reason to avoid alcohol while taking antidepressants.

"Film tear" from taking antidepressants and alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption restricts the Memory performance strong even without taking antidepressants a. This is scientifically explained by the fact that substances in alcohol bind to receptors in the brain that are actually intended for other messenger substances. These "other messenger substances" are responsible for memory formation.
If alcohol is drunk, they are memory-forming messengers however blocked and can no longer do their job. The memory performance decreases and in the worst case there is a so-called "film tear".
As already mentioned, the individual effects of alcohol and antidepressants can be potentiated when taken at the same time. Some antidepressants, such as noradrenaline-serotonin-selective antidepressants such as mirtazapine or amitriptyline, induce sedation, which can also lead to a reduction in perception and memory.
The sedative effects of the Antidepressants plus the from alcohol evoked memory-disturbing effect can the probability for a "film tear" increase significantly.

Headache from alcohol and antidepressants

a headache after or during alcohol consumption will be through strong drainage of the body triggered by the alcohol. Therefore it is not uncommon to develop headaches after drinking alcohol.
Many antidepressants, for example almost all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, are known to cause headaches.
Since the general rule is that the effect of antidepressants is increased when alcohol is consumed at the same time, this side effect can also occur with a higher risk. However, you can Headache after drinking large amounts of alcohol the next day not clearly indicative of an interaction be attributed to alcohol and antidepressants. It can also be “just” the aftereffects of alcohol that make the head ache.

Consequences of taking antidepressants and alcohol consumption on the liver

Alcohol works with long-term consumption toxic on the liver. Therefore, long-term consumption should be avoided with or without taking antidepressants.
In contrast, some antidepressants can also work independently Liver damage as a side effect cause. In some cases, liver dysfunction may occur when taking tricyclic antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can also cause liver dysfunction in rare cases. Melatonin analogs like agomelatine can also cause acute liver damage like a Inflammation of the liver and Jaundice have as a consequence. As these rare side effects can be dangerous, liver function tests must be performed regularly when taking them.
The Likelihood of liver damage through the simultaneous use of antidepressants and alcohol is clearly increased. Regular alcohol consumption in particular should therefore be avoided. With tricyclic antidepressants, it is even advised not to consume alcohol at all.