Prozac (fluoxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression and other mental health conditions. Now, it is very common for alcohol use to co-occur with these conditions. So, if you have been prescribed Prozac, questions such as “Can you drink alcohol on Prozac?” or “Can you drink with Prozac?” can linger on your mind.
In this article, we will break it down for you whether drinking while on Prozac is safe for you, so that you can make informed decisions going forward.
What Is Prozac – and How Does It Work?
Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It is used to treat major depressive disorder, bipolar-related depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and bulimia nervosa by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. It is only 30 years old, yet it is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for many of these mental health conditions.
Typically, Prozac is taken only once in the morning (preferably), beginning with doses of 10-20 mg and a maximum of 80 mg.
So, Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Prozac?
The straightforward answer is no. Generally speaking, alcohol use is common with the conditions treated with Prozac. For instance, alcohol use co-occurs at a rate of 27% to 40% with depression and at 22% with bipolar disorder. Yet, this combination can be dangerous.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant – meaning, it slows down your brain function. When you combine Prozac with alcohol, side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, impaired coordination, and tiredness become significantly worse – even with just one drink! So, experts and doctors will strongly advise against drinking alcohol on Prozac.
What Happens When You Drink on Prozac?
Prozac relaxes your mood, but it also has some side effects like interfering with coordination, focus, drowsiness, and tiredness – just like alcohol. So, combining Prozac with alcohol can quickly lead to intense levels of these side effects, like:
- Lightheadedness
- Weakness and tiredness
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Suicidal thoughts and ideation.
These effects can be so severe that they can impede your day-to-day functioning. In fact, alcohol can interfere with Prozac and reduce its effectiveness, too. Taking Prozac does not cure or nullify the effects of alcohol on the mental health condition. This psychoactive substance can only worsen your mental health symptoms – with and without Prozac.
Does It Matter If You Wait Before Drinking on Prozac?
Now that we know that the answer to can you drink with Prozac is a straightforward no, the next question to tackle here is whether it matters that you before drinking alcohol on Prozac. The answer is no. The reason being, Prozac’s half-life is 4-6 days, meaning it takes nearly 6 days (or more) to eliminate just half of the medication from your system, and many more such cycles before it is completely eliminated from your system.
So, even if you wait for a few hours before drinking while on Prozac, it makes no difference. The only solution is to avoid alcohol altogether if you are prescribed Prozac for depression, bipolar disorder, or any other mental health conditions. In fact, it is beneficial for your mental health symptoms, too.
How Alcohol Worsens Mental Health Conditions?
When substance use, such as alcohol use, co-occurs with mental health conditions, it is known as a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. While experts have not been able to pinpoint one reason why alcohol use is common among those with mental health conditions, here are a few reasons suggested:
- Common risk factors lead to alcohol use and mental health conditions.
- Those with mental health conditions use alcohol to self-medicate so as to numb the pain and suffering.
- Alcohol use leads to or worsens mental health conditions.
Whatever the reason, alcohol use and mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, OCD, bulimia, and others feed off of one another and worsen each other. For instance, among those with depression, alcohol can exacerbate the persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and worthlessness, and give rise to severe episodes where one may struggle with suicidal thoughts and ideation.
Therefore, whenever you have been prescribed Prozac for your healing, staying off of alcohol is the safe and best decision for your well-being. In many cases, however, this is easier said than done.
Treating Alcohol Use and Mental Health Conditions
When alcohol use becomes so severe that you are not able to control your drinking or feel that you are dependent on it to function properly, you may be struggling with an alcohol use disorder. In these cases, giving up alcohol on your own can be detrimental to your safety as well as the co-occurring mental health condition(s).
However, you do not have to do it on your own. Reaching out to treatment/rehab centers or licensed and trained mental health practitioners will help you deal with both of these conditions simultaneously. A dual diagnosis of alcohol use and a mental health condition is treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, medication management, peer support, and aftercare. With time, effort, and understanding, you can journey toward lasting healing and recovery.
Take Control of Your Recovery With Skyline!
If managing alcohol with your Prozac treatment feels overwhelming, you do not have to do it on your own. At Skyline Recovery Center, we offer cutting-edge, evidence-based dual diagnosis care programs tailored to your mental health and substance use challenges.
Reach out today at (310) 269-0038 and let us take this step toward healing, together!