Lexapro and Alcohol?

Question

My doctor told me its fine to drink while taking Lexapro.
My pharmacist said its better not to drink when you first start taking Lexapro.
The Lexapro website says to avoid alcohol.
Does anyone know a specific answer. I enjoy drinking, and I have to take Lexapro everyday, does this mean I can't drink for the whole time i'm taking it. And my doctor said its fine also. I'm probably going to be taking this medication for months. Also he gave me Zantax for when i have anxiety attacks. Is it ok to take a Zantax if i've taken my dosage of Lexapro that day?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Both Lexapro and alcohol work in your central nervous system (CNS)... mainly the alcohol will just cause additional 'CNS' effects like someone else stated...Probably not the best idea to do since , again like someone else said... alcohol doesn't really increase your mood ...and if on Lexapro, you'd be working against your medicine..(but really, a glass of wine every 2 - 3 days or less or a beer on the weekend probably not a big deal, just don't do every day or 'binge' style... It's your call on whether you want your Lexapro to be real effective, or 'so-so' effective by drinking alcohol with it)..

Regards to the Zantax (Xanax-alprazolam), as long as your doc knows you are on both... should be fine at the dose you were prescribed.. Timing of doses do not matter either since they don't physically react and work on different conditions through different mechanisms...

Source(s):

Me

Answer 2

My dr told me its ok to drink in moderation.aka. one glass of wine. It causes you to get drunk faster.. a lot faster and not a good drunk either

I dont know the second answer to the question, but i think if you get them filled at the same place you should ask them

Answer 3

Well, the whole point of taking the antidepressant is to be less depressed. Since alcohol is a depressant, you really don't want to do that on a chronic basis, once in a while is ok. Also, for the xanax, DO NOT , DO NOT DO NOT mix this with alcohol... you WILL puke your guts out.

Answer 4

First off, Xanax and Lexapro can be taken together, but its best if they doses are spread out by at least two hours.

Lexapro and all other SSRI's for depression should not be taken with alcohol. Alcohol would interfere with the receptors that the Lexapro normally binds and this could result in a large amount of unbound drug in your body and cause toxicity. Alcohol also tends to increase the bad side effects of Lexapro, this is why your pharmacist said to avoid it during the beginning of your treatment, when you are most likely to experience the bad side effects. The side effects that can be increased include nausea, somnolence, insomnia and others. This could also result in a decrease in cognitive and motor performance.

Source(s):

I'm a pharmacy student

Answer 5

No.....it is not OK to drink alcohol while on Lexapro. One beer, or one glass of wine would probably be OK. Bu when patients are told that, they think they have carte blanche to drink heavily.

Zantax? You'll have to send me some of that! It sounds like a combination antianxiety (Xanax) acid reducer (Zantac).

Spelling counts. It's how we avoid making mistakes.

Source(s):

lil old me. Phrmacist for 18 years

Answer 6

Lexapro, made my hair fall out in clumps, and I was sleepy all the time, I stopped taking it and my hair is still falling out due to this med, I don't recommend anyone take it

Source(s):

Been there done that