Prozac is prescribed for the following health conditions:This drug is also sometimes combined with other medications to treat bipolar disorder.Some adults like to have a drink for a special occasion. Drug Safety 2009;32:948–9. These drugs work with neurotransmitters in the brain to help people with depression and anxiety. It's best to avoid combining antidepressants and alcohol. 8 Menkes DB, Herxheimer A. Provocation by alcohol of violence as a side-effect of antidepressants. 352-771-2700 Comprehensive alcohol & food interactions for Prozac (fluoxetine). Signs of Alcohol Abuse. This effect can lead to potentially dangerous situations. al., 1998). Effects of Alcohol. ProzacProzac works to balance the brain’s neurotransmitters responsible for mood, such as serotonin. But it does suggest that the drug may reduce your desire to drink.It’s important to note that the effects of combining alcohol with Prozac can happen even if you don’t drink at the same exact time you take the drug. While not considered addictive, SSRIs can produce side effects. Others might drink more often to alleviate stress. The combination can also cause extreme drowsiness, which can lead to accidents and falls. 4,10,11 Individuals may commit acts that are out of character for them and have no knowledge of doing so the next day. Prozac can interfere with coordinated movement and alertness, like alcohol does. al., 1998): No cluster of symptoms suggestive of a discontinuation syndrome was observed. Last medically reviewed on July 29, 2016. Psych Central does not provide medical or psychological advice, diagnosis or treatment. All rights reserved. Some forms of the drug can affect your body for more than two weeks after you take your last dose.Alcohol is a depressant, so drinking it when you have depression can make the symptoms of your condition worse. When mixing alcohol with Prozac, it may not take as much alcohol to create a higher level of intoxication. This means you won’t get the full benefits of Prozac. (2008). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor discontinuation syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (2001). © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. It is recommended to speak with a physician who can fully evaluate individual risk factors and the potential for alcohol misuse.Keep these important points in mind if you are considering mixing Prozac and alcohol. It’s a depressant that impacts your brain function. The issue of violent, self destructive behavior associated with Prozac (fluoxetine) remains controversial. More medications translate to more possible danger.Also, as you age, alcohol takes longer to be absorbed into the body. These can include: Mixing Prozac and alcohol may cause fatigue and weakness, which may interfere with your ability to finish simple tasks. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Mixing the two can put your health at risk. Prozac is an antidepressant. There are many safe, effective ways to treat depression. After discontinuation from subchronic administration, sleep quality indices normalized quickly (within 2-4 days), whereas REM latency and spectral power effects correlated with total SSRI plasma concentration and normalized more slowly, corresponding to the drug plasma half-life of about 10 days.Meaning that REM sleep recovered more slowly from the discontinuation of Prozac, but not substantially so much it interfered with a person’s general sleep quality.On the other side, in a 10th anniversary love letter to Prozac, Stokes & Holtz (1997) wrote: Rapid discontinuation or missed doses of short-half-life selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, TCAs, and heterocyclic antidepressants are associated with withdrawal symptoms of a somatic and psychological nature, which cannot only be disruptive, but can also be suggestive of relapse or recurrence of depression.In striking contrast to these short-half-life antidepressants, fluoxetine is rarely associated with such sequelae on sudden discontinuation or missed doses. Copyright © 1995-2020 Psych Central. If you have strong urges to drink, talk about these feelings with your doctor. This can help control your mood and behavior. [7]. The “even worse feelings” that can ensue with this drug combination might lead to suicidal tendencies. al., 1995, but not while discontinuing it).So if the drug is out of a person’s system within 3 weeks, could it still have an effect on other brain chemicals or hormones long after that? Fluoxetine is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Even though Prozac is nearly 30 years old, it’s still one of the most prescribed antidepressants in the United States. (1999). In 2015 alone, nearly 10 million adults reported having a “serious mental illness” in the past year. Nearly 10 million adults reported having a “ serious Mental illness ” in the year! The brain to help people with depression and anxiety talk about these feelings with your ability finish... 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