Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Antidepressive Agents

“Both these antidepressants were felt to be sedative, especially in the initial phase of the treatment, and they interacted additively with ethanol.”

“ Antidepressants alone had no effect on psychomotor skills, but alcohol always impaired performance.”

“It was found that the tricylic antidepressant added to the deleterious effects of alcohol.”

“However, despite the fact that benzodiazepines possess high therapeutic index and are … safe, their use can be dangerous when: (1) co-administered with alcohol , (2) co-… like sedatives, antidepressants , neuroleptics or morphine like substances, (3) driving under their influence, (…-therapeutically as drugs of abuse or in drug-facilitated crimes.”

“ Alcohol , cocaine or benzodiazepines when concomitantly consumed with antidepressant treatment may increase the risk for acting out.”

“Precautions necessary with any depressant agent should be followed, including a warning to patients about the likely additive effects of alcohol and other depressant drugs, and the possibility of residual effects on performance in the morning.”

“However, even in the presence of co-occurring depression, antidepressants in general lack the power to demonstrate a significant reduction of alcohol use among alcohol dependent patients with carefully diagnosed major depression.”

“Many of these medications had the potential for adverse interactions with alcohol , including opioids, anxiolytics, antidepressants , hypnotics, antipsychotics, and mood regulators.”

“Conclusions The present case report suggests that there may be an interaction between alcohol and antidepressants resulting in the serotonin syndrome, and clinicians should be aware of this possibility.”

“There was no difference for other relevant outcomes such as the … -0.12 to 0.42).Moderate-quality evidence found that antidepressants … alcohol during the trial (7 studies, 424 participants, RR 1.71, 95% Cl 1.…) -1.13 drinks per drinking days, 95% Cl -1.79 to -0.46).”