Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Fluoxetine

“Therefore, fluoxetine seems to have a robust effect on decreasing desire for alcohol.”

“Additional screens of CNS active agents with possible Wnt activity indicated fluoxetine could also prevent the permeability effects of ethanol.”

“Similarly, studies of alcohol-dependent human subjects have shown that treatment with 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (i.e. zimeldine, citalopram, fluoxetine , and fluvoxamine) decreases the desire to drink alcohol and improves symptoms of alcohol-related anxiety and depression in patients who have undergone detoxification.”

“Similarly, studies of alcohol-dependent human subjects have shown that treatment with 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (i.e. zimeldine, citalopram, fluoxetine , and fluvoxamine) decreases the desire to drink alcohol and improves symptoms of alcohol-related anxiety and depression in patients who have undergone detoxification.”

“Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that fluoxetine , a serotonin uptake inhibitor, reduced the oral consumption or intragastric self-administration of alcohol in the P rats.”

“Previous research demonstrated that serotonin uptake blockers (e.g., zimeldine, sertraline, fluoxetine ) reduce voluntary ethanol consumption in rats and humans.”

“Permeation enhancement of fluoxetine , either in the salt or base form, was achieved using various enhancers like azone, SR-38, and ethanol.”

“The results indicated that ethanol at 65% vol/vol was able to increase the permeation of fluoxetine the most, while microemulsion systems showed decrease in the permeation of fluoxetine.”

“Citalopram (40 mg) and Fluoxetine (60-80 mg) significantly reduce ethanol intake.”

“We suggest caution when using fluoxetine in bulimic patients with depression who have additional impulsive behaviours such as self-cutting, alcohol and/or drug abuse and shop-lifting.”

“Several fatalities due to fluoxetine combined with other drugs such as ethyl alcohol have been reported.”