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Paxil combined with alcohol- a dangerous combination?
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MedHelp Member's Question

Paxil combined with alcohol- a dangerous combination?

by clay, May 07, 2000 12:00AM
Hi, I need some help determining what I'm feeling here.  I've been on Paxil for about 3 and a half weeks now and the last week I have done some serious drinking on a very constant basis.  Yesterday I stopped the drinkin but I felt racked by nerves and the panic attacks came in horrible waves, causing me to throw up three different times.  All during the night I felt like I was crazy and I awoke all night about every thirty or forty-five minutes.  Another factor to tak in to affect is that I stopped paxil about 2 days before this awful episode last night.  Please help.



Thanks,

worried
Doctor's Answer

by HFHS-M.D-HG, May 09, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Clay



Paxil should not be combined with alcohol. It sounds like you are having withdrawal symptoms from severe alcohol drinking. Alcohol withdrawal can cause significant anxiety, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, tremors, seizures etc. Paxil need to be tapered off slowly before being stopped otherwise it would give side effects.I would recommend that you consult your psychiatrist as soon as possible for an evaluation.



Sincerely

HFHS-M.D
Member Comments (16)

by patrica, May 07, 2000 12:00AM
I dunno Clay......I have been on Paxil for the past 3 1/2 weeks as well and the Pharmacist told me to stear clear of all alchol!!!  I haven't had a drink at all since I have been on it but I would say that the drinking would definately contribute to what you are feeling.  I would quit cold turkey while on the Paxil.

by Silent all these years, May 08, 2000 12:00AM
PAXIL is an anti-depressant, alcohol is a depressant. If you are drinking while on paxil you're giving your brain a major mixed message. My pill bottle comes from the pharmacy with a sticker right on it that sez "Do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking this medication". Didn't yours? If so, Why not follow the directions. If you can't stop drinking while taking this medication, maybe you should be straight with your Doc about your alcohol problem and he or she can change your treatment plan accordingly.

by DeeLynn, May 08, 2000 12:00AM
you could be expiercing withdrawl systoms from the paxil or alcohol could be the cause, although you,ve probaly had,nt taken paxil long enough to have withdrawals. i,ve been on it for over ayear and tried to get off, but the withdrawals are inbearable. Good Luck

by barbara to pain and lortab, May 08, 2000 12:00AM


The symptoms you mentioned are typical alcohol withdrawal.

by PJT, May 09, 2000 12:00AM
Clay: I think you may be playing with fire if you drink alcohol while on Paxil. My advice is don't do it. I got bombed ONE wine cooler - mixed with juice - and ended up seriously sick afterwards. My head felt like nothing I've ever experienced before - like there were ants running around in it and I felt like **** for about 24 hours. I've had that experience of falling asleep and being jolted awake about every half hour - heart racing, night sweats it really sucks. Also, from what I've been reading lately, going off of Paxil isn't a very pleasant experience either, so i'm sure it's not helping your situation any.



If you decide to keep taking Paxil, stay away from the booze. I don't know if it affects everyone the same but my experience is that the two don't mix. PJT

by jennifer b, May 12, 2000 12:00AM
well, yeah,, first of all you cant drink in access, your not supposed to drink at all but i found the odd beer or drink was fine,,, also you cannot skip doses,, i mean thats probably what made you so sick even if you hadnt drank,, if your depressed the last thing you need is heavy drinking,,

by dv, Aug 12, 2000 12:00AM
i have been on paxil for about 14 weeks. it was prescribed to me for my headaches. before taking the paxil i had a non-stop headache for close to a year. i went to all types of doc's during this time to see wtf was going on. finally my nerologyst started me on paxil.

when ever i had an ocasional drink my headache would be so intense i couldn't stand it. and the next day the hangover was

HELL!!  my bottle does have the sticker on it that says "no alcohol" but now that my headaches are gone i can drink alot and not have the slightest headache, and the next day is fine. i have no side affects besides it being difficult to ejaculate. but my girlfriend has no problem with that. lol

by dv, Aug 12, 2000 12:00AM
i have been on paxil for about 14 weeks. it was prescribed to me for my headaches. before taking the paxil i had a non-stop headache for close to a year. i went to all types of doc's during this time to see wtf was going on. finally my nerologyst started me on paxil.

when ever i had an ocasional drink my headache would be so intense i couldn't stand it. and the next day the hangover was

HELL!!  my bottle does have the sticker on it that says "no alcohol" but now that my headaches are gone i can drink alot and not have the slightest headache, and the next day is fine. i have no side affects besides it being difficult to ejaculate. but my girlfriend has no problem with that. lol

by tom b, Aug 31, 2000 12:00AM
Whoa! Good luck Clay. I'm on this Paxil 2 weeks and not seeing any great improvement. Drinking about 1/2 as much as usual (still alot). Now starting to hear all these Paxil withdrawal horror stories. I may just stick to the booze, it's predictable. And give up the Paxil while I still(?) can.

by Wenona, Sep 01, 2000 12:00AM
My experience was that once you get stable on paxil you can experiment with the effects of alcohol with it for you.  Every person is different.  It can be awful as you have heard or you may be lucky and be able to have a few driks now and then.  I was lucky and can drink once in a while but like anything try not to do it in excess and you are most likely going to react to alcohol differently so take it very slow and careful if it seems like an important risk for you.

by Michelle M., Sep 05, 2000 12:00AM
As someone mentioned in a previous response, alcohol is a depressant and Paxil is an anti-depressant. I have been on Paxil for 7 1/2 months. My experience, alcohol definetly hits me harder. Also, while on holidays, I did not drink excessivly every day, but we still had 2-3 social drinks each day. By the third or fourth day, I relapsed into a depression. Drinking totally defeats the purpose of taking the Paxil. I admit, I still drink occasionally, but I am very aware of the side effects and pay close attention to my mood, prior to deciding if I should have a drink or not. If I'm having a bad, or off day, I choose not to drink.

by Jake Jones, Sep 25, 2000 12:00AM
I've been on Paxil for about 8 weeks now and have drank every weekend over the course of those 8 weeks. I haven't experienced anything terrible. Although I do have a limp ****, I am the happiest I have been in years.

by Luis Cyhper, Sep 25, 2000 12:00AM
I have been on Paxil for 21 weeks, and have found that I am drinking way more alcohol. I use to have a few beer on the weekends, now I can down a 6 pack in no time flat, and then go get another one. I get quite bombed, but can not seem to shake the craving for alcohol while on Paxil. I also say things I would have never said before, it's like what ever I am thinking comes right out of my mouth. Ooops.I have had tremors and sweats from the start, and still do. My sex life is now a challenge to ejaculate, we have tried everything. I give up with exhaustion or my wife does before I can even get close to an orgasm. But I am not as depressed as I was, so not sure if that is a balance yet.

by John, Nov 24, 2000 12:00AM
I've been on Paxil for about a year and a half and have found that mixing alcohol and Paxil is a no no. I really love the taste of beer but I also have anxiety and depression. I was finding that when I drank the alcohol, I felt more relaxed but the after effects were horrible. It wasn't until I read up on this combination that I found out that this was a stupid combo. I felt like I had a constant headache and was dizzy and if I had a shot or two of alcohol, it would go away. Then I would feel horrible afterwards. It's a visious circle. Get out of it and be clean!

by stephanie, Nov 25, 2000 12:00AM
I have been on paxil for 11 months.  It has improved my life unbelievably, but unfortunately I can not give up drinking.  I have been totally plastered on paxil before, there was not a huge side effect except for a really bad hang over.  When I started smoking weed I started seeing some major mood swings, right now I'm trying to get off the paxil, because it seems that my emotions are even more sensitive on the drug.
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