Citalopram & Drinking

[emaise]

I have just started taking Citalopram for Depression and Anxiety in the last few weeks. I've forgotten again to ask my doctor whether I can drink taking the medication. My dose is 30mg per day at the minute if this has anything to do with it.
I don't want to go on a binge drinking session I just want to know if I can have a few drinks pints when out.
Can anybody with experience of taking Citalopram help me out with whether there are any effects?

[hope_for_more]

You should ask your doctor.  Most everywhere I've read says no.

My daughter is taking escitalopram (Lexapro) which is related and asker her pretty liberal pdoc about drinking because she recently turned 21 and wanted to celebrate.  Her pdoc said that a little bit (maybe one drink) would be ok if she sipped it because it would have a greater effect than without the Lex.  She warned however that since alcohol is a depressant that it's really doing the opposite of what you're trying to accomplish.  She also said that it takes about 3 days after drinking for the depressive effect to hit (I never knew that).  

I'd be sure to ask your doctor since they know what you're dealing with better than anyone on the internet.

[ParamedFlorena]

That's a great suggestion! I was holding a thumb on this thread to see if it got a reply or not, and emaise - I agree with hope_for_more: You should never co-ingest medications and alcohol. Those two usually elevate the effect of either one of them and if it's not the liver, it is the CNS or something else that suffers. You're taking this medication for it's effect.

For citalopram, I know it took 80 hours before MY dose was out of MY system and I'd rather take that pill instead of altering my mood with alcohol (it's not something I just say because I'm working within healthcare, but alcohol has a negative effect no matter how little we consume). Sure, it elevates the mood a little while but it is all about energy and metabolism. When the alcohol goes through the liver it's a heavy duty for the liver, and it has already got that duty with meds anyway.

[emaise]

Thanks for the advice. I will not consume any alcohol unless my GP tells me it is ok to do otherwise.
I know the medication takes a while to kick in and I there is a social event in a couple of weeks that I'm expected to be at. With my Anxiety I have always found that drinking helps to relax me a little. I know alcohol will have the adverse effect to the medication that I'm taking and I have always found (before the medication) that going past the 4 unit point will send me into a downward spiral anyway so I'm not I big drinker. I don't really go out much because of this coupled with the fact that I find it hard to cope generally in situations with new people or a lot of people and I am hoping the medication will help with this over the next few months.
I think I'll just bite the bullet when I go out and see how I get on. I can always make my excuses.
Thanks very much for your friendly and helpful advice =)