Drinking and celexa??

[seekup]

I just recently went back on 20mg. of celexa afer trying to go off of it and having severe problems with the withdrawl symptoms.  In an attempt to get back to feeling "normal" I am trying not to miss any doses.  But, I am going on vacatin in 3 weeks and I really want to drink while I am on vacation so, am not sure what to do. Do I not take it for the week and hope I don't get withdrawl syptoms (symptoms)? Or do I take it and drink? I need an answer to this question....I do no know what to do????  Do other people drink while on Celexa and why is it a problem?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It is a problem to drink because drinking and taking this medication will increase your chances of having a seizure, of gastritis, of sexual dysfunction, and fainting. If you drink to excess, all of these risks can be increased to a dangerous degree. You would be much better going off the medication if you can in time, if you are intending to drink heavily.

[jen2020]

Hi:

I take 20 mg of Celexa and I will drink with my medication. I think its safe to have a couple drinks only.. I generally stay away from the hard stuff and just stick with beer, wine and I like to drink Kaluha.. Can I ask you what withdrawl symptoms you noticed?

Thanks,
Jen

[seekup]

well....i posted a message earlier about it but, i will tell you that it was awful...5 days into it i started feeling extremely disconnected with my body and dizzy, (1 day i threw up) extreme anxiety more severe than i had before, crying fits (and i went on it for work anxiety and have never been depressed), confusion, headaches...and the vision in my right eye was a bit off.  Now, I was kind of stupid though and just stopped taking it all together...and for 4 weeks I suffered. Anywa, I  couldn't take it anymore for I covinced myself that I was going insane...so I went back on 10mg...but it didn't go away....so now I have been taking 20mg for 3 weeks and am finally starting to feel better.  I strongy suggest that if you do not need it...as I really didn't and was just having work stress- not to take it.  My doctor said I would never notice the difference but, failed to tell me it is almost impossible to get off of.  :(

[FeelingBetter]

I've been taking 20mg of celexa daily for almost 2 years. I started taking it because I was angry over the least provocation and reacted disproportionately.

At first, I didn't drink at all. Then I would drink small amounts occasionally. In the last six months, I have gotten extremely drunk on tequila twice....to the point of having memory lapses and a sick hang over the next day. These were isolated social occasions that got out of hand.

Recently I broke my leg and missed a dose. About a week and a half later my old out of control anger returned. That is typical for me. If I miss a dose, I feel it in about 10 days.

Taking celex has profoundly improved the quality of my life overall. My relationship with my husband has improved dramatically.

[runscott]

I worked my way up to 60mg daily, mainly because of ridiculous anger fits and mild depression.  It helped me connect better with my environment, the reactions to things that made me angry were greatly reduced, and the mild depression left completely.  Side effects were weight gain - I have weighed 160 my entire life, and I gained 15 pounds, increased drinking from 1-2 beers a day to 6-8, and lack of motivation to do anything constructive. I quit cold turkey and I'm paying for it with vertigo-like symptoms.  I will see my doctor tomorrow, but I am extremely upset that he and my psychiatrist never even hinted that this drug could cause these problems - my goal was not to become a happy vegetable.

[rotor]

I have been taking 20 mg. of celexa for headaches.I drink several cans of beer maybe every other day.This has been going on for several months.I have no apparent problems.

[Dodee]

Hi,

I've just started my celexa treatment and i am a drinker, i've been to rehab once in jan 2002 for 2 weeks. I dont drink everyday but when i start i can go one for 24 hours. I'm taking this medication to treat my depression symtomes, work-stress related and also to not make me want to drink like a fish. I'm a little scared cause i cant promise i wont have a drink in the near future. Knowing i'm on this medication will definatly not make me want to drink to much.I'm 30 years old and i'm also scared of pregnancy. If i become pregnant after a few months of taking celexa, do you think it will cause the foetus problems? What about all these side effects, is this medication addictive? i meen will i end up worse than i was?

[Dodee]

Hi,

I've just started my celexa treatment and i am a drinker, i've been to rehab once in jan 2002 for 2 weeks. I dont drink everyday but when i start i can go one for 24 hours. I'm taking this medication to treat my depression symtomes, work-stress related and also to not make me want to drink like a fish. I'm a little scared cause i cant promise i wont have a drink in the near future. Knowing i'm on this medication will definatly not make me want to drink to much.I'm 30 years old and i'm also scared of pregnancy. If i become pregnant after a few months of taking celexa, do you think it will cause the foetus problems? What about all these side effects, is this medication addictive? i meen will i end up worse than i was?

[froggy girl]

I have been on celexa 20mg a day for about one year.  Last year my co-workers and I decided to have a Christmas party, at which there was going to be alcohol. I called my local pharmacy and asked the pharmacist if it was o.k. to drink alcoholic beverages with my celexa.  She informed me that of course with everyone the effects are different.  She informed me that I should only have two drinks once in a while.  The side effects may vary for others, but I have had up to four drinks at one time and experienced no side effects.  I suggest that you contact either your physician or your local pharmacist.

[keely]

i have been on celexa (cipramil/citalopram)for 7 years and have continued to drink alcohol on a regular and sometimes excessive basis with no ill effects. Infact i checked with my doctor who said this was fine and i checked in the british national formulary which states no ill effects except that the effects of alcohol can be possibly enhanced by ssri use.

[Booky]

Hello Everyone,
I started taking Celexa (for the second time in my life) in Jan of this year 2002.
I started with 20mg, went up to 40mg the next month, then down to 30mg the next month which is where I am at today.
I also take several other meds, which I will list in case any of you also take them:
nitrofurantoin also known as macrocrystals
ditropan xl
zyrtec
folic acid
loperamide as needed which
flexeril
ortho cept.

Now, the last time I was on the meds, I drank once maybe twice a year, so it wasn't a worry. But now, I do drink more often.

Usually, I know when I will be drinking because hubby and I will make plans to go out and such. What I do is not take any of my meds, except the ortho cept which is my birth control! HA, the day before, and sometimes the day after I drink.

So if I know I will be drinking on friday night, I won't take any meds at all on thursday, and none on friday, and then depending on now much I did drink, none the following day. If I only had one drink, I'll take them the next day, which is usually the case.
I take all of my meds all at once at night, so I am literally popping a palm of pills. So, the day after I drink alcohol, I drink as much water as possible, so when I take my meds that night, most of the alcohol is gone hopefully.

This is just what I do. Alcohol interacts with nearly all my meds, and since I take them everyday of my life I have come to accept that I can't drink alcohol anytime I want. Which means I can't just say oh I'll have a beer or mixed drink. I have to plan ahead.

I've never had any effects from it. But then again, I've never gotten totally plastered since starting the Celexa again. I guess the fear is there so I limit myself to 2 or 3 beers, or 1 or 2 mixed drinks.

Just my plan. Thought it might help to share it.