Long term Paxil use and alcohol

Question

I have been taking Paxil for about 15 years now. It has kept my depression under control, although my dosage has had to be increased 3 times. I take 50 mg. daily now, and Klonopin for anxiety if I need it. I started drinking beer again about 8 months ago. Probably 6-8 beers a night. My question is can alcohol cause and antidepressant to stop working? I have been having feelings of anxiety and feeling down for about the last week. I'm 47 years old, could my feelings be coming from menopause? I don't know if I'm really going through that yet. I really want to feel like my good old self again, I've got 2 small children to raise.

warboy127 · Answer

hi I have a hard time quit drinking.I have been taken paxil about two months. I feel better but I have gained weight alot. I still drink to much. I just got real sick drinking. stomack is sick . I'm going to try to quit again.

mammo · Answer

Avoiding alcohol is always best, and if someone looks at you as being a prude....maybe you should look for new friends.  Dare to be different, and be the leader.

spikerusty · Answer

can really emphasize with what your taking about as find that i have to really be careful with the drink myself as now on max dose of venlafaxine which is i think extremely sensitive to alcohol as cannot drink beer at all, which i think is quite unfair as come accross a right prude. With going through the anti-depressant merry-go -round myself i found Seroxat and Prozac to be less sensitive to alcohol when it was working, but it still did have a knock on negative effect the next few days after the "few beers". One's mental health has to be imperative but when temptation presents itself and when were obviously feeling better with oneselves it's hard to say no as you feel that indeed you deserve it. I think one has to work it out for themselves which can be quite frustrating and particularly difficult.

mammo · Answer

You should not drink and take any type of antidepressant, and it will tell you this on your medicine bottle.  I had a friend who was on an antidepressant and always drank and did fine ( she wasn't a heavy drinker, only when out with friends).  One night she went out and the next day she never woke up, guess she thought "just one more."  Also, to get 15 years out of one medication is rare, it may be that you have built up a tolerance to the Paxil as well and it is no longer working for you.  Menopause and hormones can cause problems too.  Since you have small children to raise, think about this, they need their mommy. Alcohol is a form of self medicating and can lead you down a slippery slope. Don't look for drugs you are able to drink with, look at cutting way back on consuming any alcohol.... please be careful and take care.

GettingOlder · Answer

I'd try changing from Paxil to another anti-depression med and try to only drink moderately. I've read about others having good experiences with Cymbalta and Lexipro along with Klonopin. Good luck!

MMahon · Answer

Alcohol is a depressant and will counteract the benefits of paxil. You should NOT drink and take paxil, it's not a good thing.  
Check out 'paxil and alcohol' online and see:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Mental-Health---International/Paxil-combined-with-alcohol--a-dangerous-combination/show/266365