Generally, it's recommended to wait at least a couple of weeks after stopping Lexapro before drinking alcohol. Lexapro is an antidepressant medication that can take some time to completely clear from your system, and drinking alcohol while taking the medication can increase the risk of side effects and interactions.
While the struggle of depression and anxiety can be difficult to manage, the clear answer to this question is, no. The combination of Lexapro and alcohol should be avoided due to potentially dangerous side effects. Even a small amount of alcohol can lead to a large amount of unpleasant effects.
You may think of alcohol as something to lift your mood, but mixing it and Lexapro may actually do the opposite: Alcohol can make your depression worse. You may not want to risk feeling even more depressed or anxious than you were before you took an antidepressant.
Don't skip medication to drink, says Dr. Fink. “The SSRIs can take two to eight weeks to take full effect, and they work best if taken consistently,” she says. “Some antidepressants have a shorter half-life and can cause serotonin withdrawal even as soon as in a couple of days.”
In general, it's not a good idea to skip doses of your antidepressant for any reason, including to drink alcohol. Most antidepressants are only effective when used consistently.
It's best to avoid combining antidepressants and alcohol. It may worsen your symptoms, and it can be dangerous. If you mix antidepressants and alcohol: You may feel more depressed or anxious.
However, since many patients are not willing to give up alcohol completely, it is important to combine alcohol and antidepressants in the safest way possible. Some physicians allow moderate drinking for their patients. This means 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.
Dosage. The typical dosage of Lexapro is 10 mg per day. At that dose, the medication will stay in the body for approximately 6.1 days for this dosage. A higher dosage will lead to a higher concentration in the body, taking longer to clear.
Lexapro may cause weight gain because it blocks the serotonin transporter, which increases levels of serotonin in the brain, but also increases appetite and decreases metabolism.
Following a single oral dose (20 mg tablet or solution) of escitalopram, peak blood levels occur at about 5 hours. Absorption of escitalopram is not affected by food.
No interactions were found between caffeine and Lexapro.
If you miss a dose and remember in less than 12 hours, take it straight away, and then go back to taking it as you would normally. Otherwise, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take the next dose when you are meant to. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you have missed.
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
The typical recommended dosage of Lexapro is 10 milligrams (mg) once per day. In some cases, doctors may increase the drug's dosage. The highest dose of Lexapro recommended per day is 20 mg. No additional benefits are seen with doses larger than 20 mg per day.
If you forget to take a dose and remember before you go to bed, take it straight away. Carry on as usual the next day. If you only remember during the night or the next day, leave out the missed dose and carry on as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.
Lexapro withdrawal symptoms can be severe, particularly if you attempt to stop abruptly. Instead, the dosage should be slowly tapered down over a period of time and under the guidance of medical professionals who can help prevent or mitigate any withdrawal symptoms.
Generally, drinking alcohol while taking antidepressants is not advised. Alcohol can make depression worse, and also increase the severity of antidepressant side effects. It's generally recommended that people on antidepressants abstain from alcohol, especially if they will be driving or operating heavy machinery.
There are no antidepressants that are completely safe when taken with alcohol. Some providers may say that light to moderate drinking is OK while taking certain antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and escitalopram (Lexapro).
You should be wary of drinking alcohol if you're taking antidepressants, as alcohol is itself a depressant and drinking alcohol can make your symptoms worse.
It's important not to miss any of your doses, as this could make your treatment less effective. You may also get withdrawal symptoms as a result of missing a dose of the medicine. If you do miss 1 of your doses, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
Improved mood: One of the most common indications that Lexapro is working is improved mood. Increased energy levels: Another sign that your body's adjusting well to Lexapro is increased energy levels throughout the day.
Escitalopram (Lexapro) is a first-choice antidepressant for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Typically, you take it by mouth once daily. Escitalopram (Lexapro) is available as both a tablet and a liquid. Some people notice an improvement in their condition as early as a week after they start treatment.
There's no safe amount of time of day to drink alcohol if you're taking Zoloft. In fact, even if you stop taking Zoloft, it'll take 5–6 days for your last dose to be cleared from your body. If you're an older adult (age 65 years or older) or have liver problems, it may take longer (Pfizer, 2016).
It's important not to miss any of your doses, because this could make your treatment less effective. If you do miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's almost time to take your next dose, in which case you should just skip the missed dose. Don't take a double dose to make up for the one you missed.