hey
i have a quick question...i dont know if this was asked before... but can you drink alcohol while on lexapro??? i am on 20mg of lexapro right now and have been turning down drinking offers with my friends because iwas unsure what mixing the two would do
thanx

seems like it would mess you up...i would not do it...like i know xanax and alcahol will mess you up...so much that it is not fun

The prescribing literature on Lexapro says that it doesn't potentiate the effects of alchol. I am on 20 mg/day and have drank with no problems. I would start with only one to make sure you would do ok with it.

ok, I was on lexapro and didn't exactly follow my doctors orders about avoiding alcohol. I have gone to the hospital twice due to being drunk on lexapro. I have never had a drinking problem or ever gone to the hospital even through college. My advice is to stay away. Also, if you are on xanax, it's bad news. One of the times I went to the hospital i had also taken xanax after an anxiety attack and then drank. The second time I thought I was dying and it was a really big wake up call. I realized that drinking was not worth it. but it's totally up to you, I';m just sharing my experience.

thanks everyone... i guess i am going to experiment, like say drink a glass of wine and work my way up from there... i am not going to hit the hard liquors though... if i feel horrible, i guess sober is the way to go... so until then... ;)

dude, alcohol and lexapro aint a problem. if it was id be dead. take it slow at first just to be sure, but ive been on lexapro for a while, and during that time have drank A LOT, everything is a-okay. it could be diffrent for diffent folks though. i cant tell i get any more of a buzz on lexapro than before i was on it, for me at least there is no effect. xanax on the other hand is a diffrent beast entirely. the main problem iv seen is that xanax + beer = memory eraser. i know people who totally cant remember like 10 hour periods becasue of mixing the two. i definitly wouldnt mess with that combo, but IMO lexapro is okay.

I'm just curiuos, were you in the hospital because of a mental issue or did you have adverse thing going on with your body.... i.e. liver or heart

thanks everyone... i guess i am going to experiment, like say drink a glass of wine and work my way up from there... i am not going to hit the hard liquors though... if i feel horrible, i guess sober is the way to go... so until then... ;)
It is not advisable to drink with any of the SSRI's of which Lexapro is one.
Positive4U :nono:

My dr.says I can have 2 drinks per day if I so choose.8oz.max.I drink red wine,it gives me an appetite..............besides,I enjoy a glass of wine with my meal,esp.when we go out.........

Wasn't sure what you meant by "drink a glass of wine & work my way up from there". Sounded like more than 2 drinks (8oz) were being considered.
Positive4U :)

Highly unadvised. Before my depression I was 192 lbs of lean muscle and was able to drink plenty, make it through the night and remember everything the next day with little to no hangover.

Since my breakup with girlfriend (which has lead to my depression) Ive lost 25 lbs and started taking Lexapro, I was aware that drinking on this med probably wasn't a good idea but figured Id at least give it a try. I have drank large amounts of alcohol twice since being on Lexapro and will not do so again until Im off the drug. Both times I drank I got sick, was completely incoherent and do not remember 4-6 hours of the previous night (thank God for good friends, Im usually the sane babysitter of the group, not on Lexapro tho!) not to mention my hangovers lasted 2-3 days. When I say I drank a lot I mean a couple shots and a couple mixed drinks, nothing absurd but no more then I used to drink. The drinks caught up to me QUICK, I think 4 drinks effected me like 8 would have. The effects will vary depending on the person. The days after I drank I was very regretful and thankful that something serious didn't happen to me the night before, cuz if it did, I would have had no recelection of it. 1-2 drinks MAX!