alcohol and citalopram

[islandtimer]

I have been on 20 mg of citalopram for two and a half months and have not had any alcohol till two days ago. I drank about 7 beers and got pretty drunk. I felt very ill the next morning and my anxiety was bad again. It is two days since I drank and my anxiety is even worse this morning. My anxiety was doing really well before I drank and I am just worried I will not get back to that same point. Did I totally screw the progress of my medication or will I eventually start to feel better? I have learned my lesson not to drink while on this medication. Has anyone had the same reactions?

[Devonchap]

Whenever I have had more than a few drinks on citalopram, i normally feel anxious and 'rubbish' for the next two days before i feel better again...so you should be starting to feel better again anytime now.

[islandtimer]

Thanks for the information. Still feeling anxious and my stomach is still hurting me (especially in the morning). I am trying to stay positive that I will get back to the way I was feeling before I decided to drink. I know things will get better.

[little scientist]

I would say be cautious with alcohol. Especially in excess - if I drink to excess I feel pretty crappy the next day, physically and mentally, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy a drink of an evening after work say :)

[Jon644]

I was on Citalopram last year and i got drunk one night I became so upset that i wanted to end my own life. I took all the Citalopram i had. My house mate came home and called Ambulance. I got wired up to machines to check i wasn't going to have heart attack.
I was in a very dark place in my life and at that time alcohol nearly killed me.

I would leave it until you finished with the SSRI's before trying a beer again. An up and a down don't mix well.

[yorkshirepudding]

I haven't had any alcohol at all whilst on citalopram as this was my doctors advice. Let the meds do their job and don't interfere with it.
It will sort itself out.

[harasgenster]

I think alcohol increases the side effects of Citalopram, which can include anxiety and suicide ideation. It increases the sedative effects with me. I had a beer and a brandy last night (on 20mg Cit), slept for a good 15-16 hours and still feel like I'm on sedatives. If you are sensitive to alcohol while on Cit is usually worth just giving up alcohol. I pretty much have and when I do drink I always regret it! Sick of it now, though, I'm just going to come off the pills.

[mikewales]

You will get back to normal, but alcohol can clock citalopram from working properly, so the next day your anxiety will be higher, and if you combine that with a hangover then it isn't good news !

You can drink on cit, but only in moderation really, a couple of drinks may be ok, but getting drunk probably isn't a good idea