Mixing Alcohol and Citalopram

Before going into the interaction possible between alcohol and Celexa, what is this medicine?

Celexa or citalopram is a medicine that’s prescribed to treat depression. It’s designed to help increase a person’s sense of well-being and their energy levels, and it’s a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or an SSRI. When you take Celexa, it rebalances the amount of serotonin in the brain. An imbalance of serotonin in the brain is believed the be the reason people experience depression.

Some of the general side effects of Celexa include nausea, appetite loss, dry mouth, drowsiness, sweating and yawning.

Serious, severe side effects that are possible include tremors, changes in sex drive or ability, and easily bleeding or bruising.

There’s also the potential for something called serotonin syndrome or serotonin toxicity. This can lead to severe symptoms including hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, coordination problems, and gastrointestinal problems, and it usually occurs if you’re taking multiple medicines or supplements that increase serotonin simultaneously.

So what about alcohol and Celexa, and more specifically alcohol and Citalopram side effects?

If you’re wondering if you can mix alcohol and Celexa, you are advised not to. There are a few different reasons not to mix alcohol and Celexa. The first is that when you take both substances together, it can amplify their effects. You may experience the adverse side effects of either alcohol or Celexa but at a more intense level.

With alcohol and Celexa there is also the increased risk of an overdose. Symptoms of an overdose involving alcohol and Celexa can include nausea, vomiting, extreme drowsiness and sweating.

The FDA also warns that taking high doses of Celexa even without alcohol can lead to heart issues, and alcohol and Celexa combined can increase this risk.

So what are the possible alcohol and citalopram side effects?

Below are some of the primary alcohol and citalopram side effects to be aware of:

• Alcohol and citalopram side effects can be heart-related and can lead to serious issues that require medical attention or hospitalization. One of the specific alcohol and citalopram side effects that may occur is called torsades de pointes, and this is a severe irregular heart rate that can lead to death.
• Motor skills may be affected when you combine alcohol and citalopram
• It’s possible that combining alcohol and Celexa can reduce the effectiveness of the drug, leading to depression-related side effects
• With alcohol and Celexa an overdose is possible, and overdose symptoms with Celexa can include convulsions, hyperventilation, coma or amnesia.
• Even if you don’t experience several alcohol and citalopram side effects, the milder possible side effects of the drug may be heightened. These can include nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and sweating.

If you combine alcohol and Celexa, you may notice not only extreme drowsiness but also motor skills and coordination impairment. This can increase the likelihood of you hurting yourself, being in an accident or putting yourself in a dangerous situation.

While the alcohol and citalopram side effects can be severe, it’s also important that you don’t suddenly stop taking this medicine if you want to drink because that can also cause severe side effects.