Mixing Savella With Alcohol

Milnacipran is a drug classified as a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). The medication is often prescribed for the treatment of depression as well as other psychological conditions. Many people have discovered that combining milnacipran with alcohol can have very serious consequences that can jeopardize their health as well as significantly affect their mood.

Side Effects, Interactions And Blackouts

Alcohol is a known depressant that affects the central nervous system and is known to interact with many different types of drugs including Savella. Some of the effects that people who combined the medication with alcohol notice include:

• Adverse effects. Alcohol consumption in combination with Savella can result in several significant side effects including blackouts, drowsiness, dizziness and fainting.
• Death. In some cases, people have died after combining alcohol with a high enough dose of Savella.
• Enhanced antidepressant effects. Alcohol can enhance the effects of Savella, which frequently results in people feeling more sedated.
• Impaired cognition and motor skills. Alcohol slows down a person’s judgment and reaction times, which can be further dampened if a person is already consuming Savella or another antidepressant.
• Increased drunkenness. People who take Savella notice that the medication enhances the effects of alcohol. This means that a person becomes more intoxicated with a lower amount of alcohol.
• Metabolism of medication. A person’s liver is responsible for breaking down antidepressants like Savella. When a person consumes alcohol, the way they break down antidepressants is affected.
• Serotonin levels. When people consume alcohol, serotonin levels are increased. Because Savella also affects serotonin, the use of these two substances can significantly elevate serotonin levels.

What Is Savella (Milnacipran)?

First approved in France in 1996, milnacipran is currently marketed as Ixel in over 45 countries including Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Portugal and Russia.

Milnacipran has not been approved the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of depression, but the medication has been approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Milnacipran changes the body through interactions with chemicals in the brain known as neurotransmitters.

Some of the side effects that are most commonly noticed by people who take the medication include constipation, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations, hot flashes, insomnia, nausea and vomiting.

Milnacipran has adverse side effects with several medications including epinephrine, 5-HT1 receptor agonists, clonidine, digitalis and triptans.

Alcohol in combination with milnacipran is known to cause mild elevation of liver enzymes, which has caused the FDA to advise against combining the two.

Mixing Alcohol And Savella (Milnacipran)

A person should be aware of what effects can occur due to the combination of Savella with alcohol. Some of these side effects include:

• Feeling more anxious or depressed.
• Impaired thinking and delayed alertness, which can make it difficult to perform several tasks including driving and performing any type of work.
• Increased tiredness, which some people report after taking Savella, but it can be made more severe after combining it with alcohol.

Summing Up Side Effects, Interactions And Blackouts Of Mixing Alcohol And Savella (Milnacipran)

The combination of antidepressants with alcohol is discouraged by nearly all antidepressant manufacturers and medical professionals. This means that not just drinking alcohol in large amounts but also small amounts daily can both reduce the efficacy of milnacipran as well as result in side effects.

The exact impact that alcohol will have on a person taking milnacipran changes between individuals. As a result, it is important for a person to not take the risk of adverse complications by simply avoiding the combination of these two substances.

It is also difficult to recommend what amount of alcohol might be safe while a person is taking milnacipran. Instead, it is simply better for a person to avoid any amount of alcohol while taking the medication.

Lastly, if a person does combine alcohol with milnacipran, it is important to avoid operating heavy machinery or driving a motor vehicle while taking both substances. This activity could have very serious consequences and lead to deadly injuries.

The best way for a person who would like to learn more about how alcohol consumption will affect milnacipran, it is a wise idea to speak with their physician.