Mixing Vivactil with Alcohol

Anything you put into your body can have a huge impact on your overall health. You should keep this in mind when taking medication, whether it be over-the-counter or prescribed by a physician. Understanding the effect a medication has on your body — and the likely reaction your body could have when mixing medications and alcohol — can prevent you from experiencing negative side effects, interactions, and even blackouts.

Vivactil has become a popular medication for minimizing the symptoms of depression, and this prescription should be taken extremely seriously. Vivactil can produce some negative and potentially dangerous side effects when combined with other medications or alcoholic beverages. Educating yourself about these risks is the first step to taking your medication — and your health — seriously.

Vivactil — also known by the name Protriptyline — is classified as a tricyclic antidepressant or TCA. This type of medication increases the levels of two neurotransmitters within the brain called norepinephrine and serotonin. TCAs also places a roadblock in front of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This balance of your brain chemicals due to Vivactil is believed to alleviate symptoms of depression.

Protriptyline may improve your overall mood, mental health, and increase your energy levels. Doctors have also prescribed this medication to treat attention deficit disorder (ADHD), nerve pain, and narcolepsy. Vivactil is believed to make a patient more alert, in contradiction to the sedative effects of other TCAs.

Consuming alcohol with any type of medication should be discussed with your doctor. Vivactil is an antidepressant that should be taken at the correct dosage as prescribed by a doctor, and alcohol should be avoided while on this medication. Drinking while on Protriptyline may intensify the effects of the alcohol, and taking Vivactil may impair your reaction time or thinking process. Avoiding the operation of heavy machinery is also advised.

You should discuss your average alcohol consumption with your doctor before starting any prescription. Taking Vivactil in addition to any other substances that cause drowsiness — including alcohol, marijuana, and muscle relaxants — should be brought to your physician’s attention.

If you believe you or a loved one is showing signs of having a psychological need for this drug, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Only take Vivactil as directed and never combine it with other substances without a doctor’s approval to avoid dangerous side effects.

Protriptyline can cause a wide array of minor side effects. The most common include nausea, loss of appetite, dry mouth, vomiting, anxiety, insomnia, changes in vision, constipation, and a decreased sex drive. More serious side effects that require a doctor’s attention include seizures, chest pain, numbness, fever, sore throat, or jaundice.

Vivactil should not be taken in combination with other medications used to treat anxiety or depression. You should not start taking Protriptyline if you have been on an SSRI antidepressant in the past five weeks, including citalopram, sertraline, and Prozac. All MAO inhibitors should be avoided while taking this medication, as using these in combination with Vivactil can cause a severe or even fatal reaction.