I’m an effort to deal with my depression, I decided to take the antidepressant route. I was prescribed Zoloft. I’m aware of how highly recommended it is to avoid drinking alcohol while taking Zoloft, but being a newly 21 y/o college student, I find it difficult to enjoy myself in social settings without drinking. If I have to choose between having a social life, and taking Zoloft, I’ll choose the social life, because that’s one of the few things that gets me out of bed each day. My doctor recommended I take my Zoloft tablets before bed each night, but as it is with most people, the evening is prime drinking time. So, put simply, my question is:
“Can I take my Zoloft in the morning, and drink in the evening/night to avoid some of the negative side affects? Or do I essentially have to choose between alcohol and Zoloft?”
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7 Answers
MD
MDB320
21 June 2019
Not sure if you found your answer to this yet since its been several months, but here is my take, Ive been taking an SSRI (Zoloft) now for 11 months, when taking that plus drinking I found my anxiety sky rocketed the next day, I felt drowsy and felt like there was a tight band around my head. Fast forward 9 months later and of no drinking, I started taking my SSRI before I go to the gym at 5am and if I decide to have a drink. Emphasis on "a" drink, no more than 1 after 7pm I found I felt fine with no issues. If I tried to drink 1 to close to taking an SSRI within 5-6 hours I felt drowsy and tightness around head. So be careful trying to do both, I definitely recommend not drinking for a while until your body adjusts to those meds which typically takes 6 weeks, and limit your alcohol down to no more than 1 and only a couple times a week. Again, would be better to just not drink and get better then off the meds with your Drs approval.
Votes: +0
IN
Inactive
30 Sep 2018
Hi Rezzie: I guess I am coming from a different line of thinking from some of the other posters and other experiences here, but, since we are allowed to share our personal experiences here, I will put in my 2 cents!~~ Having a couple of beers/drinks with your friends is not "partying" in my opinion, especially considering your environment at present, being in the college atmosphere! I took antidepressants off and on for years. Each time I was prescribed an AD, I would tell my doctor that I was going to continue to drink a couple of beers/drinks and not quit while on the antidepressant, and my doctor would OK that, and then thank me for being honest with him/her! This was a conversation I had with several doctors through the years, and I can honestly say it was never a problem with any of them.
I had success with my AD treatment and drank in moderation during those periods of time, while also experiencing relief as I was taking my AD for anxiety/depression. No problems! Then again, I don't want to give the impression that I am not/was not a heavy drinker, because I am not/was not. There were many periods of time when I drank no alcohol at all. I wish you well, and hope that this AD will be successful for you. So... that is a conversation that should be between you and the prescribing doctor, in my opinion... Good luck with your treatment! Mindz
Votes: +1
IN
Inactive
30 Sep 2018
My above comment copied and pasted ~~ "Then again, I don't want to give the impression that I am not/was not a heavy drinker, because I am not/was not." I meant to say that I never was a heavy drinker nor am I a heavy drinker now, but drink on occasion, lol ~ sorry 'bout that!
WI
WildcatVet
30 Sep 2018
From another recovering alcoholic... I put down the bottle as soon as I was taking the appropriate medications. I didn't need booze to have a good time anymore. Another fact to consider is that with an extremely long half life of 26 hours residual amounts of Zoloft will remain in your system for about 5 1/2 days... enough to cause a reaction with alcohol. Best regards and I hope you choose wisely!
Votes: +2
RA
Rathmullan
30 Sep 2018
Hi Rezzie:
You may find it easier to socialize once the Zoloft begins to work uninterrupted by the anxiety and depression that alcohol ultimately produces as a longer term effect. Take it from this recovering alcoholic, if you come to associate alcohol with socializing there is a risk that more and more you will associate alcohol with other activities - including those you do alone.
Ultimately, I had to decide between continuing drinking and life itself. A crossroads has presented itself to you in which you are asking whether to choose alcohol or Zoloft. Please choose Zoloft, Please choose life!
Votes: +2
SH
Shannyxo
30 Sep 2018
Hey rezzie. I started taking an SSRI my first year of my bachelor of science degree and i drank all the time with it. While alcohol is a depressant so you have to be carful with this due to your mood, i didn't feel any adverse affects from consuming alcohol and taking my citalopram at the same time. I too would have chosen a social life back then and i don't have any regrets because i enjoyed being social and going out with friends. Perhaps just start slow and see how your body adjusts for you personally. If you feel good then i think you can do both because it sounds like socially drinking is important to you as it was to me then as well. Good luck
Votes: +0
SW
Swmelll
30 Sep 2018
I can understand your trepidation regarding having a social life in college without drinking. Rest assured there are hundreds of thousands of college students that have good social lives without drinking. If you are being prescribed Zoloft, it’s for a solid reason and to play around with the debate of which is more important to you is something only you can decide. From experience drinking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. All those kids you see enjoying drinking so much are just trying to fit in and be cool (college). You can have a good social life without it is all I’m saying. But no, I would not ever mix the two. EVER!
Votes: +2
RE
Rezzie
30 Sep 2018
I just have no desire to quit drinking. It’s not like I drink in excess, I usually only have a couple of cocktails and/or beers. With the people I call friends, and even most of my family, I’d be considered a bore and a wuss if I just stopped drinking. It’s not that I’m dependent on it in an addictive sense, but my social life depends on my ability to have a beer with my friends.
I have absolutely no interest in effectively dismantling my social life for over a month in order to try a drug that may or may not work. There has to be some way to have both, right?
CR
crazygirl66
30 Sep 2018
Alcohol is a depressant. I just graduated from college with only having maybe 6 drinks total in 4 years. Zoloft stays in your system longer than morning until night. I’ve tried many many antidepressants & Zoloft is the only one that has touched my depression. I’ve never been able to drink, I get drunk on one drink, and this was when I wasn’t taking any antidepressant. I’ll occasionally have 1/2 a drink, and still get buzzed too easily. Believe it or not it is ok not to drink. I can only imagine you haven’t hit rock bottom with depression If you’d rather drink. I’m sure others are taking Zoloft & hopefully someone else can give you their experience. I just made it clear to the people I was out with that I wasn’t drinking . And honestly with my major I rarely even had the time to “party.”
Votes: +1
RE
Rezzie
30 Sep 2018
I hear what you’re saying, but i want to make it clear that I will do anything to “make myself better” at this point. The reason I’m at such an impass is because I’m forced to choose between my sacrificing my social life (one of the few positive influences in my life), and a drug that may or may not even work. And to top it off, I have to wait 3-4 weeks to even know if it works or not. And let’s say Zoloft does help me, and I’m prescribed to it for the rest of my time in college, and maybe longer. Then what, I just don’t ever drink again? That’s hardly a desirable outcome.
What if I tone down my social life for a month, AND the drugs don’t help? Then I’d be in an even deeper hole than I’m in now. There has to be some way to have one without sacrificing the other. Right?
RE
Rezzie
30 Sep 2018
Also, I take great offense to your assumption that “my depression isn’t serious enough if I’m not willing to give up alcohol.” Coming from someone who claims to never have been much of a drinker I can’t imagine it being too difficult to quit. Nearly every single social interaction I’m a part of involves drinking to some extent, and I’m just suppose to give up most of my social interactions? I can only see that worsening my depression. The way I see it, drinking and depression are independent of one-another, I’m not choosing to stay depressed just because I want to keep drinking. I want to get better while not sabotaging my social life.
CR
crazygirl66
30 Sep 2018
Sorry, I never meant to offend you. I guess it was easier for me because I can’t tolerate alcohol anyway. Just be careful mixing the two. I noticed an improvement in 2 weeks, but I’m very sensitive to meds also. I truly wish you the best!
