Does Fluoxetine make you drunk faster? (+5 complications)
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
In this article, we will discuss the impact of Fluoxetine on alcohol consumption. We will discuss some factors that affect a person’s ability to get drunk while being on Fluoxetine. Furthermore, we will discuss the interaction between Fluoxetine and alcohol.
Does Fluoxetine make you drunk faster?
Fluoxetine may make you drunk faster. The use of Fluoxetine and alcohol together can affect the central nervous system (CNS) and make you feel excessively drunk and drowsy.
Fluoxetine affects the serotonin levels in the brain and does not directly interfere with the alcohol levels in your blood. However, indirect interaction between Fluoxetine and alcohol may make you feel drowsy and sleepy leading to a feeling of being extremely intoxicated and drunk.
Although Fluoxetine is associated with making you feel tired, drowsy, and sleepy. but the combined consumption of alcohol and Fluoxetine may enhance these effects in some patients.
Consumption of alcohol along with an antidepressant treatment can worsen your symptoms of depression or anxiety. That is why it is preferred to avoid intoxicants while being on antidepressants to avoid adverse reactions.
What does research suggest?
Based on research studies, an increase or decrease in antidepressants may cause complex behavioral effects. Taking Fluoxetine or other antidepressants along with alcohol may cause collective psychological or behavioural effects in some patients (1).
Concomitant use of SSRIs and alcohol consumption have resulted in certain psychomotor performance. It has been studied that SSRIs impair coordination and do not aggravate the effects of alcohol consumption in most patients (1).
Clinical trials in patients showed that some patients responded to SSRIs with alcohol in unexpected ways. Fluoxetine trials also showed that it reduces the desire for alcohol intake in moderate alcoholics (2).
What are the potential complications of taking Fluoxetine and alcohol together?
Some of the possible complications of combining Fluoxetine and alcohol may include:
- Increased sedation- Taking Fluoxetine and alcohol simultaneously may increase the chances of sedation and drowsiness. Although among other antidepressants, SSRIs are generally considered less sedative and do not cause excessive drowsiness (3).
- Impaired coordination- The combined effect of Fluoxetine and alcohol on the central nervous system can impair the motor skills and decision-making abilities of the patient.
- Enhanced depression- Consuming alcohol with Fluoxetine may enhance the depressive condition of the patient. The patient can experience adverse consequences of taking these concomitantly.
- Increased blood alcohol concentration (BAC)- The complications of Fluoxtenine and alcohol largely depend upon the amount of alcohol consumed. A high BAC may result in increased consequences and deterioration of the patient’s health.
- Altered liver function- Fluoxetine and alcohol consumption together can alter the liver function and affect its enzymes resulting in metabolism impairment.
- Hangovers and blackouts- Mild to moderate alcohol consumption may rarely cause hangovers and memory loss. Severe amounts of alcohol with antidepressants can lead to serious hangovers in some patients.
What to do if Fluoxetine interacts with alcohol?
If you are experiencing complications or feeling extra drunk, after consuming alcohol with Fluoxetine, you need to immediately seek medical attention. Contact your doctor and inform them about your symptoms.
Your doctor must assess your condition and prescribe an alternate antidepressant if Fluoxetine is making you extra drunk or drowsy. Your doctor can also lower your medication dose to reduce drowsiness.
If the drowsiness and sedation are making you feel extra drunk, then your doctor must advise you to limit or discontinue your alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol along with antidepressants causes extra sedation and CNS depression in patients.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would suggest avoiding Fluoxetine and alcohol concomitantly. Although there are no potential harmful effects of consuming alcohol and taking Fluoxetine together, you still need to be careful with potential adversities.
However, always make sure to seek your doctor’s suggestion before consuming alcohol or other intoxicants along with antidepressants.
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References
1.-
Menkes, D. B., & Herxheimer, A. (2014). Interaction between antidepressants and alcohol: Signal amplification by multiple case reports. International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, 26(3), 163–170. doi:10.3233/jrs-140632 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25214162/
2.-
Naranjo, C. A., Poulos, C. X., Bremner, K. E., & Lanctot, K. L. (1994). Fluoxetine attenuates alcohol intake and desire to drink. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 9(3), 163–172. doi:10.1097/00004850-199409000-00004 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7814825/
3.-
Weathermon R, Crabb DW. Alcohol and medication interactions. Alcohol Res Health. 1999;23(1):40-54. PMID: 10890797; PMCID: PMC6761694. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6761694/
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