What are the dangers of Sertraline and alcohol hangovers?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
In this article, we will discuss the dangers associated with mixing Sertraline and alcohol. Some side effects may appear immediately, and some are associated with repeated use of Sertraline and alcohol excessively.
What are the dangers of Sertraline and alcohol hangovers?
Taking Sertraline and alcohol together is associated with some dangers or potential health risks. These include:
Side effects
Excessive alcohol intake while on Sertraline can intensify common side effects of the medication. These may include nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
You might also experience increased anxiety, restlessness, and even heart palpitations. The combination can make you feel extremely uncomfortable and unwell (1,2).
Worsening of depression
Alcohol is known to be a depressant, and if you’re taking Sertraline to manage depression, consuming alcohol can undermine the medication’s effectiveness.
It can lead to a rapid decline in mood, potentially intensifying feelings of sadness, despair, and hopelessness. This is precisely the opposite of what Sertraline is intended to achieve (3).
Risk of suicidal behaviour
Alcohol can impair your judgment and decision-making ability, making you more susceptible to impulsive behaviour, including suicidal thoughts or actions. If you have a history of depression or suicidal tendencies, mixing alcohol with Sertraline can significantly increase this risk (3).
Impaired motor coordination
Combining alcohol and Sertraline can affect your motor skills and coordination. You may become unsteady on your feet, which increases the likelihood of accidents, falls, and injuries.
This impairment can persist even after the immediate effects of alcohol wear off, potentially leading to dangerous situations.
Liver damage
While not an acute side effect, the long-term combination of alcohol and Sertraline can be detrimental to your liver.
Both substances are metabolised in the liver, and excessive alcohol consumption, even in the presence of Sertraline, can contribute to liver damage over time (4). This damage can be irreversible and may lead to serious health complications.
Should you completely avoid alcohol while taking Sertraline?
You should completely avoid alcohol while taking Sertraline, especially if you are a new user. Although most doctors suggest that you can drink a glass or two occasionally.
However, the FDA label for Sertraline hydrochloride (Brand name: ZOLOFT) clearly states that you should altogether avoid the use of alcohol while being treated with Sertraline (5). It is crucial for new users who don’t know how the medication will make them feel.
It is also important to not combine these two and engage in any activity that requires your full mental alertness, like driving or operating heavy machinery.
Alcohol should generally be avoided when being treated with antidepressants, including Sertraline, Mirtazapine, Duloxetine, etc.
What to do if you have taken alcohol and Sertraline together and you feel unwell?
If you suspect you’ve ingested a high dose of Sertraline along with alcohol or are experiencing severe symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. Even if your symptoms are mild, it’s essential not to ignore them.
Some early signs of an adverse reaction to this combination can include nausea, dizziness, confusion, or extreme drowsiness. These symptoms should not be taken lightly, as they could worsen rapidly.
When you seek medical assistance, be honest about the substances you’ve consumed, the doses, and the timing. This information is crucial for healthcare providers to determine the best treatment strategy for you.
If you find that you’re repeatedly mixing alcohol with Sertraline or struggling with alcohol addiction, it’s essential to seek help beyond this immediate situation.
Consider discussing your alcohol consumption with a healthcare professional who can provide guidance, therapy options, or necessary treatments for alcohol cessation.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the dangers associated with mixing Sertraline and alcohol. We have discussed some short-term and long-term dangers, and what one should do if they occur.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
Singh HK, Saadabadi A. Sertraline. 2023 Feb 13. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31613469. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547689
2.-
Menkes DB, Herxheimer A. Interaction between antidepressants and alcohol: signal amplification by multiple case reports. Int J Risk Saf Med. 2014;26(3):163-70. doi: 10.3233/JRS-140632. PMID: 25214162. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25214162/
3.-
Boden JM, Fergusson DM. Alcohol and depression. Addiction. 2011 May;106(5):906-14. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03351.x. Epub 2011 Mar 7. PMID: 21382111. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21382111/
4.-
Patel R, Mueller M. Alcoholic Liver Disease. 2023 Jul 13. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31536239. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546632
5.-
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. ZOLOFT (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/019839s74s86s87_20990s35s44s45lbl.pdf
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