Why is celexa prescribed for alcoholism

Although mental health disorders and alcohol addiction affect millions of American families, there are affordable, personalized treatment alcoholic options available.

To learn more about mixing Celexa and alcohol, or for questions regarding treatment for alcohol addiction, reach out to us today. This page does not provide medical advice. Don't Wait. Get Help Now Medically reviewed by Dr. Gerardo Sison, Pharm. D Revised on September 27, What Is Celexa Citalopram?

Get Help for Polysubstance Abuse Today. First Name. In experimental bar sessions, after the citalopram and placebo periods, subjects were required to consume as many of 18 minidrinks as possible equivalent to six standard drinks at 5-minute intervals. Subjects rated their desire for alcohol, intoxication, and mood.

Citalopram had no significant effects on the desirability of alcohol or subjective feelings of intoxication. The findings indicate that serotonin uptake inhibitors may act by decreasing the urge to drink and the reinforcing effects of alcohol. While the antidepressant Celexa citalopram is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration FDA to treat alcoholism, some doctors prescribe it for this purpose anyway.

Celexa belongs to a category of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs. Doctors believe it improves depression by adjusting the level of the chemical serotonin in the brain. In addition to its effects on mood, serotonin is also thought to play a role in whether you crave alcohol and how your brain and body react when you drink it.

In studies, animals reduce their consumption of alcohol when given SSRIs. One study found that taking Celexa reduced not only how much alcohol people drank but also how much they craved it. Side effects of combining the two can include:. The side effects of other medications can also be more severe if you take Celexa and drink alcohol at the same time.

For instance, this combination can make side effects from anxiety drugs, sleeping aids, and prescription pain medications worse. Talk to your doctor about all of the other medication and supplements that you take. The FDA warns that any doses of Celexa over 40 mg per day can cause heart issues.

Adding alcohol to the equation may also cause severe heart effects. The combination of alcohol and Celexa may be linked to torsades de pointes, which is a severe form of irregular heart rate that sometimes leads to sudden death. Talk to your doctor to learn more, and be sure to tell your doctor if you have a history of heart problems. Read more: Complete drug information for citalopram Celexa , including usage, warnings, interactions, and more ».

Your doctor may tell you to avoid drinking alcohol altogether to help prevent dangerous complications. Have an open conversation with your doctor if you want a drink. In some cases, your doctor may tell you an occasional drink is safe. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have a history of heart problems. For the medication to work, you have to take it on a set schedule. Your depression could get worse if you stop taking your medication abruptly.

Also, skipping your dose one day does not mean that the drug is out of your body. Celexa builds up in your body over time to work. So, even if you skip your medication for the day, you could still have side effects if you drink alcohol. Alcohol can also interfere with your depression treatment. This is because alcohol is a known depressant.