Nowadays, many people suffer from depression. This unpleasant condition is accompanied by a dreary mood, anxiety and decreased performance. In such cases, special medicines come to the rescue - antidepressants. One of the drugs in this group is Cipralex. However, to improve the mental state requires a long course of treatment. It can last several months, and in severe cases, about a year. Can I use Cipralex and alcohol together? This question is often of interest to patients.
Description of the drug
"Cipralex" refers to a new generation of psychotropic drugs: SSRIs antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These drugs are mild and have minimal side effects.
The active component of the drug "Cipralex" is escitalopram. This substance increases the concentration of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the body. Escitalopram affects biochemical processes in the brain.
Serotonin is otherwise called the "hormone of joy." This neurotransmitter causes a rise in mood, a surge of strength, a decrease in anxiety and fear. Escitalopram blocks the uptake of serotonin in the space between nerve cells. As a result, the level of the “hormone of joy” in the blood increases. The therapeutic effect of the antidepressant is based on this.
How long does Cipralex work? This drug cannot be classified as a quick relief for depression. It does not cause an instant improvement in mood. With regular use, the therapeutic effect develops gradually. Positive changes become noticeable only 2 weeks after the start of treatment. The patient disappears a dreary mood, negative thoughts and anxiety. At the same time, working capacity is significantly increased.
Escitalopram is removed from the body from 30 hours to 3-4 days. The duration of excretion depends on the dosage taken.
The drug is produced in the form of tablets for oral administration, each of which contains 5, 10 or 20 mg of the active substance.
Indications and contraindications
For depression of any severity, doctors prescribe the drug "Cipralex". The following mental disorders can also serve as indications for taking an antidepressant:
- neurosis of obsessive states;
- sociophobia (fear of communication);
- anxiety disorders;
- panic attacks.
This drug is quite safe, so it has few contraindications. This antidepressant is intended only for the treatment of adult patients, it is not used in pediatric practice. In some cases, this medicine is prescribed even for pregnant women, but therapy should be under close medical supervision.
The instructions to "Cipralex" reported on the following contraindications for taking antidepressant:
- allergy to escitalopram;
- epilepsy;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- renal failure;
- diabetes.
In most cases, the medicine is well tolerated. In the first weeks of treatment, some patients may experience slight lethargy, drowsiness, dizziness. These symptoms most often disappear on their own as the body adapts to the drug.
It is important to remember that the course of treatment with an antidepressant should not be abruptly interrupted. This can lead to withdrawal syndrome and worsening of the patient's condition. The dosage of the drug must be reduced gradually.
The interaction of ethanol and an antidepressant
The instructions of "Cipralex" indicate that the active component of the drug does not react with ethanol. However, this does not mean that you can drink alcohol while taking an antidepressant. Psychiatrists categorically forbid patients to drink alcohol during the course of treatment. In medicine, the combination of psychotropic drugs with ethanol is considered extremely dangerous.
The active substance "Cipralex" and alcohol do not enter into a chemical reaction. But they have the opposite effect on the body. Their combined use can lead to unpredictable consequences for the brain and psyche. In addition, any oral medication can have a negative effect on the liver and kidneys. Alcohol significantly increases the load on the internal organs.
All this suggests that the compatibility of Cipralex and alcohol is extremely low. Therefore, throughout the entire course of treatment, the patient must completely refrain even from small doses of alcohol. Next, we consider the effect of ethanol and an antidepressant on different organs and systems.
CNS effects
Cipralex acts on the brain as an antidepressant, it normalizes biochemical processes in the nervous system. Ethanol is a depressant, it inhibits the functions of the central nervous system. Their joint administration can completely neutralize the therapeutic effect of the drug.
However, more dangerous consequences of the combined use of Cipralex and alcohol are possible. Ethanol distorts the effect of the drug. This negatively affects the coordination of movements. Thinking disorders, disorientation in time and space, amnesia can occur. There were cases when, after taking alcohol, patients had to urgently be hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital.
After drinking alcohol, along with psychotropic drugs, depression is sharply aggravated in many patients. Alcohol nullifies the therapeutic effect of the drug. The melancholy and anxious state returns and increases significantly. In psychiatric practice, there have been cases when patients attempted suicide after taking alcohol together with SSRI antidepressants.
Effects on the kidneys and liver
The active component of the drug is processed in the liver, and then excreted through the kidneys. For this reason, Cipralex is not recommended for patients with cirrhosis and renal failure. If you drink alcohol at the same time as the medicine, then the organs have to process both escitalopram and alcohol toxins. This creates a huge load on the liver and kidneys.
If a person systematically drinks alcohol during therapy, then over time he develops toxic damage to the kidneys and liver. This leads to the death of cells: hepatocytes and nephrons. Pathological changes in the organs can be irreversible.
Effect on the heart and blood vessels
Ethanol causes an adrenaline rush. This hormone speeds up heart rate and increases blood pressure. While taking an antidepressant, the effect of alcohol on the cardiovascular system is enhanced. An attack of tachycardia and a sharp rise in blood pressure may occur. In elderly patients, the combined use of antidepressants with alcohol often became the cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Symptoms of intoxication
What will happen to the patient’s health if he simultaneously takes Cipralex and alcohol? The consequences of such a combination can be very severe. Due to intoxication, the patient has the following unpleasant symptoms:
- severe headaches;
- cardiopalmus;
- jumps in blood pressure;
- dizziness and imbalance;
- movement coordination disorders;
- severe anxiety and panic;
- delusions and hallucinations;
- confusion of consciousness;
- drowsiness;
- memory losses;
- suicidal thoughts;
- urinary retention;
- pain in the liver and kidneys;
- nausea.
A serious consequence of combining alcohol with SSRI antidepressants is serotonin syndrome. As already mentioned, Cipralex increases the concentration of this neurotransmitter. However, alcohol distorts the effect of the drug. As a result, serotonin levels can increase to critical levels. This condition is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- high fever;
- psychomotor agitation;
- panic;
- mood swings (from anxiety to euphoria);
- vomiting
- severe abdominal pain;
- tachycardia;
- tremor.
Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening condition. In such cases, you must immediately call an ambulance. Without treatment, the patient may fall into a coma and die.
Matching Rules
So, we found out that drinking Cipralex and alcohol is strictly prohibited. However, there are times when the patient drank alcohol, and shortly afterwards, the doctor prescribed him an antidepressant. How long after the use of ethanol can I start a course of treatment?
You need to wait until the metabolites of alcohol are completely out of the body. The ethanol elimination period is individual for each patient. It depends on the weight and gender of the person, as well as on the dose of alcohol taken. Doctors recommend starting treatment no earlier than 24-48 hours. During this time, even a large amount of strong alcohol will be completely removed from the body.
If the patient has completed the course of treatment, then you can drink alcohol 3-4 days after taking the last pill. This is the maximum period of elimination of the drug from the body, which must be waited.
Patient Reviews
In medical practice, there have been cases when patients inadvertently consumed Cipralex and alcohol together. In reviews, people report an extremely negative reaction of the body to such a combination. The consequences of combining usually manifested the day after taking alcohol during treatment. Patients experienced severe headache, tachycardia, jumps in blood pressure, heaviness in the liver, and nausea. When drinking a large amount of strong alcohol, neurological disorders appeared: loss of balance, unsteady gait, dizziness.
All patients who drank alcohol during therapy noted a deterioration in their mental state. After taking ethanol, depression returned to them again. Many people experienced bouts of causeless fear and anxiety. Some patients experienced pathological intoxication even after drinking a small amount of alcohol. This condition was accompanied by inappropriate behavior and memory lapses.
It can be concluded that alcohol intake during antidepressant therapy is extremely dangerous. Therefore, it is necessary to completely abstain from alcohol throughout the course of treatment.