Lexapro and alcohol not working?

You really need to get to your doctor and either have your medication changed or put on a new one, since a lot of antidepressant medications are BIG TIME nephrotoxic, and drinking plus the medication is going to wreak havoc with your liver. You might need to go on a benzodiazepine like Xanax for a little while while your antidepressants get to a therapeutic level in your bloodstream.

did i write this?

Well, obviously not, but I could have. After being on Paxil back when it was a new drug in the market and quickly going from 1/2 to 5 (yes, 5) little pink pills a day the withdrawals were too much to handle when I (oh so wisely) decided that I'd be better able to handle myself if I'd self-medicate. Needless to say a few months and quite a few bottles later I found myself back in the doctor's office and after the horrific withdrawal experience from Paxil, I refused to go anywhere near it again. Instead I got Lexapro, Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Prozac and Effexor. You're supposed to give them each a few weeks to kick in and the reasoning that it usually gets worse before it gets better not only didn't make sense, but wasn't something I thought I could handle, nor was I willing to try. But what I remember of Lexapro did the same thing for me, leaving me with anxiety, a hangover and a need for some xanax. If you stop drinking, then the Lexapro very well may work for you, but you won't have a chance for it to, because during the 'adjustment' period you're going to want a drink or 10 to handle the side-effects.

Lexapro Not Working

Mixing anti-depressants with alcohol is very dangerous and you need to stop now. I'm telling you from experience (not of my own, but of my best friend) that the medicine will not work and will only work for you if you let it. The alcohol has to go. It's one of the hardest things to let go sometimes because you've let yourself get used to the comforting effects of it. Ironicly - you're taking a depressant when you drink so the medicine is basically being canceled out.

The best thing to do is try and get yourself help. Try going to a psychologist or psychiatrist. If the drinking has become an addiction (even if you deny it) then the sooner this is dealt with the sooner the medicine will work again and you can feel stable and more at easy almost all the time.

Please do this for yourself. If not for yourself then for your friends and family. This is your mental and physical health we're talking about here. Be responsible. And be aware that if mixed too often - this can be fatal. And if you read that and feel like saying, "o well," well then that's even more of a reason to stop what you're doing - no one should live their life thinking, "O well," when it comes to their mental and physical health. There are resources you can reach out to to get you through this.

And please take everything people say when they try to help you into consideration, don't just hear it and sigh and move on as if it's some movie cliche. This is your life - and you need to keep going as a happy healthy person. You're too young to be like this now. You've got so much more to live for than going day to depending on drink and worrying

Good luck and be careful

I am trying not to preach to you but you cannot mix alcohol with lexapro. Many people say there is no reaction with mixing the two, but it has caused blackouts, liver damage and more severe depression in those who have tried. It is true that you will hear some people say that it makes no difference, but they are usually not doctors probably screwed up in their heads. So I am sorry but I just don't think the mix is a good idea. I wish I could help you more about a good idea to help you, but I think a doctor would be best.

I think I would have to agree with some of the other comments here.

If you read the fine print of nearly any anti-depressant it will tell you not to take them and consume alcohol.

Your best bet would be to stop drinking and let the Lexapro kick in. Be warned it does take up to a couple of weeks before the chemical levels build up to something that you can recognise.

You realize that alcohol only intensifies the side effects of antidepressants, and makes you more depressed, right?

On that note, go back to your doctor, tell him what's going on. Stop drinking, you're only making things worse. I would give the Lexapro more time, it takes a while for that stuff to build in your system enough to help you.

Well I believe Paxil and Lexapro are SSRI's which can have SSRI burnouts. Which means after a while your body gets used to them and they just don't work the same anymore. Talk to your doctor. He/she may want to just up your dose, but since you don't like the side effects, tell him that. You have the right to tell him, "hey it's not working for me, I'd like to try just an anti depressant and an anti anxiety together", or whatever it is you would like to do. Let them know about the side effects.

The antiD's that doubled as an antianxiety never quite worked well for me either, and don't for a lot of people.

You are making a lifestyle choice and one that isnt good for your health. For the medication to work you need to take it you done need alcohol you are choosing to drink it and then suffering the side effects. The short answer is to not drink you know mixing antidepressants with dinking is a no-no. Either your ready to be helped or your enjoying your misery only you know the answer to that and if you're tired of feeling miserable then make the right, responsible choice before you hurt yourself or someone else.

Indulge yourself in good and meaningful activities, the activities that interests you, makes you feel good from inside. For example, participate in games and sports of your choice, walk out with your true friend/friends(if any), or search for true friends, leave or avoid bad company, visit some calm or fun place regularly, join some course/job. THE MAJOR POINT IS "KEEP YOURSELF BUSY AS FAR AS POSSIBLE SO AS TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO A NEW WORLD WHICH IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD YOU ARE LIVING IN SO FAR"