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[Vixterg90]

I have read a lot about how you shouldn't take alcohol with effexor because it can worsen the side effects and make it less effective. My question is, I'm 21 and like to have fun I drink about once a week. I'm not sure if this means that I shouldn't ingest the meds with alcohol or I shouldn't drink period. It says on the bottle "do not use alcohol while taking this medication" I'm just confused. I just started effexor yesterday and went out last night and felt good, although my pupils were super dilated. What's your opinion?

[1fig]

While taking this medication = while you are using this drug, i.e. is in your system. When you quit taking this medication and take no more, then you can use alcohol with no worries.
Sorry, I'm almost certain thats not what you wanted to hear, but thats just the way it is. Alcohol and anti depressants are not a good combo.
However, I am not a doctor and it is always best to check with your doctor as to what is safe for you to use while taking your medication.

Good luck
-fig

[Vixterg90]

@fig, thanks for the response! I'm not a big drinker in the first place but I think I will call my pharmacy to see what they say. My recovery is much more important to me than drinking and if it's going to be a disadvantage I'll quit.

[Angie85]

Hi Vixterg90,
As fig said, alcohol and antidepressants are never a good combination.
When I started taking effexor a few years ago I used to drink maybe once a week and never noticed any side effects. However, I started drinking a lot more a couple of years ago - pretty much every day because I was feeling pretty low and it seemed to be the only thing that would make me feel better. I think it became a vicious circle, I was using alcohol to self medicate and the effexor didn't seem to be working anymore (because i was drinking every day).
Then earlier this year it got pretty bad, I ended up in hospital a couple of time because I was feeling suicidal after drinking, started getting really bad mood swings, etc...
I stopped drinking about 6 weeks ago and I have been feeling a lot more stable - I still feel low most of the time but I have definitely noticed an improvement.
I just thought I'd share my experience - it shouldn't be a big problem if you have a couple of drinks with your friends once a week, but you should definitely discuss this with your doctor :)

[warpysaint]

Hi Vixterg90,

Effexor has been known to cause a desire to drink, this was my experience with it, and many people have listed it as a 'side effect' of sorts. My wife could write a book on why it is a bad idea to act on that desire as I apparently became a total jerk when combining the two. Worse, from my perspective I seemed totally justified. If I hadn't changed medications, it might have ended our marriage, because I felt much more 'entitled' to drink than normal when I was on the effexor, and her concerns were seen merely as being controlling. I haven't taken effexor in several years, and I drink much, much less frequently than I did, (about once every other month or two as opposed to every couple of days,) and much less quantity when I do.

[Vixterg90]

Thank you everyone for all of the responses! I definitely need to cut back on drinking. Alcohol makes me feel like crap anyway. How ironic that Effexor causes alcohol cravings but you aren't supposed to drink. Lol I'll be cutting back to going out once a month... Seems reasonable.