Prozac and Pregnancy

Prozac and Alcohol

If alcohol and Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride) will act upon similar chemicals in the brain, the antidepressant may intensify the effects of alcohol but not the anti-depresant. Healthcare providers says that it is alright to take alcohol and Prozac together but moderately only -- and only after you are aware of the effects that the medication may have on your body.

When the liver is still at work metabolizing a medication like Prozac and alcohol is taken, the alcohol will only be circulated throughout the bloodstream until the liver has completed breaking down the med. This is why you can drink so much and only get a little buzzed and dizzy, because your brain doesn't get the effects of alcohol until it is first broken down in the liver. The more you drink in this time period is only adding more alcohol to your bloodstream which is not getting "digested."

Can I Drink Alcohol on Prozac?

Medical providers warns people are to avoid alcohol while taking Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride). This is because alcohol and medicines like Prozac act upon similar chemicals in the brain. The concern is that Prozac will increase the effects of alcohol. -- whether this means increasing symptoms of depression or affecting motor skills.

For example: IF you drink 3 glasses of alcohol with Prozac then it is like you drunk 6 glasses.

When many healthcare providers are asked whether or not it is okay to drink alcohol while on Prozac, they recommend that people choosing to drink should drink moderate amount or even lights only – but they should understand the effects that Prozac and other medicines they are taking may have on their body.

Alcohol and Prozac with Moderate drinking

When healthcare providers recommend moderate alcohol drinking, they mean one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Because the alcohol content in drinks varies, what counts as one drink also varies. When healthcare providers talk about one alcoholic drink, they are referring to one of the following examples:

* 12 ounces of beer
* 5 ounces of wine
* 1 ounces of 80-proof whiskey, or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits.

Using Caution With Alcohol and Prozac

Drinking alcohol in moderation while on Prozac is not recommended that they do not drink alcohol at the same time that they take their medication. Also, people should learn the effects of Prozac on their body before they begin drinking. Prozac may affect some people's ability to perform certain functions, such as driving a car or operating machinery.