Anti-depressants causing a craving for alcohol

I was on all kinds of medications that caused my cravings to increase. Check this out:


Alcohol Cravings Induced via Increased Serotonin
by Ann Blake Tracy, Director, ICFDA

There is an alarming connection between alcoholism and the various prescription drugs that increase serotonin. The most popular of those drugs are: PROZAC, ZOLOFT, PAXIL, LUVOX, SERZONE, EFFEXOR, ANAFRANIL, and the new diet pills, FEN-PHEN and REDUX. For seven years numerous reports have been made by reformed alcoholics (some for 15 years and longer) who are being "driven" to alcohol again after being prescribed one of these drugs. And many other patients who had no previous history of alcoholism have continued to report an "overwhelming compulsion" to drink while using these drugs.

(A few personal accounts: #1 A young woman, a recovering alcoholic, reported that during the eight month period she had been using Prozac she found it necessary to attend AA meetings every day in order to fight off the strong compulsions to begin drinking again. #2 In the Southeastern United States a middle aged psychologist, also a recovering alcoholic, after being prescribed Prozac, found herself needing to attend AA meetings morning, noon, and night to keep from destroying the sobriety she had achieved. #3 A young father, who was Mormon and had never before in his life used alcohol, found himself drinking Ever Clear and exhibiting bizarre as well as violent behavior, after being prescribed Prozac and Ritalin. #4 A young mother who had never used alcohol before began drinking large amounts within weeks of being prescribed Prozac and quickly found herself committed to a mental institution due to the psychotic behavior that resulted. Added to her Prozac prescription were anti-psychotic meds and electric shock treatments. She then began to experience seizures and was started on anti-seizure meds. #5 A concerned neighbor reported her friend was drinking straight Vodka on a regular basis after being prescribed Zoloft. #6 A daughter reported her father, sober for 15 years, began drinking again on Prozac. The consistant report from these patients has been an "overwhelming craving or compulsion" for alcohol.)

For some time we did not have specific medical documentation to help us understand why this was happening. Could it be that Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, etc., being mood altering substances, were removing the inhibitions that individuals had placed upon themselves to stop their additions? But beyond this mood altering effect of Prozac, etc., there seemed to be a physiological cause for this alcoholic obsession as well. There were reports of people who rarely drank before Prozac, etc., consuming excessive amounts of alcohol after starting usage of these various drugs. For example we have the case of a young newly wed in Southern Utah who was given Prozac for a hormonal imbalance. Before that time she would have two or three social drinks a year, yet soon after being prescribed Prozac she began bringing alcohol home by the case. Many similar reports followed.

Could it be that because these drugs have such a strong adverse effect upon the pancreas [Manufacturer's warnings include such side effects as hypoglycemia, diabetes and pancreatitis.] they are producing a potent disruption in the body's blood sugar balance? This would in turn cause a "craving" for alcohol as the body reaches out for a "quick fix" to raise the blood sugar level thus triggering a vicious self-perpetuating cycle as the alcohol pushes the blood sugar level even lower after the brief high it produces. This means that those suffering a tendency toward alcoholism or any other blood sugar disorder would suffer the most disastrous repercussions of Prozac, etc., (including psychosis, suicidal ideation and violence) much faster than most. Patient reports support this conclusion.

In November of 1994 Yale published a study that gave us one answer to the alcohol cravings associated with these drugs. The study demonstrated that an increase in brain levels of either of two neurotransmitters (brain hormones), serotonin or noradrenalin, produces: #1 a craving for alcohol, #2 anger, #3 anxiety. They found this to be especially true for those who have a history of alcoholism. All of the drugs listed above are designed in one way or another to increase serotonin which in turn also increases noradrenalin. Anyone who has a history of alcoholism should heed the warning contained in these reports. And anyone who has developed a problem with alcoholism while using these drugs deserves answers as to why they have experienced such an overwhelming compulsion to drink.

America already has an estimated 10 -15 million alcoholics. To increase that number with a reaction from prescription drugs which causes a compulsion to drink is a tragedy! What a sad state of affairs that drugs which are actually being promoted as a treatment for alcoholism have the potential to create alcohol craving behavior. This is not only frightening, but absurd. It is heart-rending to listen to those who have had years of sobriety destroyed almost overnight or those who have never touched alcohol before Prozac, yet began drinking compulsively due to a medication prescribed by doctors unfamiliar with this connection. By chemically inducing an overwhelming urge to drink this effect also causes patients to mix alcohol with these powerful drugs. When alcohol and drugs are combined, one can compound the effects of the other so the resulting impairment is far worse than if the two were taken separately...even small amounts, mixed with some medicines, will deaden your senses or change your perceptions which can lead to psychotic behavior, seizures, etc. Those in this situation need to be made aware that they are not alone, and that this is a common report which is now substantiated by medical documentation. They also need to understand that it is possible to very gradually withdraw from these drugs and overcome these adverse drug reactions.

For an in depth exploration of this subject see the book PROZAC: PANACEA OR PANDORA? by Ann Blake Tracy.

Other references for this material: Krystal JH, Webb; E, Cooney N.; et al., "Specificity of Ethanol-like Effects Elicited in Serotonergic and Noradrenergic Mechanisms," ARCHIVES OF GENERAL PSYCHIATRY, Vol. 51, Issue 11, pgs 898-911. (This is the Yale study mentioned above.); In a study conducted by Liisa Ahtee and Kalervo Eriksson (Physiology and Behavior, Vol. 8, pp. 123-126, 1972) rats which preferred alcohol had 15-20% higher concentrations of serotonin in the brain.

http://ecommerce.drugawareness.org/Arch ... cohol.html

Thanks for an interesting article Copy_Cat!

I had a similar experience... the other way round. Using Seroquel has stopped my alcohol cravings. They were pretty much switched off. (Which was rather handy.) When I quit Seroquel, the cravings came back, unfortunately.

oliveira wrote:Using Seroquel has stopped my alcohol cravings. They were pretty much switched off. (Which was rather handy.) When I quit Seroquel, the cravings came back, unfortunately.

It's interesting that you mention that, because prisons have a problem with inmates requesting a script for seroquel because abusing it makes them feel drunk! I feel pretty edgy without mine and become more prone to abusing substance when I don't take it properly as well.

Hm. Paxil seemed to make me crave alcohol.

ladyswan wrote:It's interesting that you mention that, because prisons have a problem with inmates requesting a script for seroquel because abusing it makes them feel drunk! I feel pretty edgy without mine and become more prone to abusing substance when I don't take it properly as well.

This probably depends on dosage -- I was on low doses where it works as a sleeping aid. It eventually had to be replaced with something else because it gave me tremors. But it was very handy in the early stages of me stopping drinking -- when you're in your first month it's very, very handy not to have cravings.

This is very interesting, I noticed this association over a decade ago, and was wondering when the "scientific research" was going to catch up with my observations.

I am a recovered alcoholic.

I feel that SSRI medications, and in general drugs which increase serotonin levels in the brain, reinforce and magnify the euphoric effects of alcohol, thus reinforcing the desire to drink.

It may be of interest but i found the drug Naltrexone critical in helping me overcome my alcoholism, perhaps other people who find the SSRI medications reinforce their alcoholism may be more likely than not to experience beneficial effects from this medication. This is only speculation, but if you haven't tried Naltrexone, I strongly suggest giving it a go.

Wisedude wrote:This is very interesting, I noticed this association over a decade ago, and was wondering when the "scientific research" was going to catch up with my observations.

I am a recovered alcoholic.

I feel that SSRI medications, and in general drugs which increase serotonin levels in the brain, reinforce and magnify the euphoric effects of alcohol, thus reinforcing the desire to drink.

It may be of interest but i found the drug Naltrexone critical in helping me overcome my alcoholism, perhaps other people who find the SSRI medications reinforce their alcoholism may be more likely than not to experience beneficial effects from this medication. This is only speculation, but if you haven't tried Naltrexone, I strongly suggest giving it a go.

That's an interesting theory you have. While I mostly agree, I think there's more to it. For example, I think that anxiety helps keep one's drinking in check (basically because of fear of the consequences), and that once it's relieved the alcoholic has to adjust because he will no longer have what amounts to "just enough" anxiety to help him not drink. I think the fact SSRI's create a new level of reduced anxiety and relaxation requires reconditioning yourself not to drink.

Out of my mind. Driven to drink

"By now I had given up on the experts … who accused me of denial

By now I had given up on trying to tell my medical team that I thought it was my medication that was causing the problems. I was accused of being in denial over the alcoholism but I was certain that these intense cravings for alcohol were being induced by the SSRI.

Before I had searched for others with similar problems, now I began searching for answers. First I googled alcohol cravings induced by paroxetine and then by citalopram. The first web pages I came across were from the depression forums and similar websites where people where sharing their stories about the same alcohol cravings and looking for answers. I came across the International Coalition for Drug Awareness, the Seroxat Users Support Group and the Seroxat Secrets website where many people were reporting the same thing.

I decided to start looking at research papers but I couldn’t find any on SSRIs and alcohol cravings. I then read a message on one of the forums that mentioned a Yale study from 1994 that had a link to serotonin. This pointed me toward reading about alcoholism and the serotonin system.

Continue reading at: http://davidhealy.org/out-of-my-mind-driven-to-drink/

There are also 68 Comments on that page mostly from people who experienced the SSRI alcohol craving effect


Many people are reporting SSRI medication is causing them to crave and abuse alcohol so I thought I would post this link. I was on multiple "meds" one or all was making my craving for alcohol worse. I myself am a recovering alcoholic now for a few years, I don't know what my posts number is up to but I do most of my posting in the anti psych forum because psychiatry and psychiatric drugs catapulted my from the frying pan of excessive alcohol consumption into the fire of addiction and dependence on prescription medications. Some abuse inpatient lead me to join the cause for human rights in mental health.

I think antidepressants suck but Alcoholics Anonymous is alright , if anyone wants to learn more about it you can read the 'Big Book' of Alcoholics Anonymous online or Listen To The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous FREE online. This website has the complete audio and text of the original book "Alcoholics Anonymous" written in 1939. It still stands as today as the primary text for AA http://www.recoveryzone.org/docs/bigbook.htm

Oliveira wrote:Thanks for an interesting article Copy_Cat!

I had a similar experience... the other way round. Using Seroquel has stopped my alcohol cravings. They were pretty much switched off. (Which was rather handy.) When I quit Seroquel, the cravings came back, unfortunately.

Seroquel is not an anti depressant - SSRI it is an anti-psychotic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetiapine

Seroquel works better for sleep than a pint of vodka that's for sure. True that.

The problem I had with anti psychotics, well Zyprexa , was it took away the ability to feel and left me craving/wanting alcohol and party drugs so I could overcome that effect have fun and just feel in general. Zyprexa withdrawal was a hell beyond description but I think the days of them recklessly handing it out for sleep are behind us.

Brian86 wrote:Hm. Paxil seemed to make me crave alcohol.

You and alot of others, I have a friend who they keep putting on this Paxil and he keeps going out and going on these blackout drinking binges, that is what got me to look up ssri-alcohol-craving in the first place.

I think this link on SSRI alcohol craving is better than the original http://davidhealy.org/out-of-my-mind-driven-to-drink/

I personally think it's sad that it is almost impossible to goto rehab for alcohol or drug addiction and leave the treatment center psychiatric drug free, virtually everyone gets labelled and medicated. One reason I think this is a problem is the dismal success rate of about 5-10 % .

Maybe Later I will start a thread on this.

This happened to me! Paxil was my gateway drug. It's what drove me to drink to the extent I became what most would consider an alcoholic. During my stint as an active alcoholic, it settled down tremendously when I went off Paxil, but came roaring back when I went back on medication, which was Lexapro. I've been off meds for a long while now and am getting back to myself and am also able to drink normally, something AA and others told me wasn't possible. And since I'm typing, I'd like to also add that taking stimulants (dextroamphetamine), for whatever reason, would completely take my alcohol craving away, even when I was in the height of my alcoholism, which is when I found that out. One more thing about SSRI's and alcohol - there does seem to be something more to it than this, but one thing I think SSRI's can do is take away "good (regulating) anxiety" that keeps you in check, therefore resulting in more drinking. One of the issues I had when going back on an SSRI, after not having been on them for a while, was that it would relieve my anxiety in such a way that I would become bored and want something to do, which, with nothing else to do and the pre-developed habit that developed my first time on Paxil, would generally be drinking.