Alcohol & Zoloft®: What you need to know

Medical Review by Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DABOM

Summary

• Drinking alcohol while taking Zoloft_^® may reduce the medication’s effectiveness and increase the risk of side effects, like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Alcohol and Zoloft^® both impact the liver and pancreas, potentially increasing the risk of liver damage or pancreatitis.
• The safest choice is to avoid alcohol entirely while taking Zoloft^®. If you do choose to drink, you assume all the potential risks that come with mixing these two substances.
• Consult your healthcare provider to discuss alcohol use while on Zoloft^® and explore potential alternative medications if needed.

Understanding how alcohol interacts with Zoloft^® and the potential risks involved

Zoloft^® is a branded form of the medication sertraline—a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly prescribed to treat depression, social anxiety disorder, and several other mental health conditions. It works by raising the level of serotonin levels in your brain, which can help regulate your mood.

If you take Zoloft^® or are curious about taking it in the future, you might wonder whether it’s safe to drink alcohol while using this medication. Below, Lemonaid Health shows you how sertraline and alcohol may interact so that you can talk with your healthcare provider about the potential risks and create strategies to use Zoloft^® responsibly if it is prescribed to you.

The risks of combining alcohol & Zoloft^®

The patient information for Zoloft^® states that you should not drink alcohol while using this medication. Here are a few reasons why consuming alcohol during treatment with Zoloft^® could be a bad idea:

Your medication might not work as intended

Some research suggests that people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) might not experience the antidepressant effects of SSRIs (like Zoloft^®) due to alcohol’s ability to cause depression—either from negative social effects or by directly impacting your brain.

Alcoholism can affect the brain in several ways, including brain atrophy and damage to the frontal lobe. Brain atrophy from alcohol can affect your memory, while frontal lobe damage can impact your emotions—two of the things serotonin helps regulate. This could explain why some people with AUD experience worse outcomes from SSRI treatment.

AUD is defined by no longer having the ability to drink in moderation. In addition to impacting your mental health, it can have negative effects on your physical health, your relationships, and your ability to function in everyday life.

Not every person who drinks alcohol will necessarily develop AUD—but it is the most common substance use disorder in the world. This makes it important to be careful around alcohol for the sake of your mental health and your general wellbeing.

You could experience overlapping side effects

Some of the side effects of Zoloft^® can also be caused by ethanol toxicity, which is what happens when you drink too much alcohol. Because of this, you may be more likely to experience the following symptoms if you drink alcohol while taking Zoloft^®:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Your liver & pancreas might be at risk

Alcohol is processed by your liver, and this process causes liver damage that can cause serious health risks like liver failure or cancer over time. But some patients taking Zoloft^® have also reported severe liver effects, including liver failure. Since either Zoloft^® or alcohol can lead to this outcome, it’s possible that taking them together could make the risk higher.

Alcohol also carries a risk of causing pancreatitis, which can lead to numerous other severe health conditions. Since pancreatitis has also been reported by some people taking Zoloft^®, you may have a greater risk of this condition when drinking alcohol during treatment with this medication as well.

Is any amount of alcohol safe with Zoloft^®?

Because the patient information for Zoloft^® recommends against drinking alcohol while taking this medication, you should avoid alcohol use during your treatment. The safest amount of alcohol to drink if you are taking Zoloft^® is none at all.

It’s important to note that Zoloft^® also comes as an oral solution that contains 12% alcohol. This can potentially cause reactions with disulfiram, a medication that has been FDA-approved to help treat alcohol dependence. If you are taking disulfiram, your healthcare provider may not prescribe Zoloft^® to you in this form.

If you do choose to drink alcohol in any amount while taking Zoloft^®, you must understand that you are assuming all the risks that come with this choice. Drinking less alcohol is better for your health than drinking more, but even drinking in moderation comes with risks.

Moderation means different things for males and females. For females, it means having 1 or fewer standard drinks per day, while for males it means having no more than 2. Here’s a chart that shows you different types of “standard” drinks:

Consulting a healthcare provider

Remember, individual reactions to medication vary, and everyone has a different relationship with alcohol—so discussing your specific situation with a healthcare provider is essential. They can review your health status, medication history, and other factors to determine whether it is safe for you to drink.

Potential alternatives to Zoloft^®

If Zoloft^® isn’t right for your lifestyle, your healthcare provider may recommend something else. Consulting a qualified medical professional is the best way to evaluate your different options and get an appropriate medication prescribed to you.

Here are some other medications that may be able to help you treat depression if Zoloft^® isn’t the answer:

• Escitalopram (Lexapro®)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin®)

Learn more about sertraline & your lifestyle with Lemonaid Health

Drinking alcohol while taking Zoloft^® may put you at an increased risk for certain side effects, and can reduce your medication’s effectiveness. In some cases, it may have more severe consequences for your health. Only take Zoloft^® as prescribed to you by a qualified healthcare professional, and be upfront with them about your relationship with alcohol so they can identify whether it might cause problems with your treatment.

Lemonaid Health can connect you with US-based medical professionals who can provide guidance on Zoloft^® and other mental health medications. We can also help you understand how these medications might fit into your lifestyle, and what changes you might have to prepare for if they are prescribed to you. Get started today and let us help you make informed choices for your long-term health.

Zoloft^® is a registered trademark of Viatris Specialty LLC, a Viatris Company. Lexapro^® is a registered trademark of H. Lundbeck A/S. Prozac^® is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. Wellbutrin® is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline LLC.