Mixing Amitriptyline and Alcohol: Side Effects, Interactions, & Blackouts
It’s always important to follow your doctor’s instructions whenever you’re taking prescription medication. For most antidepressants like Elavil, doctors often advise against alcohol use. This can be considerably challenging for someone who relies on alcohol to socialize or doesn’t want to be the only person who isn’t drinking at a social event. However, information on the effects of mixing amitriptyline and alcohol is there to prevent any adverse reactions from occurring. In this guide, we’ll go over the risks of drinking alcohol with Elavil and why you should avoid it.What Is Elavil (Amitriptyline)?
Elavil is the brand name for amitriptyline, which is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). This was one of the first antidepressants to be developed and distributed, meaning that Elavil has been around since the 1960s. Since then, advancements in medical research have allowed doctors to produce safer antidepressants, such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors, better known as SSRIs and SNRIs, which have become the preferred choice of medicated treatment for depression due to their milder side effects.Nonetheless, Elavil is still prescribed to patients because of its efficacy in treating chronic nerve pain, including pain caused by illnesses like fibromyalgia and arthritis. In higher doses, it also provides the added benefit of treating both chronic pain and any depression or anxiety disorders it causes.
In addition to its desired side effects, Elavil may also produce side effects like:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Trouble urinating
- Increased appetite and weight gain
- Loss of libido
- Slow heartbeat
- Abnormal heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Overexcitement
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Low energy
- Nausea and/or vomiting
Amitriptyline With Alcohol Side Effects
Some of the most common side effects of amitriptyline are drowsiness and fatigue, so much so that doctors will usually tell their patients to take their dose 30 minutes before bed to promote sleep and help them sleep through the night. However, for those who don’t have this option, Elavil is prescribed in doses that can be taken throughout the day.Can you drink on amitriptyline? Because both substances act as depressants, you should not mix amitriptyline and alcohol. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that, in large quantities, can produce sedation, drowsiness, and even loss of consciousness.
Combining Elavil and alcohol can increase symptoms like fatigue and drowsiness, making users feel excessively sleepy and impairing their judgment. In extreme cases, mixing alcohol and amitriptyline can even lead to blackouts. Blackouts are temporary losses of consciousness, during which a person may experience memory loss.
Blackouts can be caused by many things, one of the most common being excessive alcohol consumption. On the other hand, drinking can also exacerbate the side effects of Elavil, such as dizziness, headaches, and drowsiness. Although you shouldn’t drive or operate any heavy machinery while drinking alcohol, amitriptyline use while drinking can also impair one’s judgment and coordination severely to the point where driving and operating heavy machinery is also unsafe.
To sum it up, amitriptyline with alcohol effects may include:
- Extreme drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Sedation
- Loss of consciousness
- Blackouts and memory loss
- Dehydration
With that said, it’s equally as important not to skip a dose of your medication so you can drink. This could trigger withdrawal symptoms like headaches, nausea, difficulty concentrating, and even worsened mental health symptoms like anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Help for Polysubstance Abuse
Unfortunately, many people abuse antidepressants by mixing them with alcohol to get high. In the end, however, they’re only increasing their risk of toxicity, overdose, and possibly death. Addiction is among the most common risks of polydrug use or the use of multiple substances.If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, the addiction specialists at our Milford treatment center can help. Our facility offers medical detox in Delaware for a variety of substances, including alcohol and prescription drugs, to help patients who are addicted to either one or multiple drugs.
Our Milford rehab even offers inpatient Delaware addiction treatment, during which clients meet with counselors individually and in group sessions to develop sober habits that will keep them abstinent from drugs and alcohol long-term. Regardless of the severity of your addiction, our specialists can set you up for a successful, sober life.
For more information about our Delaware drug rehab programs, contact Banyan Treatment Centers today at 888-280-4763.
Related Reading: Can You Drink Alcohol with Gabapentin? Alcohol Kills Brain Cells: Fact or Myth?
Alyssa
Alyssa who is the National Director of Digital Marketing, joined the Banyan team in 2016, bringing her five-plus years of experience. She has produced a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. Through strategic marketing campaign concepts, Alyssa has established Banyan as an industry leader and a national household name.
