A lot of people drink/drank on lexapro, myself included. This year, I decided to do dry January. The lexapro has always worked for me but with the absence of alcohol it feels like it’s fighting way less to get through. Even just in 10ish days, it feels like it’s worked better than the 2 years I’ve been on it. And when I was drinking, we’re talking moderation like 2-3 drinks a couple times a week.
I’m not saying everyone should completely avoid alcohol on it, I’m not even sure if how much or if I’ll drink on it again after January, I’m not at a point to make that decision. I’m just giving food for thought.
That’s great to hear! Thank you for bringing this up. I’m going to give it a go for a few days bc I’m feeling it these days
I always detox in January and usually carry it through February and some years, I even go into March (which I think I will this year). And yes, the last time I had booze was New Year's Day, I had a particularly awful experience, felt very sick and it's been 10 days since then and I feel so much better now.
My relationship with alcohol definitely will change this time if I do resume in the spring. I'm talking like 1-2 drinks with a meal and friends maybe once a week.
The way I hate myself after overindulging and the way I feel just isn't worth it anymore.
I did what you did last January 2025 and decided not to drink again. Over the summer I was told I would be laid off in September and wanted to start drinking again but decided to get back on Lexapro instead. I was on it years ago and remember I drank during that time. So far I’ve been good. Good luck to you with whatever you choose. I feel a lot better not having my 2-6 beers a night.
Thank you! For me, my entire social life (basically since I've had one) has revolved around alcohol. I never drink on weeknights, but I always used that as an excuse to binge on weekends. But almost anywhere I go with friends or have gone over the years, booze manages to be a part of it. Even a few months ago, we had an annual softball fundraiser for a buddy's brother who passed away tragically—we didn't drink when we played, but afterward it was like "hey, let's head to the bar and watch the football games!"
That's why during these winter months, it's so easy for me to cut it entirely. The temptation just isn't really there. But, once the weather gets nice and I find myself at baseball games or hanging with friends, that's when it gets so hard to abstain.
But, I'd really like to try. Need to have some tough conversations with myself on this.
I agree with you 100%. It’s like everything revolved around drinking when my wife and I went out or I went out alone I used to love visiting local dive bars and just hang out with people and strike up random conversations. My wife stopped drinking 4 years before me. Her sister died of alcoholism at 47 and she was getting to be drinking too much and I told her that. She decided to end it. It was a bit tough for us at first but we managed even though I still would drink. Took me a few more years to realize it was doing nothing for me and I felt I was lying to myself how much I really was drinking and I basically had a conversation with myself and decided 2025 was it - at least in January. Then as each day passes I said “I’m not drinking today” and it just lasted longer and longer. I am sure the alcohol was doing me zero good and figured a small dose of Lexapro may actually help even though I hate taking pharmaceutical drugs. I’m still not saying to myself I’ll never drink again but right now don’t plan to. I learned how to tell people I’m taking a break and really don’t get any pressure but I did stop visiting local bars like I used to as I felt I needed to make a change to support my decision. I still will meet friends out sometimes and have a NA beer or seltzer. My wife and I go to coffee shops and do other things rather than hang at breweries like we used to. I will say we had some friends who we needed to part ways with as every time we met them out it was constant drinking non stop. I read a good book last summer called Going Dry by Sean Robinson. Amazon has it. Helped me along the way. I never judge people who drink but it sounds like you are similarly thinking like I was. I don’t mention the year before last I did what you said you did - I went dry from Jan - Mar and then met a friend out in March and that was over. Last year something clicked in my head and I didn’t go back. I truly wish you luck with whatever you choose. Side note - I took Lexapro in the past (higher dosage also) for maybe 2 years and never stopped drinking. And I’ve read lots of people still choose to drink while on it.
Since starting it, I never have more than one drink at a time, and I drink much less. I went from regularly having 5-7 drinks a week to maybe 2 a week, if even that
Ill say it... any alcohol is bad for your mental health. It is a depressant and it causes anxiety.
Drinking lexapro for your mental health is like doing a keto diet while eating cake... youre missing the whole point.
Came to say this. I used to drink a bit too much and the hangxiety was insane. Meds were never able to break through it fully.
I drink a cider or two maybe once every few months now. Last time I drank two of them, and didn't realize my boyfriend got the Imperial ciders. They're 8% instead of the normal 5.
I am small (115lbs) and it hit me like a ton of bricks (this was before I started my meds) and I was severely anxious for two straight days after.
It can realllly throw you off if you have depression/anxiety, and it can be such a slippery slope because drinking gets rid of it.
I always said you're just putting it away, with interest
It’s also messing with my sugar meds. So I’m gunna stop
Good share. I’ve always thought that my pre-Lex symptoms tend to return the day after a night of drinking.
I believe you, im on 20mg. Since starting escitalopram i definetly felt that i got really bad kind of depressive hangovers, and also during drinking my mood would often bed bad. Im also during a dry january, actually the next 5 months dry.
I've been on escitalopram for about 18 months now, and once I started I cut out alcohol almost entirely, with the rare exception around the holidays with dinner. I never really liked how I felt after a night of drinking anyway, but being on the meds and feeling almost human sort of solidified my decision.
It also helps that THC seltzers are more widely available, so I'm not stuck drinking shitty sugary mocktails or just chugging water when I go out.
Did you tolerate THC well before the meds? I was very hit or miss and sometimes it made me chill and sometimes it gave me anxiety. I’ve been concerned about trying it with an SSRI.
I have a pretty high tolerance, but it can be hit or miss for me as well...especially when I was still buying junk weed in dime bags from some dude out of his car. Having access to regulated, potent and LEGALIZED mj has mostly eliminated the bouts of anxiety. Consuming it in gummy or seltzer form has also made a huge difference. It hasn't been 100% perfect, but the negative reactions are incredibly rare now compared to two years ago before I started.
Do you take anything for anxiety too? I'm trying g to find a new doctor. Could use some insights. Can You Message me?