I was doing a search a couple of weeks ago on Effexor. I had been taking Effexor myself. I ran across several sites where people were reporting that they noticed since taking Effexor they began to have alcohol cravings. They said that when they stopped taking it, the cravings went away. In further reading I found that this is not just happening to people who take Effexor but people have reported this problem with taking other SSRI antidepressants. Has anyone else experienced this?
I think you maybe right, I was off drink for 4 1/2 years last year I went to the doctors with depression he put me on 40 mlg of citalpram not long after (about a month later) I started drinking again.
No doubt about it! I take Effexor and have major wine cravingins! :O(
My drinking really increased when I was on Lexapro. Weird.
I only had a craving for alcohol immediately after I stopped taking Effexor. That was about two weeks ago.
As for other meds: I was fine while taking Lexapro and the other SSRIs. It was when I stopped taking them that I wanted to really self medicate again.
However, when I was on Seroquel and Depakote I really felt the need to drink. I swear that was more of a mental dependency than one related to any affect of the medication.
I found i was drinking every single night whilst on anti depressants...although I like a drink this was like a ' need'...i was craving an alcoholic drink from afternoon onwards.
I have now come off my anti depressants (Cold turkey) Zoloft - 4 weeks ago, without any side-effects and the cravings have gone too.
Ive had the same problems with increased alcohol cravings which got me into all sorts of problems with binge drinking, loseing my job and even ending up in prison. I have found research papers that show that alcohol cravings can be induced by SSRIS, Ive told my story on Dr David Healys website davidhealy.org. To go straight to my story click here Out of My Mind. Driven to Drink – Dr. David Healy
this story helps to explain why some people get the cravings/alcohol abuse whilst taking SSRIS.
WOW tha is amazing and could possible explain why I have problems with alchol. Thank you for your post...There a miracle for me..Blessings
I am on Sertraline and I find the same thing happens whilst I'm on SSRI's I crave alcohol from midday onwards
Thanks to all of lyour blogs I actually did research afterwards and also spoke with my friend who is a neruo-sceintist and she was not surprised at all about the cravings.
I also took part, in a 9 month depression study in Cincinnati, OH at the UC school of medicine. The assistant dean of psychiatry ran the study. He told me that they have no idea how a drug is going to work on someones brain. It's hit and miss with the drugs.
I took what you all said so seriously that I scheduled an app't with my psychiatrist this week.
Thank you for being there, many blessungs.
ive been on ssri's my whole life for panic and depression...i was on prozac most my life then after many years tried zoloft which after gastric bypass made me sick so i tried effexor recently and i did start drinking even more than i did already but one thing i started getting was these weird lil pin ***** shock feelings in my head and upper body anyone else have that happen....as of now i got off effexor and back to prozac
I take Wellbutrin but don't think cravings are linked to taking it. Any thoughts or anyone out there taking it & having increased cravings?
This thread ties in with a book (fiction) I am reading now.
Sounds like a great basis for a class action lawsuit in the USA!