When it comes to treating drug and alcohol addictions, Seroquel and alcohol interaction problems seem to be relatively common. As one of the most common prescription drugs for the treatment of psychiatric illnesses, Seroquel is prescribed by doctors to about 20 percent of the people who are diagnosed with alcoholism or drug addiction. What makes this drug so widely used to treat drug and alcohol addictions is that it seems to work fairly well. In fact, about half of those patients who take Seroquel to treat their drug and alcohol addictions eventually stop using them. In recent years, however, there have been some concerns raised about the potential danger of treating drug and alcohol addictions with Seroquel.

ALCOHOL ANDMEDICATION AstraZeneca states that taking alcohol with seroquel can lead to alcohol intolerance if the patient regularly takes the medications without changing their diet. This means that a person taking Seroquel and alcohol in the same regimen could feel the negative effects of both drugs more acutely than would someone who avoided them altogether. Although the FDA has not approved Seroquel and alcohol therapy as one of the safest ways to treat drug and alcohol addictions, it is a common practice among physicians to prescribe the medication to patients taking other medications for certain illnesses. It’s unclear why this is, but it does appear to be a risk that can be increased by using Seroquel.

Risks Due To Drinking And Seroquel Use

DIETARY DRUG AND alcohol interactions Seroquel and alcohol seem to pose little risk in the short term, but Seroquel use during a depressive or manic episode could produce serious side effects. There have been reports of erectile dysfunction, anxiety, mood irregularities, and confusion occurring from long-term use of the medication. One study suggests that there was a trend of a higher occurrence of stomach pain among patients taking Seroquel for anxiety disorders than there was among those not taking the medication. In one case, the patient ended up having three attempts to quit drinking alcohol because he became so dependent on the powerful medication that he was no longer able to function normally in his life. Because Seroquel can cause withdrawal side effects like nausea, restlessness, and drowsiness, it is crucial that you know whether or not you are likely to have these reactions before you start taking the medication.

Mixing Seroquel With Alcohol

PHYSIOCHEMISTRY Drug interactions with seroquel mixed with alcohol tend to focus on two areas: liver function and blood pressure levels. Seroquel is known to interact with a variety of drugs including birth control, anti-depressants, cholesterol-lowering drugs, asthma medications, and antibiotics. Some of the medications in this list have been known to cause significant liver dysfunction, a condition known as cirrhosis. Also, as a result of liver dysfunction, blood pressure levels often increase dangerously in people taking seroquel. This can result in hypotension, or a drop in blood pressure. If this happens, emergency medical treatment is necessary.

PSYCHOLOGY Drug interaction with seroquel and alcohol

PSYCHOLOGY Drug interactions with seroquel and alcohol tend to focus on two areas: psychology and chemistry. Seroquel affects chemicals in the brain that control mood, anxiety, alertness, and other aspects of your thinking. Because seroquel alters how your brain reacts to specific stimuli, you can become more alert when taking this medication but you could also experience feelings of euphoria. Because of these potentially conflicting psychological effects, it is important that you discuss seroquel with your doctor especially if you take other medications or are taking prescribed medications for another condition.

ADVERSE REPEATENTIONS A common side effect of alcohol with seroquel is a recurrence of your original condition. Seroquel tends to affect the liver in the same way that it does alcoholic beverages; therefore, taking the medication with a drink can produce the very same symptoms as drinking alcohol. When you take the medication, there are two things that happen. First, your body absorbs all the alcohol in the prescription at one time. Second, some of the anti-depressants like seroquel also enter your bloodstream, altering its chemical makeup.

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