If you wish to drink socially while taking Cymbalta, it would be prudent to discuss with your doctor as they have your complete medical history. You may also want to have your liver function tested if you are concerned. Typically, one of the biggest concerns in regard to taking medication with alcohol is the risk of additive sedation and cognitive impairment. This does not appear to be an issue with Cymbalta and intermittent alcohol consumption. One of the conditions that Cymbalta treats is depression and the symptoms that go along with it.

Paying for Treatment

It has indicated use for several conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders and chronic pain conditions like diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and musculoskeletal pain 1, 3, 4, 5. If you’re taking a prescribed medication for major depressive disorder, such as Cymbalta, it’s important to ask your doctor about how your everyday lifestyle may be impacted. For instance, if you like to enjoy a beer or a glass of moscato to relax at night, you should ask, “Is it safe to drink alcohol?

Mental Health Treatment

If you’re receiving chemotherapy and find it difficult to limit or stop alcohol use, it’s best to bring your concerns to your care team. If you have cancer, it’s possible that alcohol use could increase your risk for additional cancers. However, there isn’t enough research to show whether it increases the risk of recurrence, or cancer coming back after treatment and remission. Abrupt discontinuation of Duloxetine may result in discontinuation-emergent adverse events, of which dizziness was reported in 12% of patients. Other adverse events included nausea, headache, paresthesia, vomiting, irritability or nightmares, which were reported in less than 6% of patients 10. Granite Recovery Centers’ integrated approach treats each unique person with an individualized plan for substance or alcohol use disorders.

Contributors to this article for the NIAAA Core Resource on Alcohol include the writer for the full article, content contributors to subsections, reviewers, and editorial staff. These contributors included both experts external to NIAAA as well as NIAAA staff. To earn AMA, AAPA, ANCC, ACPE, or ABIM MOC credit, review this article, then use the link below to cymbalta with alcohol log into or create a CME University account.

Some research suggests that duloxetine may be useful in lessening anxiety-like behaviors and alcohol intake, which may make it useful as a treatment during alcohol withdrawal. Your liver breaks down the substances you consume and removes toxins from your body. Because alcohol contains a number of toxins, chronic use can eventually overwork your liver and lead to liver damage.

Examples of common medications known to interact negatively with alcohol

Most healthcare providers discourage the consumption of alcohol while taking the medication Cymbalta. The combination of these two substances can serious side effects to occur. If you must consume alcohol you should do so in moderation and only after you have been taking Cymbalta for a while. If you regularly consume alcohol you should talk to a doctor before taking this drug. Alcohol can alter the way the body uses Cymbalta and can change the brain’s chemistry, causing an increase in depression, which creates a greater risk for suicidal tendencies.

The physician should analyze the benefits and risks that could come from using Cymbalta for alcohol withdrawal symptoms, depending upon your unique circumstances. It’s important to remain vigilant about the symptoms of depression, especially when alcohol is involved. Persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide require prompt attention. If these symptoms arise or worsen while taking Cymbalta, it’s crucial to inform a healthcare provider immediately. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides guidance on the use of medications, including Cymbalta, emphasizing the importance of avoiding alcohol while taking certain drugs. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can interact with medications in unpredictable ways.

• Shannon has been with Gallus Medical Detox Centers since 2010 and is a vital part of our organization.
• When mixed, you may experience a worsening of the side effects that you would normally experience when taking each substance separately.
• Located in New Hampshire, Liberty Health Services offers exceptional medical detox and customized addiction treatment for individuals throughout New England.
• Millions of people have changed their relationship with substances, cut back on how much they’re using, or stopped using altogether.
• While Cymbalta is often prescribed to treat depression, it can sometimes destabilize mood.

Who Is at Higher Risk?

We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. In closing, combining alcohol with certain medications, particularly those with sedative effects, can increase the risk of adverse events, including falls, driving accidents, and fatal overdoses.

What Are the Symptoms of Liver Damage?

Duloxetine is a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, commonly marketed as Cymbalta, prescribed for depression, anxiety and pain conditions. It is generally considered safe to drink alcohol while taking duloxetine, although there is a small chance of enhanced fatigue, anxiety, reduced antidepressant effect and negative impact on the liver. In this article, we will understand what duloxetine is used for and how duloxetine interacts with alcohol and other drugs. It is essential to seek professional medical advice before making any decisions regarding alcohol intake while taking Cymbalta. Healthcare providers can offer personalized guidance based on individual circumstances, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of treatment.

Cymbalta is a brand name for duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)prescribed to treat various conditions including anxiety and depression. This can potentially result in severe side effects, including liver damage. It is not fully clear how duloxetine achieves antidepressant properties, but it is hypothesized it is through increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain.

Common Side Effects of Cymbalta:

Many people find that mental health support can support their overall health and treatment plan. These interactions can affect the drug’s therapeutic effects and increase the likelihood of side effects. Mixing alcohol with any type of medication is almost always not a good idea. Additionally, if you decide to drink alcohol in moderation while taking Cymbalta, you should do so only after you have been taking the drug for a while.

If you’re using alcohol regularly while also on Cymbalta, the alcohol may change the way your body uses the medicine or alter your brain chemistry to increase your depression. Fortunately, educating patients about the risks of combining medications with alcohol may help them avoid negative outcomes. Here, we describe briefly how alcohol and medications can interact, and we provide a few examples of common medications that could interact negatively with alcohol. We provide links to resources to help you mitigate these risks, including a consensus-developed list of potentially serious alcohol-medication interactions in older adults. Remember, informed decision-making and open communication with healthcare providers are key to ensuring safe and effective treatment outcomes.

NIAAA Writer

Drug interactions can sometimes heighten the unwanted side effects of each substance. The FDA reports that when Cymbalta and alcohol are taken so that their peak effects coincide, the use of Cymbalta did not worsen the motor or mental impairment caused by alcohol. However, combining the two substances may contribute to a worsening of other side effects. A concern with drinking when you are taking Cymbalta is the potential risk for liver damage.

People can message their provider with questions, have virtual consultations and track… Depression treatment is often a combination of medication and therapy. If you’re taking Cymbalta, regular therapy sessions can help you get to the root issues of your depression, talk through situations that may be causing your symptoms and learn coping mechanisms.

One of the main reasons that it’s not a good choice to mix Cymbalta and alcohol is because of the increased potential for creating liver damage. However, this risk is greatly increased when it is mixed with alcohol. If you or a loved one is struggling with an alcohol use disorder, or if abstaining from alcohol proves to be a challenge while on medications like Cymbalta, know that help is available. Gallus Detox Centers specializes in assisting individuals to overcome addiction and navigate their path toward recovery.