Although Zoloft is a drug that usually does not have a lot of side effects, medical professionals don’t recommend a mixture of Zoloft and alcohol. In this article, we will evaluate the risk factors and side effects caused by taking Zoloft with alcohol.

Zoloft is the brand name of an antidepressant variety known as sertraline. It used to treat depression, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and panic disorder.

Zoloft is a prescription drug. If we consider it pharmacologically we can say that this medication belongs to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). So Zoloft essentially effects the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.

Seratonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, behavior, and motivation. In addition, this hormone has roles to organize appetite, sleep, and digestion.

Zoloft helps to balance the serotonin in your brain. In this way, it provides many benefits such as improving mood, increasing appetite, restore your appearance, and reducing fear or anxiety.

Zoloft is one of the most prevalent antidepressant prescription medications available today. Also, thanks to its blocking properties on the obsessive urge to act, it has a very positive effect on the treatment of the obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Is It Safe To Take Zoloft And Alcohol Together?

zoloft and alcohol interactions

Although there are not many studies on the consequences of simultaneously taking Zoloft and alcohol, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that Zoloft should not be used with alcohol.

Zoloft and alcohol are two substances that both affect the transmission of messages in the brain. When Zoloft and alcohol are used together, Probably, these two drugs interact and the effectiveness of side effects may increase.

When we examine Zoloft and alcohol separately, we see that Zoloft has effects on the work of neurotransmitters in the brain. Alcohol, on the other hand, has a role that prevents or slows down neurotransmitter transmissions. You can observe that people who drink alcohol cannot think clearly and do some functions.

These two similar effects can cause serious confusion in the brain. In addition, alcohol, a neurological suppressor may cause to increase in the side effects of Zoloft. These complications are called interactions.

For instance, Zoloft has side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and concentration problems on the nervous system. When you take alcohol with Zoloft, it will probably double these side effects. Also, driving and operating machinery can become more dangerous when two drugs are taken together. For this reason, you should avoid consuming Zoloft and alcohol together.

Besides, when we evaluate from another point of view, we see that Zoloft and alcohol have sometimes opposite effects. Alcohol is a depressant. Conversely, Zoloft is a drug used for depression treatment. Therefore, when Zoloft and alcohol are mixed, alcohol will reduce the positive effect of Zoloft in the treatment of depression.

Zoloft And Alcohol Interactions

Zoloft and alcohol are both drugs that affect brain functions. Taking drugs intensely will increase mental and motor skill disorders. Also, it is quite possible to cause negative interactions with this harmful mixture. Because of these, healthcare professionals recommend that people avoid alcohol while taking Zoloft.

When Zoloft and alcohol are taken together, the following side effects may increase:

  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Anxiety
  • Nervousness
  • Dry mouth
  • Upset stomach
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Changes in appetite
  • Problems sleeping
  • Decreased libido
  • Trouble ejaculating

The most common interaction of Zoloft and alcohol mixture is the increase in drowsiness and sedation. This may cause mild unconsciousness in some people. Therefore, even the slightest activity under these conditions will be dangerous.

Also, as we mentioned before, alcohol is a depressant that directly affects the nervous system. Long-term alcohol consumption leads to depression. If you have depression problems and use Zoloft for treatment, your treatment may not work due to the negative effect of alcohol.

In addition, mixing alcohol and Zoloft often triggers sleep problems, such as feeling drowsy or not being able to sleep during the night.

Some people who take Zoloft may experience digestive issues. Mixing Zoloft with alcohol can exacerbate the symptoms of an upset stomach, possibly resulting in vomiting.

There is another dangerous problem caused by combining Zoloft with alcohol. Mixing alcohol and Zoloft may impair the ability to make decisions and judgment. This may lead to homicidal tendencies. Some limited researches support this theory.

Finally, Zoloft can also increase in suicidal thoughts in young people. This risk will be higher when Zoloft is taken with alcohol.

Dealing With Mixing Zoloft And Alcohol

zoloft and alcohol avoiding

When your doctor prescribed medicine like Zoloft, it’s extremely important to share your full medical history and bad habits like consuming alcohol with your doctor. If you have habits such as regularly drinking, your doctor will guide you about alcohol consumption and explain the risk factors.

Generally, due to the interaction between Zoloft and alcohol can be unpredictable, and dangerous, it is suggested people who take Zoloft to restrict alcohol consumption completely.

Various drug interactions can be experienced when Zoloft is taken with other drugs, medicines, and supplements. Also, if we add alcohol consumption to this scenario, cross-interactions, and complex side effects may occur. For this reason, it is very important to tell all the medicines you take to your healthcare provider before you start using Zoloft.

Patients should not use Zoloft if they are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are another type of antidepressant or pimozide, which is an antipsychotic drug.

To solve the problem radically, people with alcohol addiction can choose a treatment process to get rid of this addiction. For treatment, medications, alcohol rehabilitation programs, and various therapies can be preferred. Also, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism may give some advice.


Healthcare professionals and researchers recommend you to avoid consuming alcohol when using Zoloft. Because when you’re combining Zoloft and alcohol, all of the side effects, interactions & blackouts of each of the drugs on their own can become increased.

These side effects impact many brain functions. It can also lead to drowsiness and sedation.

Due to the impaired ability of coordination and judgment Taking Zoloft with alcohol causes even the simplest daily tasks to be dangerous.

Alcohol also worsens the symptoms of depression because it is a central nervous system depressant. This condition can eliminate the effect of Zoloft, which is used in the treatment of depression.