Summary
- Zoloft® (sertraline) is an SSRI used to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and PMDD by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
- Mixing Zoloft® with alcohol can cause immediate effects like increased drowsiness, impaired motor skills, and poor judgment, raising the risk of accidents or injury.
- Long-term use of both substances may worsen depression and anxiety symptoms, and in rare cases, trigger serotonin syndrome—a potentially life-threatening condition.
- Doctors typically recommend avoiding alcohol while on Zoloft® to prevent these interactions; even small amounts can undermine your treatment.
- Support is available—call the 24/7 hotline to explore alcohol recovery options and make Zoloft® treatment safer and more effective.
Alcohol interacts unfavorably with many different substances, including numerous prescription medications. Before you mix alcohol with any kind of medicine, it’s essential to talk to your healthcare provider and make sure you clearly understand the risks.
Mixing alcohol with Zoloft® (sertraline) can come with significant risks to your health and well-being. In this article, our team will teach you more about how Zoloft® works—and how alcohol interferes with its effects.
Whether you need help recovering from alcohol addiction or just want to drink less, help is available. Call our national hotline 24/7 from anywhere in the United States to connect with appropriate resources and support, including referrals to recovery programs in your area.
How Zoloft® Works & Why It’s Prescribed
Zoloft® is a branded form of the medication sertraline. It’s a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly prescribed to treat conditions such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
This medication functions by increasing your brain’s levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood. But alcohol can also alter your brain’s serotonin levels, so having both in your system can produce unpredictable—and undesirable—effects.
How Alcohol Interferes with Zoloft®
Combining alcohol with Zoloft® can lead to several adverse effects. Here is a breakdown of the most likely and severe ones so that you can understand the risks.
Immediate or Short-Term Risks
Increased Sedation and Drowsiness:
Just like alcohol, Zoloft® can cause drowsiness. So if you take them both together, you may feel more tired than usual and find physical coordination more difficult than if you take either one alone.
Impaired Judgment and Motor Skills
It’s common knowledge that consuming alcohol can cause you to make rash decisions and makes it unsafe to drive—but Zoloft® can also make it harder to think clearly or operate heavy machinery. You should refrain from driving after consuming alcohol or taking Zoloft®, but you should absolutely never get behind the wheel if you have taken both within the same period of time.
Ongoing or Long-Term Risks
Worsening Depression Symptoms
Alcohol is a depressant and can counteract the benefits of Zoloft® because of the way it impacts your serotonin levels—potentially worsening depression and anxiety symptoms. Since taking Zoloft® by itself can already cause suicidal thoughts in some individuals, it is extremely risky to add to this risk with another depressant.
Increased Risk of Serotonin Syndrome
Some types of AUD are linked to increased serotonin levels instead of serotonin deficiencies. Since Zoloft® is meant to increase serotonin levels, this can carry the risk of causing too much serotonin to build up in your system.
Excessive serotonin can lead to serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by symptoms like rapid heart rate, hallucinations, and agitation. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after drinking alcohol or taking Zoloft®, treat it as a medical emergency and call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency room as soon as possible.
The Risks of Mixing Alcohol with Zoloft® at a Glance
| Short-Term | Long-Term | |
| Increased sedation | ✅ | |
| Drowsiness | ✅ | |
| Impaired judgment | ✅ | |
| Impaired motor skills | ✅ | |
| Worsened depression symptoms | ✅ | |
| Increased anxiety | ✅ | |
| Serotonin syndrome risk | ✅ |
Safe Drinking Guidelines While on Zoloft®
Medical professionals generally advise against consuming alcohol while taking Zoloft® due to the potential risks and interactions. If you choose to drink, it’s essential to consult with your healthcare provider to understand the potential implications. Your provider may also be able to recommend strategies or medications to help you cut back on alcohol or stop drinking entirely so that you can take Zoloft® more safely.
Remember—if you’re looking for help to break the hold alcohol has on your life, you are not alone. Connecting with support groups or recovery programs in your area is one of the best ways to develop a healthier relationship to alcohol and take the next step forward on your path to recovery.
Find Support for Taking Zoloft® without the Risks of Alcohol
While it might be tempting to consume alcohol socially or as a means to unwind, drinking while on Zoloft® can compromise your treatment and overall health. Prioritizing open communication with your healthcare provider and following their guidance closely can help keep your treatment with Zoloft® effective—but the less you can drink while taking this medication, the better.
Our 24/7 national alcohol recovery hotline can help. Call us now to be put in touch with appropriate support, which may include referrals to recovery programs in your area.