Alcohol and Mental Health Meds: What You Need to Know

In this episode of The Replacement Project, we explore the critical and often overlooked interaction between alcohol and psychiatric medications like SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines. Sarajean breaks down how these medications work, how alcohol can disrupt their effects, and why drinking may worsen the very symptoms you're trying to treat, like depression and anxiety. Whether you're on a journey of mindful drinking or questioning your relationship with alcohol while managing your mental health, this episode gives you the science, the stats, and the support to make informed decisions. Learn how alcohol affects neuroplasticity and how SSRIs can support your brain’s ability to heal and build new habits when alcohol isn’t in the way. Resources Cited: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, January 14). Alcohol Use and Your Health. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/index.html World Health Organization. (2024). Alcohol. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2015). Mechanisms of neuroplasticity and ethanol’s effects on plasticity in the striatum and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 37(1). https://arcr.niaaa.nih.gov/media/341/download American Addiction Centers. (2025, April 30). Alcohol and Depression: The Link Between Alcoholism and Depression. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol/risks-effects-dangers/depression Cleveland Clinic. (2022, September 16). Why Alcohol Can Give You Anxiety. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/emotional-hangover-why-alcohol-can-give-you-anxiety Neuropraxis. (n.d.). Does alcohol affect neuroplasticity? https://neuropraxis.com/resource/does-alcohol-affect-neuroplasticity/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Glamour. (2024). Okay, Maybe It’s Time to Quit Drinking. https://www.glamour.com/story/okay-maybe-its-time-to-quit-drinking?utm_source=chatgpt.com