Is It Safe to Drink Alcohol with Benzodiazepines?

Not all cases of generalized anxiety disorder or depression warrant treatment with medications. However, consulting with a psychiatrist may result in prescriptions for antidepressants. Common antidepressants include selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin and norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

There's another class of medications that can also help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression called benzodiazepines. They're usually added to your regimen and tend to have a stronger effect than SSRIs and SSNIs. But, they can also come with more risks than a standard antidepressant. If you’re under the influence of alcohol, it might be harder to assess how well your medications are working. Avoiding alcohol will give you a better idea of how your medication is making you feel and whether it’s helping your symptoms. If it isn't improving your symptoms, you and your psychiatrist may need to go a different route.

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Written by:

Hilary Weissman

Hilary Weissman has been a health writer for the past 6 years. She was a senior copywriter at WW (Weight Watchers) before joining GoodRx and was also a copy editor in S&P Global’s structured finance ratings group for 3 years prior.

Reviewed by:

Sanjai Sinha, MD

Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

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