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Alcohol and Zoloft

The manufacturers of Zoloft do not recommend drinking alcohol while on the medication. Zoloft and alcohol act upon similar chemicals in the brain, which means that Zoloft could intensify the effects of the alcohol. If a person chooses to drink alcohol while taking this medication, he or she should only consume light to moderate amounts of alcohol. If you do drink alcohol, do not drink alcoholic beverages at the same time you take your dose of Zoloft.

 

Can I Drink Alcohol on Zoloft?

According to the Zoloft® (sertraline hydrochloride) prescribing information, drinking alcohol while taking Zoloft is not recommended. The medication and alcohol both act upon similar chemicals in the brain. So the concern is that Zoloft will increase the effects of alcohol -- whether this is increasing depression symptoms or affecting motor skills.
 
Practically, when many healthcare providers are asked whether or not it is okay to drink alcohol on Zoloft, they make the following recommendation: If a person chooses to drink alcohol while taking Zoloft, he or she should only drink light to moderate amounts -- and only after he or she understands the effects that Zoloft (and other medicines he or she may be taking) can have on the body.
 

What Is Moderate Drinking?

When healthcare providers recommend moderate alcohol drinking, they mean one drink a day for women; two drinks a day for men.
 Because the alcohol content in drinks varies, what counts as one drink also varies. When healthcare providers talk about one alcoholic drink, they are referring to one of the following examples:
 
  • 12 ounces of beer
  • 5 ounces of wine
  • 1½ ounces of 80-proof whiskey, or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits.
     
(Alcohol and Zoloft Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;