Bipolar Medications and Alcohol Interactions
Medications for bipolar disorder work in the central nervous system and may affect chemicals in the brain. Combining alcohol with many bipolar treatments can worsen side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, memory impairment, confusion, poor judgment, or increase the risk for falls and injury. Additive drowsiness can make driving or operating machinery dangerous.
What is bipolar disorder like?
Bipolar disorder is a mental (brain) health disorder that involves extreme mood swings from emotional highs and excitement (called mania or hypomania) to emotional lows and hopelessness (such as depression). Bipolar disorder has also be called manic-depression or bipolar affective disorder. The "mood swings" between mania and depression can be very sudden, and patients are at high risk for suicide.
Over 60% of people with bipolar disorder abuse alcohol or drugs. In bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions, patients are at a higher risk for alcoholism, so the potential for drug interactions can be significant.
Learn More: Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
A variety of different medications can be used to treat bipolar disorder. Drug treatment is best used along with psychological counseling (psychotherapy or "talk therapy"). Which medications are selected are based upon specific symptoms and previous treatments. Drug treatment may be selected from these classes:
Mood stabilizers or anti-seizure medications such as lithium (Lithobid), valproic acid, divalproex sodium (Depakote), carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol, Equetro) and lamotrigine (Lamictal).
Atypical antipsychotics such as olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XR), aripiprazole (Abilify), ziprasidone (Geodon), lurasidone (Latuda) or asenapine (Saphris) may be used alone or with a mood stabilizer.
Antidepressants are usually prescribed along with a mood stabilizer or antipsychotic. The medication Symbyax combines the SSRI antidepressant fluoxetine and the antipsychotic olanzapine into one capsule. Bupropion may be used as a second line agent for some patients with bipolar disorder.
Short-term use of anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines may be used to help with anxiety, agitation and improve sleep, at the outset of treatment.
Alcohol Use with Bipolar Disorder Medications
Alcohol drug interactions with bipolar disorder medications often result in additive drowsiness, which can be dangerous when driving or operating machinery.
Learn more: Drugs.com: Alcohol (ethanol) drug interaction checker
Because medications for bipolar disorder work in the central nervous system and affect chemicals in the brain, the addition of alcohol can also worsen side effects like dizziness, memory impairment, confusion, poor judgement, or increase the risk for falls and injury.
Some agents when combined with alcohol may lower blood pressure and also increase the risk for fainting, a fall, injury or an automobile accident.
The consumption of alcohol during treatment with bupropion (Wellbutrin XL) should be minimized or avoided due to side effects like seizures, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, mood and behavioral changes, depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Alcohol and certain anti-anxiety benzodiazepine medications used in bipolar disorder (for example: clonazepam or lorazepam) can result in additive dizziness, drowsiness, and depressed breathing and should never be mixed.
In general, it is best to avoid combined use of bipolar disorder medications and alcohol. If you drink alcohol frequently, discuss this with your doctor. Be sure to review each medication you are prescribed for alcohol interactions, as well as discuss possible interactions with your doctor and pharmacist. Patients with bipolar disorder who abuse alcohol can also have poor judgement, be more impulsive, and have a higher risk of injury or suicide.
Common Bipolar Disorder Medications
| Generic Name | Common Brand Names |
|---|---|
| aripiprazole | Abilify, Abilify MyCite, Abilify Asimtufii |
| asenapine | Saphris |
| bupropion | Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL |
| cariprazine | Vraylar |
| carbamazepine | Carbatrol, Tegretol, Equetro |
| clonazepam | Klonopin |
| divalproex sodium | Depakote, Depakote ER |
| fluoxetine and olanzapine | Symbyax |
| lamotrigine | Lamictal, Lamictal ODT, Lamictal XR |
| lithium | Lithobid |
| lorazepam | Ativan |
| lurasidone | Latuda |
| olanzapine | Zyprexa, Zyprexa Zydis |
| olanzapine and samidorphan | Lybalvi |
| paliperidone palmitate | Invega Hafyera |
| quetiapine | Seroquel, Seroquel XR |
| risperidone | Risperdal, Risperdal Consta |
| ziprasidone | Geodon |
*Note: This may not be a complete list; always check with your pharmacist or doctor for possible drug-alcohol interactions. Tell your healthcare providers about all the other medications you use, including prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements and herbal products.
Types of Drug Interactions With Alcohol
- ADHD Medications and Alcohol
- Allergies, Cough/Cold Medications and Alcohol
- Antibiotic Medications and Alcohol
- Antidepressants and Alcohol Interactions
- Antipsychotic Medications and Alcohol
- Anxiety Medications and Alcohol
- Birth Control and Alcohol: Do They Interact?
- Blood Thinners and Alcohol: A Dangerous Mix?
- Can You Mix Alcohol with Stomach Medicines?
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- Cholesterol Medications and Alcohol: Can You Mix Them?
- Diabetes Medications and Alcohol
- Do blood pressure drugs interact with alcohol?
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- Herbal Supplements and Alcohol
- Is it safe to drink alcohol with acne medicines?
- Motion Sickness Drugs and Alcohol Interactions
- Seizure Medicines and Alcohol: Do They Mix?
- Should you mix muscle relaxants with alcohol?
- What are the dangers of mixing sleeping pills with alcohol?
- What are the risks of mixing pain medications and alcohol?
Learn more
Treatment options
Care guides
Symptoms and treatments
Medicine.com guides (external)
Sources
- Behavioral Health Trends in the United States: Results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/behavioral-health-trends-united-states-results-2014-national-survey-drug-use-and-health
- Hunt G, Mahli G, Cleary M, et al. Prevalence of comorbid bipolar and substance use disorders in clinical settings, 1990–2015: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2016;2016: 331-349. doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.011
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.