Australia
A 45-year-old male asked:
Why did my alcohol consumption increase when i started lexapro (escitalopram)?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Stuart Wasseranswered
Addiction Medicine 36 years experience
Outstanding question: There is at least one sub-type of alcoholism.(and likely addiction in general) where alcohol use has been documented to increase with ssris (and other anti depressants?) patients are younger onset and with strong family histories of alcohol use. These are not perfect criteria however. The meds cause increased irritability and impulsiveness. Few doctors are aware of these studies.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jun 26, 2018
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