Alcohol & Seroquel: The Interactions

Can you drink while you’re taking Seroquel, or does alcohol interact with this medication in potentially dangerous ways?

If you can’t stop drinking, even when taking prescription drugs with potentially harmful interactions, you might have an addiction to alcohol. Contact Bright Future Recovery today to learn more about our Northern California alcohol rehab.

What Is Seroquel?

To fully understand the concerns about combining alcohol and Seroquel, it can first be important to review some fundamental facts about the medication.

Seroquel is the brand name of a prescription drug that is classified as an atypical, or second-generation, antipsychotic. It is administered orally in tablet form, either multiple times per day (immediate release version) or once per day (extended release version).

The primary active ingredient in Seroquel is quetiapine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Seroquel to treat schizophrenia and acute manic episodes, typically resulting from bipolar I disorder. It is also approved as an adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder, which means that it should be used in combination with other meds.

Physicians in the US also use Seroquel on an off-label basis, either on its own or as an adjunctive medication, to treat conditions including:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Psychosis due to Parkinson’s disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

Is Seroquel Safe?

Seroquel can be both safe and effective if used as directed by a qualified medical professional. However, even people who follow all instructions can experience side effects, some of which can be severe enough to warrant switching to a different med.

Of course, if a person misuses Seroquel, either in an attempt to self-medicate or for recreational purposes, their risk of incurring health problems can increase significantly.

Potential side effects

Seroquel’s most common side effects include:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness
• Sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
• Unintentional weight gain

Less common, but potentially more serious, side effects include:

• Mood swings
• Akathisia (restlessness)
• Tardive dyskinesia (uncontrollable muscle movements including facial twitching, blinking, grimacing, rocking from side to side, and swinging of the arms)
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke

Seroquel can also cause neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a potentially life-threatening condition that results from the medication’s impact on dopamine levels. Experts estimate that NMS affects 0.01%-3.2% of people who take dopamine-blocking drugs.

Risk of abuse and addiction

As described in a 2017 article in the Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice, Seroquel appears to be one of the most frequently abused atypical antipsychotics. 

The authors of that article reported that most cases of Seroquel abuse are for self-medication, primarily to alleviate anxiety and insomnia. But they also noted that people who misuse the drug often combine alcohol and Seroquel, which can expose them to considerable harm.

Underscoring the risk of Seroquel abuse, the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) revealed that the annual number of quetiapine-related emergency department visits increased by 90% between 2005 and 2011, rising from 35,581 to 67,497.

Though Seroquel does not pose the same risk of addiction that alcohol, opioids, and certain other substances do, people can become dependent on the drug, and may experience withdrawal symptoms if they abruptly stop using it.

Dangers of Combining Alcohol and Seroquel

Generally speaking, the dangers of combining alcohol and Seroquel can be divided into two categories, intensified side effects and decreased effectiveness.

Intensified side effects

Alcohol and Seroquel can both cause effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, cognitive difficulties, and impaired coordination.

If a person has both of the substances in their system at the same time, these types of effects can be magnified, potentially leading to:

• Confusion and disorientation
• Difficulty staying awake
• Slips, falls, and other accidents
• Loss of consciousness
• Dangerous drop in blood pressure

Depending on where a person is when these intensified side effects set in, they could incur considerable harm.

Decreased effectiveness

Alcohol can worsen the types of mental health symptoms that Seroquel is designed to alleviate. 

For example, people often take Seroquel to stabilize mood swings or decrease anxiety. But alcohol can cause dramatic shifts in mood and mindset, and drinking has also been linked with increases in both anxiety and depression.

For someone with schizophrenia who may be experiencing psychotic symptoms, drinking alcohol can exacerbate their cognitive and perceptual struggles. 

In any case, using alcohol while you’re taking Seroquel can be counterproductive and possibly harmful, which is why physicians typically caution patients not to drink while on this medication.

What Happens if You Can’t Stop Drinking While Taking Seroquel?

Not everyone who drinks develops alcohol use disorder (which is the clinical term for alcoholism). But if you’re unable to stop drinking due to potential harmful interactions with a prescription medication, that can be a sign that you’ve become addicted.

The risk may be elevated among people who are taking Seroquel due to symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as these are two of several mental illnesses that have been linked with increased rates of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol addiction is a treatable disorder. However, if you have alcoholism and a co-occurring mental health disorder – which experts refer to as dual diagnosis – it’s important that you receive effective treatment for both conditions. Treating a person’s alcoholism while ignoring any co-occurring mental illnesses can make it much more difficult for the patient to maintain their recovery.

Remember: There’s no “perfect” course of treatment for dual diagnosis disorders. Approaches that are ideal for one person may offer little to no benefit to another. For this reason, you should focus on finding a provider who will thoroughly assess your specific circumstances, then develop a customized plan that aligns with your unique needs and goals.

Learn More About Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Northern California

Bright Future Recovery offers a full continuum of personalized care for adults who have been living with alcoholism and co-occurring mental health concerns.

Treatment options at our rehab center in Northern California include detox, residential care, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and virtual outpatient programming. At each of these levels, you can expect to receive individualized attention and comprehensive support from dedicated professionals who are truly invested in your success.

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.