How effective is Lexapro for treating alcohol abuse?

Answer 1

Lexapro will not treat alcohol abuse. Once someone is sober, Lexapro will assist with the recovery of healthy seratonin levels in the brain. After periods of alcohol abuse, the brain's chemistry is affected, and seratonin levels become low. Supplementing a recovery program, e.g., 12-step program, with an SSRI, such as Lexapro, is an option to help find serenity. Serenity is the medicine addicts need to stay off of drugs and alcohol.

Lexapro has been shown to be of benefit to some people in the clinical treatment of alcohol addiction when it is combined with other treatment and therapy. It's theorized that in some way it reduces the discomfort caused by low levels of certain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, that are depleted by alcohol use, and that it makes the transition to sobriety easier.

Because everyone's brain chemistry is different, psych drugs of all kinds tend to be selective. Some people need to try several in order to find one that works. We also need to be aware that with many psych drugs it is necessary to take them for prolonged periods before seeing results, especially if our brain chemistry has been disrupted by addiction. The effects of alcohol and other drugs on the brain can persist for months, even for a couple of years.

I took Lexapro for 6 months and this drug is very effective in reducing alcohol consumption. I may have an occasional beer or a drink, but I was unable to do so while taking Lexapro. The side effects with alcohol are horrible. As with any drug, side effects depend on the person who is taking the medication.

Lexapro is an antidepressant and will not help with preventing abuse. I might help with help someone to not think that they need to drink so often.

Lexapro might offer some benefit if the underlying cause of the alcohol abuse is depression.

Unfortunately, it isn't always easy to tell, even by professionals, if the Alcoholism stems from depression or if the depression is caused by the alcoholism. This is the case with one of my family members; he's fought with both for many years...and he's losing.

I've been on Lexapro for depression (not alcohol abuse) fora little over a month. It hasn't seemed to do much so I've had my dosage increased. It still has not seemed to do much.

The way it was explained to me by my Dr. is that Lexapro isn't mood-altering. It simply maintains your seratonin levels so that you don't get rock bottom depressed or stay there.

Being that I'm having a hard time "believing" that Lexapro treats depression, I'd have an even harder time believing it would help someone suffering from alcohol abuse -- unless the abuse were specifically caused by the person's inability to produce seratonin -- a highly unlikely (in my opinion, anyway), "cause" of alcohol abuse.

I have found that a drug called Topamax, a drug used as a treatment for biploar, cluster headaches and more, has truly helped me control cravings to binge drink and to binge eat. I don't drink nearly as much as I used to. I's been amazing!