Alcohol and Luvox

Most healthcare providers advise their patients that it is okay to drink light-to-moderate amounts of alcohol while taking Luvox. A few examples of drinks that count as one alcoholic drink include 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, and 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits. However, it is recommended that you not begin drinking while on Luvox until you understand the effects that Luvox has on your body. You should also be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about alcohol and Luvox, since he or she knows your situation best.

 

Can I Drink Alcohol While Taking Luvox?

Sometimes people are warned to avoid drinking alcohol while taking Luvox® (fluvoxamine maleate). This is because alcohol and medicines like Luvox affect similar chemicals in the brain. So the concern is that Luvox will increase the effects of alcohol.
 
Practically, when many healthcare providers are asked whether or not it is okay to drink alcohol while taking Luvox, they recommend that if a person chooses to drink, he or she should drink only light-to-moderate amounts, and only after he or she understands the effects that Luvox and other medicines have on his or her body.
 

Alcohol and Luvox: What Is Moderate Drinking?

When healthcare providers recommend moderate alcohol drinking, they mean one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Because the alcohol content in drinks varies, what counts as one drink also varies. Following are some examples of drinks that count as one alcoholic drink:
 
  • 12 ounces of beer
  • 5 ounces of wine
  • 1½ ounces of 80-proof whiskey or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits.
     

Using Caution With Alcohol and Luvox

If a person decides to drink alcohol in moderation while on Luvox, it is recommended that he or she not drink alcohol at the same time as he or she takes Luvox.
 Also, a person should learn the effects of Luvox on his or her body before he or she begins drinking. Luvox may affect some individuals' ability to perform certain functions, such as driving a car or operating machinery.
 
(Alcohol and Luvox Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;