Seroquel (quetiapine) is a prescription antipsychotic medication commonly prescribed to relieve psychotic symptoms in those with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. It is also sometimes used off label for the treatment of depression or insomnia. This medication can interact with several other drugs, including prescription and illicit recreational substances, as well as alcohol.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that people who are using Seroquel should not consume alcohol. Alcohol can suppress the body’s ability to utilize Seroquel effectively. And, drinking alcohol while using Seroquel could exacerbate the typical side effects of the medication.

While it is advised that people who take Seroquel not consume alcohol, the effects of using alcohol while taking Seroquel are considered minor. However, while the effects of drinking may be mild, both of these substances will compound the effects of the other, making lesser amounts of each substance more powerful when used in combination.

Although there is research that shows that Seroquel and alcohol may be used together relatively safely, there is still some significant risk associated with this combination. Moreover, it is not advised to use both of these substances within the same timeframe without first consulting a physician.

Seroquel and Alcohol Side Effects

When Seroquel and alcohol are used together, side effects that occur with either substance can worsen. These might include the following:

In severe cases, the increased side effects can be detrimental or even fatal, just as taking an excessive amount of either substance by itself could be dangerous. If you use alcohol and Seroquel in conjunction, the combined effect may impair judgment. This effect can lead to increased risks while driving, operating heavy machinery, or any other activity that requires focus and sharp motor skills.

Dangers of Alcohol

While alcohol is legal to consume in the U.S. for persons aged 21 or older, it is nonetheless a potent substance that can interfere with how different drugs act in the body. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) as of 2015, more than 86% of people aged 18 and older in the U.S. reported consuming alcohol at least once in their lifetime.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that there is no such thing as safe drinking because any level of alcohol consumption increases a person’s risk of brain chemistry changes, falls, memory loss, and organ damage. With medications such as Seroquel, any alcohol consumption may be harmful. Those who are using Seroquel and also actively consuming alcohol are urged to quit drinking to be safe.

Alcohol increases the risk of psychotic symptoms, and it interacts adversely with Seroquel’s side effects. Also, if you consume alcohol while using Seroquel, there are overlapping side effects that can worsen rapidly. These include the following:

Another possible side effect of Seroquel is weight gain, so those with blood sugar volatility are at risk for this is they use this drug. Drinking alcohol can also change blood sugar levels, and due to excessive empty calories, it can increase the risk of weight gain as well. Gaining too much weight raises the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

It is also more difficult for the body to regulate temperature and cool down while using Seroquel. This effect can result in heat exhaustion and even hyperthermia in extreme situations, such as at crowded parties or in hot environments. Moreover, intense exercise and hot, humid weather are risky while using Seroquel.

Drinking alcohol can also increase body temperature and the risk of hyperthermia on its own. As such, combining Seroquel and alcohol means you can feel hot or feverish much of the time, and that you are at an even higher risk of experiencing hyperthermia.

Symptoms of hyperthermia include:

Someone who is suffering from hyperthermia needs medical attention immediately. If you suspect you or someone you know is at risk, please call 911.

Treatment for Alcoholism

If you struggle with alcohol abuse and you are prescribed Seroquel, it is vital that you work with addiction professionals to overcome alcoholism first. To do so, you may need to find a rehab program, such as Harmony Treatment and Wellness, that uses an integrated approach to addiction. Moreover, persons who experience psychotic symptoms or other mental health disorders will need to have all conditions treated simultaneously.

Are you ready to break free from substance abuse and reclaim the fulfilling life you deserve? Contact us today and find out how we can help!

Absinthe alcohol is a very potent liquor that has been reported to induce hallucinations and result in euphoria. It may also be associated with dangerous consequences related to acute alcohol intoxication. Absinth has all the potential adverse effects of drinking alcohol—in some cases, maybe more.

What Is Absinthe Alcohol?

Absinthe is produced from distilled grains and green anise, wormwood oil, fennel, and other herbs. It’s comprised of anywhere between 45-75% alcohol or 90-150 proof. Absinthe was developed in Switzerland in 1792 but didn’t reach the U.S. until 1878.

Absinthe is usually found as an emerald green color. The traditional method of consumption is to pour it over ice or sugar cubes. Sometimes it’s further diluted with water to improve the taste, which is similar to black licorice mixed with various herbs.

Legal Status

Absinthe was illegal in the U.S. from 1912-2007. It is currently legal, but only when produced with little or no thujone. Thujone is an oily fragrant substance, naturally found in a variety of many plants and flowers. In absinthe, this substance is the ingredient believed to contribute to the drink’s unusual mind-altering effects.

Effects of Absinthe Alcohol

As noted, absinthe has a very high alcohol content, typically higher than standard liquors like rum or vodka. Moreover, one can presume that it’s potential for causing high levels of intoxication is also very high.

In research, thujone has been shown to slow reaction times and impair attention capabilities. It may also induce visual or auditory hallucinations among some people. One study suggested that thujone’s effect on GABA receptors was likely the culprit for many of these effects.

Absinthe and Hallucinations

Absinthe containing a significant amount of thujone was, in the past, believed to sometimes lead to mania or delirium. Recent studies show that absinthe abuse has been associated with hallucinations, brain damage, and increased risk of mental illness and suicidality.

Absinthe Addiction

Alcoholism is defined as the inability to stop drinking even after adverse consequences have occurred in a person’s life. These consequences may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Alcoholism related to the abuse of any substance is a disease characterized by tolerance, dependence, and compulsive drug-seeking behavior. Tolerance occurs due to the body’s propensity to diminish the effects of substances following repeated use.

Dependence develops over time as a substance is abused regularly. The brain and body adapt to the substance’s presence and becomes unable to function correctly in its absence. The result of this condition is the onset of unpleasant and possibly life-threatening withdrawal effects when use is stopped.

Health-Related Issues Associated with Absinthe

According to the National Institutes of Health:

“As our knowledge of multiple organ damage, neurotoxicity, and diverse psychiatric [conditions related to] excessive alcohol use has increased, the possibility emerges that much of the syndrome of absinthism was actually acute alcohol intoxication, withdrawal, dependence, and other neuropsychiatric complications.”

In other words, the major health and social issues related to absinthe use are not unique to absinthe. The excessive abuse of any kind of alcohol, especially long-term, can result in many health problems. These problems include, but are not limited to, heart disease, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, and brain damage.

What Is Alcoholism?

Although alcohol abuse and binge drinking will not always lead to dependence, disorders, and diseases, these potentially destructive patterns of abuse increase the likelihood that these problems will occur.

Some questions you can ask yourself (or a loved one) to determine if you might have an alcohol use disorder include the following:

1) Have you encountered times when you ended up drinking more or for longer than you originally intended?

2) On multiple occasions, have you wanted to cut down or your drinking or stop altogether, and even tried to, but found you could not?

3) Do you spend a considerable amount of time drinking, being drunk, or recovering from the aftereffects?

4) Do you experience cravings, or a strong need or urge to drink?

5) Have you found that drinking or being hungover has often interfered with school, work, or taking care of your home or family?

6) Have you continued to drink despite the problems it is causing?

7) Have you lost interest in activities that were once important to you in order to drink?

8) On multiple occasions, have you encountered situations while drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (e.g., driving or swimming)?

9) Have you continued to drink although it is making you feel depressed or anxious or contributing to another health problem? Or have you continued to drink after having had a blackout?

10) Do you have to drink more than you once did to achieve the effect you want? Or have you found that your average number of drinks have less effect than before?

11) As the effects of alcohol are subsiding, have you experienced withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia or shakiness?

Is Absinthe Deadly?

Like most alcoholic drinks, absinthe has a high potential to be dangerous when abused. Presently, legal absinthe doesn’t include as much thujone as in the past. It also does not appear to be the sole cause of hallucinations and other effects. But abusing alcoholic drinks that contain unusually high amounts of alcohol is very risky.

Binge drinking absinthe can definitely result in acute alcohol poisoning and death. Given that the alcohol content in absinthe can be as high as 150 proof, it’s not hard to get highly intoxicated in a very short amount of time. More than a small drink can lead to adverse effects, and excessive use is ill-advised and extremely hazardous.

Alcohol poisoning is a serious consequence of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period. Drinking too much too rapidly can depress breathing, heart rate, and body temperature. It can also impair the gag reflex and lead to aspiration of vomit, coma, and death.

Any individual suffering from alcohol poisoning requires immediate medical attention. If you believe someone has alcohol poisoning, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room right away.

Signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include the following:

Even if a person doesn’t have all the above symptoms, someone extremely intoxicated runs the risk of passing out and not waking up. Alcohol continues to accumulate in the bloodstream for some time after it’s consumed. Do not leave a person in this state alone and do not assume they will merely “sleep it off.” Seek medical help.

Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

Not everyone who drinks absinthe or other alcoholic beverages will do so to excess. Indeed, not everyone will become an alcoholic who drinks too much, either. Addiction is a condition that is affected by a variety of factors, including genetics, family history, and mental health status.

Harmony Treatment and Wellness offers customized, integrated addiction treatment programs that are designed to address all aspects of a person’s well-being, not just substance abuse. Using evidence-based approaches, such as behavioral therapy, we provide our clients with the tools they need to be successful in long-term recovery.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcoholism, contact us today! Discover how we help people free themselves from the shackles of addiction and foster the healthy lives they deserve!

Consuming too much alcohol results in a myriad of effects, both large and small, on a person’s general health and emotional stability. It can wreak havoc on personal and professional relationships.

Most negative consequences of alcohol are relatively well-known. Perhaps less well-known, however, is the relationship between alcohol and weight gain.

Alcohol and Weight Gain

The following list describes eight different ways that alcohol can hinder weight loss and even cause weight gain:

1. Alcoholic beverages are mostly composed of “empty” calories.

To gain body weight, our body must consume more calories than it burns. These extra calories get stored as fat, which is essentially an energy reserve. Alcohol is considered “empty” calories because, while it does provide the body with calories, it contains very few other nutrients.

A single 12-ounce can of your average beer contains about 155 calories. For a 5-ounce glass of red wine, there are 125 calories. To put that into perspective, an average afternoon snack will have between 150 to 200 calories, as well as vitamins and minerals.

Even one night out at the bar with your friends will likely gain you several hundred empty calories. And, mixed drinks that contain soda or fruit juice have even more calories.

2. Our bodies recognize alcohol as a primary fuel source.

There are other factors that lead to weight gain. When alcohol is consumed, the body breaks it down into energy before all other macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

What this means is that if the alcohol is itself fulfilling our body’s energy needs, other sources such as glucose and lipids get deposited for later use as fat.

3. Alcohol can negatively impact organ function.

The liver’s primary mission is to filter the blood of toxins and alien substances, including drugs and alcohol. Likewise, the liver plays a major role in metabolizing carbs, proteins, and fats.

Long-term, regular consumption of alcohol, especially in excessive amounts, can cause a condition known as alcoholic fatty liver. Once this condition exists, the liver’s metabolic functions are compromised. This condition makes it much more difficult for the body to burn off excess fat and ultimately lose weight.

4. Alcohol tends to be stored as belly fat.

Typically, when someone overeats, the extra calories get stored as fat. The locations of these fat deposits are more or less evenly spread over the entire body. For alcohol consumption, though, the excess calories tend to be stored in the belly region, causing the infamous “beer gut.”

5. Alcohol affects a person’s judgment and increases impulsivity, including that related to food and more drinking.

Alcohol lowers inhibitions and can cause people to make poor decisions at the spur of the moment. Unfortunately, this also includes dietary choices.

In fact, a study revealed that mice who drank ethanol over a three day period exhibited a significant increase in food intake. This research suggests that alcohol can actually trigger hunger signals in the brain, leading to cravings to consume more food.

6. Alcohol impacts important sex hormones.

Alcohol consumption can affect levels of hormones in the body, especially testosterone, a sex hormone that plays a critical role in several metabolic processes, such as muscle development and fat-burning.

One study suggested that low testosterone levels might be linked to metabolic syndrome in men. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by:

7. Alcohol use can negatively impact sleep.

Research suggests that alcohol use can result in increased periods of wakefulness during sleep cycles. Sleep deprivation can lead to an imbalance in the hormones linked to hunger, satiety, and energy storage.

8. Alcohol impairs digestion and nutrient uptake.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages can impair proper digestive function by causing stress in the stomach and intestines. This effect can result in impaired digestive secretions and passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract.

Digestive secretions are critical elements of healthy digestion, as they break down food into the fundamental micro- and macronutrients that are absorbed and used by the body. Alcohol use of all levels can impair digestion and absorption of these nutrients, which can significantly affect the metabolism of bodily organs that play a vital role in weight management.

Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is a devastating disease that can destroy the lives of those afflicted as well as the lives of their loved ones. Fortunately, however, alcoholism is a condition that can be treated using a comprehensive approach.

Those who seek professional help can take advantage of therapeutic services, such as behavioral therapy, counseling, psychoeducation, and group support. Harmony Treatment and Wellness employs caring medical personnel who deliver these services with compassion and expertise. We are dedicated to providing clients with the knowledge and support they need to get sober and enjoy long-lasting wellness.

If you or someone you love has been trying to quit drinking and has found it challenging to do so, call us today to discover how we can help!