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(CNN) Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking antidepressant medications? What about using weed? What will happen if I skip a dose of my medicine so I can drink at a party? Are any over-the-counter meds off-limits if I get sick?
As a family physician focused on college health, I get asked these questions all the time. The high-stress atmosphere and dense living quarters on college campuses often create the perfect storm for potential health complications. Sleepless nights, substance use and rampant respiratory viruses make it important to understand how these medications interact with daily habits and illnesses.
More than one-third of college students today suffer from moderate to severe anxiety and depressive symptoms, according to the 2023-2024 Healthy Minds Study, and it’s good that many are getting help. About 1 in 5 college students, or 22%, report taking prescription antidepressants within the preceding year, the study found, and about 1 in 3 students, or 36%, has received professional counseling.
At the same time, students are studying all night, shifting their sleep schedules to balance different class times, going to weekend parties and more. Those parties tend to serve alcohol, and social and even binge drinking is part of college culture. All-day tailgates increase the chance of excessive intake, even for those who are trying to drink in moderation.