Author: Gary Jackson

Alcohol Use, Abuse, and Depression: Is There a Connection?

However, as these short-term effects wear off, other effects begin to take hold. This includes feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions. Drinking persistently and excessively can increase your risk of developing a major depressive disorder.

• There are treatment facilities across the country that can provide you or your loved one care.
• During the metabolism of alcohol via the respective dehydrogenases, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is converted into reduced NAD.
• There are a number of non-physical effects of Depressant abuse as well.
• It may temporarily suppress feelings of isolation, anxiety, or sadness, but that won’t last.
• In the brain, alcohol increases the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which results in lower levels of anxiety, stress, and fear.

Whether you drink alcohol regularly or save it for special celebrations, it is a common element in many people’s lives. Researchers found the earliest trace of alcohol residue in pottery from 7000–6600 BC, according to the Penn Museum. The pottery was from Jiahu, which was a Neolithic village in China. Metronidazole is an antibacterial agent that kills bacteria by damaging cellular DNA and hence cellular function.[81] Metronidazole is usually given to people who have diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile bacteria. Patients who are taking metronidazole are sometimes advised to avoid alcohol, even after 1 hour following the last dose.

Side Effects of Alcohol and Other Depressants

Studies of twins have shown that the same things that lead to heavy drinking in families also make depression more likely. When you drink too much, you’re more likely to make bad decisions or act on impulse. As a result, you could drain your bank account, lose a job, or ruin a relationship. When that happens, you’re more likely to feel down, particularly if your genes are wired for depression. That means any amount you drink can make you more likely to get the blues. A person should speak with a healthcare professional to learn more about healthy alcohol use.

However, outbreaks of methanol poisoning have occurred when methanol is used to lace moonshine (bootleg liquor).[56] This is commonly done to bulk up the original product to gain profit. Because of its similarities in both appearance and odor to ethanol (the alcohol in beverages), it is difficult to differentiate between the two. Even absent clinical depression, however, Dattilo notes that moderate amounts of alcohol consumption also “slows down the system,” which can lead to feelings of melancholy in some users.