How Long Does Alcohol-Induced Depression Last?

The Typical Timeline for Depression from Alcohol Abuse

What goes up must come down is not limited only to the laws of gravity.

It applies to booze too, and while drinking alcohol might feel good in the moment, it comes with some unexpected side effects when the ‘sauce’ wears off. Namely, many people will experience depression in the aftermath of a hangover and binge drinking episode.

In this case, the most important question is: how long does alcohol-induced depression last?

Alcohol-related depressive symptoms often improve during the first three to four weeks without alcohol, according to a review of alcohol use disorder and depression. Recovery varies, and depression may need its own treatment. Do not wait for this timeframe to pass if symptoms are severe or getting worse.

If you drink heavily or have had withdrawal symptoms, get medical advice before stopping suddenly: alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. If you might act on thoughts of suicide or cannot stay safe, seek emergency help now.

Icarus Wellness and Recovery can help you navigate the early days without alcohol, especially if you feel you’ll have worse outcomes due to your mood. From inpatient to outpatient care, we offer the support you need.

Keep reading to learn more about the connection between drinking alcohol and depression–and what you can do to mitigate the symptoms.

The Connection Between Co-Occurring Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder

When you decide to give up the booze for good, you likely know that you’ll have an array of symptoms that will feel uncomfortable at first. Most people are prepared for the shakes, nausea, and vomiting, but they don’t expect the mood symptoms that come on the heels of withdrawal.

What should you know about how depressive symptoms surface in the wake of your new sobriety?

How Alcohol Affects Your Mood and Brain Chemistry

Alcohol affects several brain signaling systems, including serotonin and dopamine. These changes can affect mood, but depression is not explained by a single low chemical level.

The National Institute of Mental Health describes depression as involving genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. SSRIs affect serotonin signaling; they do not simply replace a missing supply of serotonin. A clinician can assess whether medication, psychotherapy, or both may help.

How Does Drinking Make Depression Worse?

In addition to the ways that your brain chemistry is altered with alcohol-induced depressive disorder, it’s also important to realize that drinking impacts almost every aspect of your mental health. When you engage in binge drinking, you’ll have physical health symptoms that add up.

For example, you might experience sleep disruptions and increased levels of anxiety. Many people who drink regularly withdraw from their friends and family because they fear that they just won’t understand the underlying issues that drive them to drink.

Depression symptoms can add up under the guise of these physical symptoms, worsening the other symptoms of depression that you might feel.

One of the issues faced in treatment is the risk of overdoing it. The more depressive symptoms you experience, the more likely you are to drink. Binge drinking is common when your mood nosedives because you think that you’ll find temporary relief in the bottle.

How Long Does Depressive Disorder Last When You Quit Drinking?

Mood can improve as recovery progresses, but depression may persist beyond the early alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Persistent or severe symptoms need clinical assessment.

Some people who are into heavy drinking can experience depressive symptoms as a rebound effect as soon as they stop that very first drink. As the effects of your night of revelry come to an end, the next morning might be met with anhedonia (lack of pleasure) or more general depression-like symptoms.

Because of this discomfort, many people will continue to drink to make the symptoms abate.

But what can you expect if you give up alcohol consumption once and for all?

Can You Avoid Depression in the Withdrawal Phase?

If you make the decision to face your alcohol dependence head-on and quit drinking altogether, then you might have more prolonged depressive symptoms. The question is, why does depression occur if you decide to do something healthy, like quitting drinking?

A study published in 2009 examined mice after 28 days of alcohol access and 14 days of abstinence. The researchers observed depression-like behavior and reduced formation of new neurons in the hippocampus. An antidepressant, desipramine, prevented those changes in this animal model.

This was not a trial in people. It does not show that stopping moderate drinking causes clinical depression in everyone, or that an antidepressant will resolve human symptoms within 14 days.

How Long Do Mood Disorders Caused by Alcohol Intoxication Last?

Feeling low after drinking does not by itself establish a depressive disorder. A clinician considers symptom severity, duration, drinking history, and whether depression occurred before alcohol use or during longer periods without alcohol.

The 2019 review by McHugh and Weiss describes alcohol-induced depressive disorder as a syndrome arising during or soon after intoxication or withdrawal that remits after about three to four weeks of abstinence. Symptoms that persist may point to an independent depressive disorder and need reassessment.

This pattern is not a promise of recovery by a specific date or a reason to delay care. Depression and alcohol use disorder can occur together, and both deserve attention.

What is the Treatment for Alcohol-Induced Depression?

If depressive symptoms develop after stopping alcohol, ask a clinician to assess both your mood and your alcohol use. Treatment may include psychotherapy, medication, and support for alcohol recovery, based on your needs.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for a Drinking Problem

When you have alcohol misuse issues, it can help to get to the root cause of your problems. This is best done in the safe confines of the therapy room with a clinician trained in cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT.

CBT helps you to examine the interplay between your thoughts, feelings, and actions. They might be able to help you pinpoint the exact moment you feel depressed, what you think about those thoughts, and what you do to make yourself feel better.

If you can interrupt this triad, you might stop the self-medication and deal with the emotions from the outset. Common symptoms of depression are often treated with CBT even without a drinking problem in the mix. It’s a powerful tool in the right hands, but it can be a slow process as alcohol wears off.

Does Medication Complement Psychosocial Therapies for Alcohol Abuse?

A prescriber may recommend an antidepressant based on your symptoms, history, and other medicines. Benefits and side effects vary, and follow-up helps the clinician adjust treatment. Antidepressants do not guarantee that every symptom will resolve. Be honest about ongoing alcohol use so your team can plan safer care.

There are risks when you mix alcohol with antidepressants, even when the medicine is taken as prescribed. NIAAA explains that alcohol can increase medication side effects and interfere with treatment. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist about your specific medicines.

The Benefits of Treatment at Icarus for an Alcohol Use Disorder

Icarus Wellness and Recovery in Boise wants to help you take the first steps away from alcohol abuse. We follow the best practices laid out by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism so that you get the best outcomes for depression and co-occurring AUD.

Our programs include inpatient and outpatient options. A clinician should assess the right level of care and when a change is appropriate. Immediate risk of self-harm or severe withdrawal requires urgent medical assessment rather than a routine admissions call.

To make sure that you get the help you need, we accept a variety of private insurances in addition to Idaho Medicaid. Our enrollment team can verify your insurance benefits in a quick call to help you get the ball rolling.

Enroll at Icarus Today for Help with Drinking and Depression

While the unfortunate reality is that you might feel worse when you stop drinking, Icarus Wellness and Recovery is here to help you experience the best outcomes. We’ll walk with you every step of the way from the first moment you contact us. Our enrollment team is ready and waiting to answer all of your questions.

Don’t delay getting the help you need for your mood and heavy drinking. Call today to discuss current availability, clinical fit, and treatment options.

References

1. Banerjee, N. (2014). Neurotransmitters in alcoholism: A review of neurobiological and genetic studies. Indian Journal of Human Genetics, 20(1), 20–31.
2. Ramsey, S. E., Engler, P. A., & Stein, M. D. (2005). Alcohol use among depressed patients: The need for assessment and intervention. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 36(2), 203–207.
3. Stevenson, J. R., Schroeder, J. P., Nixon, K., Besheer, J., Crews, F. T., & Hodge, C. W. (2009). Abstinence following alcohol drinking produces depression-like behavior and reduced hippocampal neurogenesis in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology, 34, 1209–1222.
4. McHugh, R. K., & Weiss, R. D. (2019). Alcohol use disorder and depressive disorders. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 40(1), Article 1.
5. Dongier, M. (2005). What are the treatment options for comorbid alcohol abuse and depressive disorders? Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 30(3), 224.
6. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Harmful interactions: Mixing alcohol with medicines.
7. National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Depression (NIH Publication No. 24-MH-8079).
8. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Understanding alcohol use disorder.