Alcohol
You can continue to drink some alcohol while taking paroxetine.
Drinking alcohol every day, however, can make the symptoms of depression worse and you will not feel the benefit of your medicine.
The two together might make you sleepy or you might lose your focus when you first start taking paroxetine.
This could be dangerous if you drive or use machines or do anything that needs a lot of focus.
During the first few days, it might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you, or until the effects pass.
Street drugs
We do not know how paroxetine mixes with street drugs, but it is likely to be similar to other SSRIs.
Cannabis can make drowsiness worse with paroxetine and give you a fast heartbeat.
Cannabis and other drugs may have their own side effects on your mental health, like anxiety or psychosis. For more information, have a look at our drugs and alcohol page.
Methadone can make drowsiness worse with paroxetine. The paroxetine is likely to increase the concentration of methadone in your body. There is also an increased risk of serotonin syndrome.
Paroxetine could raise the level of cocaine in your body, giving you a bigger reaction. There may be an increased chance of having a seizure (fit).
Taking paroxetine with cocaine, ecstasy or amfetamines could bring on serotonin syndrome. You could get a high temperature/fever, agitation, confusion, trembling or weird muscle movements. You need to go to hospital if this happens. Tell the doctor everything that you have taken.