Tips from a Tufts psychiatrist on missed doses, alcohol and travel

TONIGHT, TAKING PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS ON TIME AND ON SCHEDULE. EXPERTS SAY IT CAN BE A BIG CHALLENGE FOR SOME PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. JOINING US RIGHT NOW IS DOCTOR KRISTEN. SHE IS A PSYCHIATRIST AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER. A FAMILIAR FACE HERE ON NEWSCENTER FIVE AT 430. GREAT TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. SO YOU DO PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS TO YOUR PATIENTS REGULARLY. WHAT DO YOU TYPICALLY TELL THEM ABOUT MISSING A DOSE? WELL, I OF COURSE IT’S IT’S COMMON TO MISS A DOSE HERE AND THERE. BUT MEDICATIONS REALLY WORK BEST WHEN TAKEN CONSISTENTLY. SKIPPING DOSES CAN ACTUALLY WORSEN SYMPTOMS, POTENTIALLY CHANGE THAT PERIOD OF STABILITY THAT FOLKS MIGHT HAVE FROM TAKING MEDICINES, AND CAN EVEN LEAD TO WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. SO IT’S ALWAYS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TAKING MEDICATIONS TO AVOID THAT FROM HAPPENING. SOMETIMES SETTING AN ALARM OR USING A PILLBOX CAN HELP. YEAH. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MEDICATIONS WE KNOW DON’T MIX WELL WITH ALCOHOL. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS, WHAT IF SOMEONE IS PLANNING TO DRINK FOR A HOLIDAY PARTY? SO MIXING ALCOHOL WITH PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS, IT CAN CERTAINLY BE RISKY. EVERY MEDICATION IS OF COURSE DIFFERENT, BUT USUALLY WHAT WE DO WORRY ABOUT IS THE POTENTIAL FOR DRUG INTERACTIONS. SO THINGS LIKE SEDATION, SOMNOLENCE, DIZZINESS, POOR COORDINATION THAT’S SOMETHING THAT THAT CAN OCCUR. ALCOHOL CAN ALSO POTENTIALLY WORSEN SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT WE’RE LOOKING TO TREAT WITH THESE MEDICATIONS, AND MAY RENDER THEM LESS EFFECTIVE. SO IT’S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO NOT SKIP DOSES IN THOSE SETTINGS, BUT TO ALWAYS TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR FIRST. RIGHT? RIGHT. IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IT TO FIND OUT THE INFORMATION IS KING HERE. SO NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY ARE GOING TO BE TRAVELING FOR THE HOLIDAYS. SO WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND IF IF YOU ARE TAKING MEDICATIONS, GO THROUGH WHAT YOU MIGHT RECOMMEND. SO PLANNING AHEAD IS ALWAYS KEY. I’D SAY THAT, YOU KNOW BEFORE GOING ON ANY TRIPS, MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH MEDICATION, THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE IT IN YOUR CARRY ON IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS TO BAGGAGE, MAKING SURE THAT THERE’S A COUPLE OF EXTRA TABLETS AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW. AND IF THERE IS A SCENARIO IN WHICH YOU TRAVEL, YOU FORGOT MEDICATIONS, ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN. IT’S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH MEDICATION. ALL RIGHT

Tips from a Tufts psychiatrist on missed doses, alcohol and travel

Updated: 5:03 PM EST Dec 3, 2025

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Tufts psychiatrist Dr. Varsha Radhakrishnan explains how to keep psychiatric medications on schedule during holidays, with practical tips on missed doses, alcohol and travel.

Tufts psychiatrist Dr. Varsha Radhakrishnan explains how to keep psychiatric medications on schedule during holidays, with practical tips on missed doses, alcohol and travel.