Medications prescribed to lower cholesterol levels (known as statins) can cause flushing, itching, stomach bleeding, and liver damage. Combining these drugs with alcohol can make the risks and side effects worse, especially if you have liver disease. Medications used to treat insomnia or help you fall and stay asleep should never be mixed with alcohol. The sedating effect of these drugs can be increased by alcohol, leading to slowed or impaired breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, memory loss, and fainting. In some cases, mixing alcohol with medications can lead to an overdose or alcohol poisoning—both of which are potentially life-threatening medical emergencies. Rehabilitation programs (inpatient or outpatient), therapy, support groups, or a combination of all three can help people recover from a substance use disorder.
How to Get Help For a Dextromethorphan Addiction
Therefore, it is generally advised to avoid consuming alcohol while taking any cough medication. Mixing DXM (dextromethorphan) with alcohol can be dangerous and is not recommended. Both substances can have sedative effects on the central nervous system (CNS), which can lead to increased drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired coordination.
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One of the most common concerns we hear from prospective clients at Texas Recovery Centers is uncertainty about can you drink alcohol while taking dextromethorphan whether treatment will be effective for them. By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. Be especially careful with any drug or multi-symptom remedy containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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During the study period, researchers measured the weekly drinking patterns of each participant. Male participants had a history of drinking more than 14 drinks per week, and two or more heavy drinking episodes of five or more drinks. Female participants had a past-month drinking history of more than seven drinks per week, plus two or more “heavy drinking” incidents of four or more drinks at one time. For this study, researchers recruited 48 adults with AUD who were not actively looking for treatment. Drinking alcohol can irritate mucous membranes lining the mouth and throat. Alcohol causes blood vessels to expand, bringing more blood to surface capillaries.
The potential dangers of using these drugs in combination are significantly exacerbated when one uses DXM or alcohol at higher doses. Individuals who regularly abuse these drugs should seek professional help. Alcohol is a depressant that can cause physical dependence in some people who use it regularly. When a person chooses to stop drinking after prolonged use, they may experience withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, sweating, nausea, anxiety, or seizures. DayQuil also contains phenylephrine, a decongestant, and acetaminophen which is a pain reliever that helps alleviate mild aches and pains. Each of these active ingredients interacts with alcohol in a way that produces harmful effects on the user.
Dextromethorphan is largely considered safe for most healthy adults when used as indicated. However, when combined with alcohol, dextromethorphan can be dangerous and cause potentially fatal complications. The combination of Mucinex and alcohol can amplify the intoxicating effects of alcohol, such as drowsiness and dizziness, leading to an increased risk of falls and injuries and impaired judgment. One of the deadliest combinations is alcohol and narcotic pain medications. On their own, opioids can cause drowsiness, dizziness, slowed or impaired breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, and memory loss.
Muscle relaxants and alcohol both suppress your central nervous system, which controls the functions of your heart, lungs, and brain. It’s possible that if you use them together, antibiotics may be less effective at clearing up the infection that you are being treated for. Antipsychotics may be prescribed for people with conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. A drug’s half-life is how long it takes half a dose to be eliminated from your body. The half-life of DXM differs widely and can range from 2.4 hours to more than 19 hours, depending on your body chemistry.
Can you drink alcohol while taking cough medicine?
People who mix DayQuil with alcohol may be using the medication to enhance the effects of alcohol or to counteract the negative side effects of drinking, such as a cough or congestion. This behavior may indicate that they are developing a tolerance to one or both substances and need higher doses to achieve the desired effect. Over time, this pattern of use can lead to dependence or addiction and increase the risk of harmful health outcomes. Taking DayQuil with alcohol can cause unconsciousness when taken together due to their combined effects on the central nervous system.
Risks of combining alcohol and dextromethorphan
If you are not sure if it is safe to drink alcohol while you are taking medication, call a local pharmacy or talk to your doctor about the potential interactions. In addition to worsening the side effects of antidepressant medications, mixing these drugs with alcohol can also make symptoms of depression worse. Here is a short list of the most common prescription and OTC drugs that can pose a risk to your health if mixed with alcohol, as well as what can happen if the substances are combined.
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- All while being able to treat herself safely to the occasional glass of wine.
- DXM suppresses coughing by reducing the activity of our central nervous system — the part of our brain responsible for breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.
- When taken together, these effects can be intensified, increasing the risk of stomach bleeding.
- If your cough is due to a cold or allergies, try sleeping with your head elevated.
- This is especially dangerous when driving or operating heavy machinery, as it can compromise one’s ability to respond to unexpected situations.
- If someone is regularly mixing DayQuil with alcohol or showing signs of substance use disorders or addiction, it’s essential to seek help from a healthcare professional or addiction specialist.
- By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.
Regular dextromethorphan or alcohol abuse can weaken the body’s ability to function without them. As the body becomes more tolerant of the substances, more significant amounts are needed to achieve the desired effects. Again, just because DayQuil is an over-the-counter medication does not mean it doesn’t come with risks. It’s important to note that every person’s journey toward recovery is different, so it’s crucial to find a treatment plan that works best for them with the help of a healthcare professional or addiction specialist. Again, just because DayQuil is an over-the-counter medication does not mean it doesn’t come with risks. With opioid cough suppressants, even small amounts of alcohol can produce pronounced reactions, so complete avoidance is strongly advised.
- At higher doses, DXM acts on the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors in the brain.
- On the street, DXM may be called robo, dex, skittles, triple C, or poor man’s PCP.
- In addition, both DXM and alcohol are metabolized in the liver, and combining them can increase the risk of liver damage or failure.
- It works by suppressing the cough reflex in the brain, which can help alleviate symptoms of coughing.
- Those on semaglutide consumed fewer drinks per drinking session and had reduced weekly alcohol cravings compared with those on placebo.
Older adults (especially those who take more than one medication) are also more likely to experience problems, as the ability to clear both alcohol and drugs from the body is reduced with age. If you lie about the amount of alcohol you consume on a regular basis, your doctor can’t accurately judge the risks and benefits of prescribing a particular medication. The label on your medication may not specifically warn against consuming alcohol while you are taking the drug, so it’s important not to assume that the absence of a warning means it is safe to mix the two. Alcohol can make some medications less effective by interfering with how they are absorbed in the digestive tract. In some cases, alcohol increases the bioavailability of a drug, which can raise the concentration of the medication in your blood to toxic levels. Lastly, even those who take DXM as directed are at risk when mixing it with alcohol.