Lena Savoie
Cough syrup and alcohol is a dangerous combination. Alcohol is often a major component of cough syrup and other medications, and it is important to be aware of how much alcohol your medications contain. Dextromethorphan, a common antitussive medication and component of many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, causing relaxation, sleepiness, and a euphoric feeling. When mixed with alcohol, another CNS depressant, the side effects are additive, increasing the risk of overdose and even death. While guaifenesin, an expectorant that helps loosen mucus, does not technically interact with alcohol, it is still recommended to avoid alcohol while sick as it can worsen symptoms and side effects, cause dehydration, and weaken the immune system. Narcotic cough syrups containing hydrocodone or codeine are controlled substances due to their high potential for abuse, dependence, and overdose. It is best to avoid alcohol while taking any cough medicine and to opt for alcohol-free formulations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common cough syrups with alcohol | Some formulations of NyQuil, ZzzQuil, Robitussin-DM, Delsym, Vicks Formula 44, and other nighttime cough or cough/cold syrups |
| Alcohol-free cough syrups | Alcohol-free Tussin-DM or Safe-Tussin DM |
| Active ingredient in alcoholic drinks | Ethanol |
| Potential side effects of mixing DXM (dextromethorphan) and alcohol | Extreme nausea, prolonged vomiting, hot flashes, hypertension, accelerated heart rate, dizziness, agitation, severe lethargy, disorientation, unconsciousness, coma, brain damage, and death |
| DXM brand names | Nyquil, Robitussin, and over 100 other formulations |
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What You'll Learn
- Cough medicines with alcohol can include Nyquil, ZzzQuil, Robitussin-DM, and Delsym
- Dextromethorphan is a common antitussive medication in many cough medicines
- Dextromethorphan and alcohol are both central nervous system depressants
- Ethanol is used in cough medicines to dissolve water-insoluble compounds
- Mixing cough medicine with alcohol can be dangerous and even deadly
Cough medicines with alcohol can include Nyquil, ZzzQuil, Robitussin-DM, and Delsym
Nyquil, an over-the-counter medication, is used to treat cold and flu symptoms such as coughs, runny noses, and aches and pains. The liquid form of Nyquil contains 10% alcohol, which is intended to help dissolve the active ingredients. However, mixing Nyquil with alcohol can worsen side effects like dizziness and drowsiness, and in some cases, lead to liver damage due to the presence of acetaminophen in Nyquil.
ZzzQuil, another over-the-counter medication, is a sleep aid that contains the active ingredient diphenhydramine HCL, an antihistamine that causes drowsiness and sedation. When combined with alcohol, a central nervous system depressant, the sedative effects of both substances are intensified, resulting in excessive drowsiness and impaired coordination and motor skills. This combination can also lead to respiratory depression, dizziness, and an increased risk of overdose.
Robitussin-DM and Delsym contain dextromethorphan (DXM), a popular cough suppressant. Alcohol should not be consumed with these medications as it increases the chance of toxicity and can cause serious health problems, including liver toxicity and failure. DXM is a central nervous system depressant, and when combined with alcohol, additive side effects such as sedation, dizziness, and drowsiness are amplified, increasing the risk of overdose.
In general, it is recommended to avoid alcohol when taking any cough medicine, as it can interfere with your recovery and weaken your immune system. It is always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional or pharmacist if you have any concerns or questions about medication interactions.
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Dextromethorphan is a common antitussive medication in many cough medicines
While it is best to avoid alcohol when taking any medication, as it may worsen symptoms and side effects, some over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription cough medicines do contain small amounts of alcohol. These include formulations of NyQuil, ZzzQuil, and other nighttime cough or cough/cold syrups.
Dextromethorphan is available in various forms, including liquid-filled capsules, chewable tablets, dissolving strips, solutions (liquids), extended-release (long-acting) suspensions (liquids), and lozenges. It is typically taken every 4 to 12 hours as needed, following the package or prescription label instructions. It is important not to exceed the recommended amount of dextromethorphan in a 24-hour period.
Dextromethorphan can also be combined with antihistamines, cough suppressants, and decongestants. It is important to carefully check the labels of nonprescription cough and cold products to avoid taking multiple products with the same active ingredients, as this could lead to an overdose. This is especially critical when administering cough and cold medications to children.
In addition, dextromethorphan can interact with other medications, including some antidepressants and anxiolytics. It is structurally related to alkaloid opioids such as morphine and is derived from levorphanol, which was initially designed as a morphine alternative. It is important to consult a doctor or pharmacist to ensure that dextromethorphan is safe for an individual based on their medical history and current medications.
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Dextromethorphan and alcohol are both central nervous system depressants
Dextromethorphan is a common antitussive medication and a component of many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, such as Vicks Formula 44, Nyquil, Robitussin, and more. It is also available in the form of gel capsules, chewable tablets, dissolving strips, liquid solutions, extended-release liquids, and lozenges. Dextromethorphan is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, which means it causes relaxation, sleepiness, and a euphoric feeling. It is a widely abused drug, and when mixed with alcohol, a CNS depressant as well, it can lead to additive side effects and an increased risk of overdose.
The combination of dextromethorphan and alcohol can result in more significant feelings of sedation and lethargy. It can also exacerbate hallucinations and lead to extreme psychosis. The additive side effects of this combination include respiratory depression, irregular, slowed, or stopped breathing, dissociation, brain lesions leading to memory loss, cognitive impairment, emotional and behavioural changes, and permanent psychosis. These risks are further heightened when dextromethorphan or alcohol is consumed in higher doses.
The dangers of mixing dextromethorphan and alcohol are exacerbated by the fact that some cough syrups already contain a small amount of alcohol. This combination can be extremely dangerous and even fatal, as evident in the case of popular music spinner DJ Screw, who consumed a cocktail of alcohol, soda, and codeine-based cough syrup, leading to his fatal opioid overdose.
It is important to note that while guaifenesin, an expectorant found in some cough syrups, does not directly interact with alcohol, consuming alcohol while sick can worsen symptoms, cause dehydration, interfere with sleep, and weaken the immune system. Therefore, it is generally recommended to avoid alcohol while taking any cough medication or when recovering from an illness.
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Ethanol is used in cough medicines to dissolve water-insoluble compounds
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol, is often used in high concentrations in cough medicines to dissolve water-insoluble compounds. It is a colourless liquid with a pungent taste. Ethanol is a good solvent because it has a hydroxyl group that can participate in hydrogen bonding, rendering it more viscous and less volatile than less polar organic compounds of similar molecular weight. Its ability to hydrogen bond allows it to dissolve many ionic compounds, including sodium and potassium hydroxides, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, and sodium bromide.
Ethanol is also a versatile solvent that is miscible with water and many organic solvents, such as acetic acid, acetone, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, diethyl ether, ethylene glycol, glycerol, nitromethane, pyridine, and toluene. This property makes it useful in making tinctures of iodine and cough syrups. Its low boiling point makes it easy to remove from a solution, which is advantageous when using it as an extracting agent for botanical oils.
Ethanol is often used as a preservative in liquid preparations of medicines, including over-the-counter cough medicines, where it acts as an antimicrobial agent. It is also used in mouthwashes, where it serves as an antiseptic to reduce the microbial load in the mouth. Additionally, ethanol has medicinal applications as an antiseptic, disinfectant, and antidote for methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning.
However, it is important to note that ethanol can cause adverse reactions in some individuals, such as alcohol-induced respiratory issues. Cough medicines that contain narcotics or dextromethorphan, a central nervous system depressant, may interact dangerously with alcohol, increasing the risk of overdose. Therefore, it is generally recommended to avoid consuming alcohol while taking cough medicine or when sick, as alcohol can worsen symptoms and side effects, interfere with sleep, and weaken the immune system.
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Mixing cough medicine with alcohol can be dangerous and even deadly
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant that causes feelings of relaxation, sleepiness, and pleasing euphoria. Alcohol has much the same effect, but mixing depressants is very dangerous because their combined side effects can increase your risk of overdose. Acute risks associated with mixing dextromethorphan and alcohol include respiratory depression or irregular, slowed, or stopped breathing; dissociation or feelings of being out of one's body, which can cause panic; brain lesions leading to memory loss, cognitive impairment, and emotional and behavioral changes; and permanent psychosis.
Alcohol can also worsen the symptoms of illness and the side effects of medicines. It can make you dehydrated and weaken your immune system. Narcotic medications such as hydrocodone or codeine contain a black-box warning, which is the strongest warning required by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These drugs have a high potential for abuse and dependence when taken alone, leading to overdose and death. Cough syrups that contain narcotics are controlled substances and should be selectively prescribed to carefully screened adults where the benefits outweigh the risks.
Older people are at particularly high risk for harmful alcohol-medication interactions. Aging slows the body's ability to break down alcohol, so it remains in a person's system longer. Older people are also more likely to take a medication that interacts with alcohol and may need to take multiple medications with harmful interactions. Women are also more susceptible to alcohol-related damage to organs such as the liver. Because women's bodies generally have less water than men's, alcohol is more concentrated in their bodies, and they are more susceptible to harm.
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Frequently asked questions
Many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription cough medicines contain alcohol. Some common cough syrups that contain alcohol include formulations of NyQuil, ZzzQuil, Robitussin, and other nighttime or cold syrups.
Ethanol, a type of alcohol, is used in cough syrups and tonics to cure respiratory and cough-related diseases due to its high solubility. It is also a psychoactive substance that can induce relaxation and sleepiness.
Mixing alcohol with cough medicine can lead to additive side effects and an increased risk of overdose, as both can act as central nervous system (CNS) depressants. It can cause severe lethargy, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, hot flashes, hypertension, accelerated heart rate, dizziness, and even coma or death.
Yes, most pharmacies carry alcohol-free formulations such as Tussin-DM and Safe-Tussin DM. There are also drug-free alternatives to treat your cough, such as honey, non-medicated cough drops, humidifiers, vaporizers, and staying hydrated.
Always read the labels of your medications and follow the instructions carefully. When in doubt, consult your pharmacist to clarify any concerns about the ingredients or potential interactions with alcohol.
