It has been found to be as effective as over-the-counter drugs in calming nighttime coughs. Medications that are prescribed to treat nausea can make you feel drowsy, dizzy, and may impair your motor control—symptoms that can also can you drink alcohol while taking dextromethorphan be caused by alcohol. Some drugs (often antihistamines) used to prevent and treat motion sickness can also be purchased over-the-counter.
Beer And Cough Syrup: A Safe Mix?
Not only do dextromethorphan and alcohol have a drug interaction that can increase your risk of side effects, but drinking alcohol while sick may prolong your illness. Understanding the risks of mixing the two substances before you drink is essential. Mixing phenylephrine and alcohol can be dangerous as they can increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and impaired coordination. Phenylephrine is a decongestant that works by narrowing blood vessels in the nasal passages to relieve congestion. In addition, drinking alcohol while taking phenylephrine can also increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart problems.
Pregnancy risks
Using them together increases the risk of serotonin syndrome, which can raise blood pressure and heart rate to unsafe levels. Perhaps the most alarming acute effect of DXM is the risk of respiratory depression. When misused at doses high enough to produce psychoactive effects, the central nervous system action of DXM can lead to significantly slowed breathing, which can be life-threatening. For cough medicines, dextromethorphan is typically combined with complementary medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, or pain relievers as a formulation to treat multiple symptoms at once.
Can Alcohol be Taken with any OTC Cold or Cough Medications?
- Since drinking alcohol with over-the-counter cough and cold medications involves combining similar substances, the overall amount of alcohol consumed is increased.
- By understanding the risks, recognizing the signs of misuse, and taking proactive steps for safe use, we can ensure that DXM serves its intended purpose without compromising our health and safety.
- They typically contain active ingredients like menthol, eucalyptus oil, honey, or dextromethorphan that help suppress cough reflexes and soothe irritation in the throat.
- Acetaminophen and alcohol are extremely dangerous to mix since they strongly compete for processing in the liver.
- Dextromethorphan, also known as DXM, is a cough suppressant used in many common cough and cold medicines.
- The hyperthermia that can result from mixing DXM and alcohol can cause coma or damage to the brain.
This may lead individuals to seek stronger feelings of euphoria by taking higher doses of their medication or mixing it with other substances, further increasing the risk of overdose and adverse health reactions. Mixing acetaminophen and alcohol can be dangerous and should be avoided. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer that is commonly found in over-the-counter medications such as DayQuil and Tylenol. Alcohol consumption while taking acetaminophen can increase the risk of liver damage or failure, as both substances are metabolized in the liver. The combination can also increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, stomach ulcers, and kidney problems.
Beer And Mucinex Dm: Is It Safe To Mix?
This is because both substances have similar effects on the body, including relaxation, sleepiness, and euphoria. As a result, mixing these substances can lead to additive side effects and increase the risk of overdose. The active ingredient in Mucinex DM, dextromethorphan (DXM), is a cough suppressant. When combined with alcohol, it can cause even more severe side effects. Both alcohol and DXM have depressant effects on the brain, slowing down coordination and judgment.
Additionally, if you have an underlying health condition like heart disease or high blood pressure (hypertension), mixing alcohol with your medications can put you at risk for complications. Other medications and drugs can interact with DXM and alcohol, increasing harmful effects on the body. These include stimulant drugs like amphetamines and depressant drugs like benzodiazepines.
- Cough syrup often contains dextromethorphan, which can have dangerous interactions with alcohol, increasing the risk of overdose, respiratory depression, and even death.
- While limited amounts of alcohol may not pose an immediate danger, it is still best to avoid drinking altogether while taking Mucinex DM to prevent any potential side effects from worsening.
- Both alcohol and DayQuil can cause drowsiness, sedation, and impaired coordination, making it difficult to perform tasks that require alertness or attention.
- DXM is a cough suppressant that works by depressing activity in the brain centers responsible for coughing.
- But large doses of DXM with binge drinking can increase health problems for both the mother and fetus.
- Mixing cough syrup and alcohol can cause severe nausea and vomiting, which may last for hours.
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.
Drug Interaction Classification
In extreme cases, the synergy between DXM and alcohol can result in brain lesions, memory loss, cognitive impairment, emotional and behavioral changes, seizures, and even epilepsy. The risk of respiratory suppression can escalate to unconsciousness, coma, and potentially fatal outcomes. Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental health or both, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way.