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. The effects of an overdose are similar to ketamine or phencyclidine (PCP), causing a floating or out-of-body sensation.
Furthermore, mixing DayQuil or other cough medicine with alcohol can have dangerous interactions that affect the central nervous system, respiratory system, and liver function. These interactions can intensify the effects of each substance and increase the risk of overdose, seizures, or organ damage. The active ingredients in DayQuil (dextromethorphan, phenylephrine, and acetaminophen) can cause complications when mixed with alcohol.
What are the Risks Associated with Mixing DayQuil and Alcohol?
Reach out to learn more about our tailored treatment programs, designed to cater to your specific needs and situation. Alcohol enhances the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that inhibits brain activity. This leads to calming effects, reduced anxiety, and impaired coordination. However, these effects are generally not seen at standard therapeutic doses.
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For those struggling with misuse or addiction, seeking professional treatment from facilities like The Recovery Village can provide the necessary support for recovery. Someone who is dealing with dextromethorphan and alcohol abuse will likely show signs in their physical and mental health. While dextromethorphan may benefit those suffering from a cough as an over-the-counter medicine, it can be dangerous when mixed with alcohol. The effects of DXM are all exacerbated by alcohol since they both bind to NMDA receptors. Among recreational users, dextromethorphan is known as skittles, triple c, or poor man PCP and it is often used with alcohol.
Risks of Mixing DXM and Alcohol
Most standard cough drops that contain menthol, eucalyptus, honey, or benzocaine are unlikely to cause adverse side effects when paired with mild to moderate alcohol intake. However, drinking heavily or taking cough medicine with alcohol can be dangerous due to increased sedation. To be safe, abstain from alcohol or limit intake to 1-2 light drinks if you choose to drink.
What Is DXM?
- It’s said to induce hallucinations and happiness, and it’s often mixed with other drugs to enhance their effects.
- Both alcohol and DayQuil can cause drowsiness, sedation, and impaired coordination, making it difficult to perform tasks that require alertness or attention.
- Dave Cundiff, MD, MPH is an experienced leader in the field of Substance Use Disorder treatment.
- High blood pressure is a condition that occurs when the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries is too high.
- Taking DayQuil with alcohol can cause liver damage and even liver failure when taken together because both substances are metabolized in the liver.
- After discharge, he continued outpatient visits to be prescribed zolpidem 5 mg for insomnia.
Initially approved by the FDA in 1958, the drug is one of the most common ingredients in over-the-counter medications for cough. Experts think the drug acts on the brain to suppress the cough reflex but are unsure exactly how it works. Although DXM is structurally similar to opioids, it works on different receptors in the brain than opioids. Nonetheless, about 1.5 million Americans misuse DXM and other cough medications to get high. Taking DayQuil with alcohol can cause liver damage and even liver failure when taken together because both substances are metabolized in the liver.
- This includes opioids, marijuana, alcohol, sedatives, and sleep medications.
- These receptors are involved in pain perception, learning, and memory.
- The most common effect from this interaction is drowsiness as alcohol is a depressant with these effects multiplied as it’s mixed with DayQuil.
- Dayquil contains acetaminophen, which is a pain reliever that can cause irritation and damage to the lining of the stomach when taken in high doses or for prolonged periods.
- While these products are safe and effective when used as directed, they can be extremely dangerous in high doses.
- Teens often misuse DXM, mistakenly thinking it’s safer because it’s OTC.
The most common side effects of dextromethorphan are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you. €œRobo-tripping†is a slang term for misusing DXM cough medicine.
What can happen when mixing or abusing DXM and alcohol?
Because alcohol is an immunosuppressant, drinking when unwell can prolong and worsen your illness, keeping you sick for longer. Unfortunately, alcohol and dextromethorphan many people combine DXM with other substances, increasing the risk of severe side effects, which can be deadly in some cases. A DXM overdose can be fatal when combined with other substances, including alcohol. If you suspect someone has taken too much DXM with other substances, call 911 immediately. While typically safe on its own (when taken as indicated), DXM can interact with other drugs and medications, such as alcohol. Alcohol is classified as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant.