Thelong-term effects of alcohol abuseare very well known, however. Long-term alcohol addiction candamageyour brain, heart, liver, pancreas and immune system, and alcohol use can evencause cancer. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen or APAP.

nyquil and alcohol

Nyquil may cause false positives in your alcohol tests and land you in more trouble with the courts. Positive tests can interfere with your ability to complete court-mandated drug treatment programs, which could result in additional penalties such as jail time or fines. Before taking any over-the-counter medicine, consult the product labeling information for an accurate description of active and inactive ingredients, as products are subject to change. When taking over-the-counter medications for flu symptoms or anything else, you should be mindful about what you take with them.

Side Effects of Mixing Nyquil and Alcohol

When it’s taken as directed, DXM is usually safe and rarely causes side effects. But combining DXM with alcohol is extremely dangerous and can even kill you. Side effects can range from dizziness and lightheadedness to drowsiness, nausea and vomiting. Because NyQuil is an over-the-counter medication, many people assume it must be safe — and it generally is when it’s used as directed.

nyquil and alcohol

One product, NyQuil Severe, contains a fourth ingredient — phenylephrine HCL 7. This serves as a nasal decongestant that relieves sinus congestion and pressure by reducing swelling of the blood vessels in the nasal passages, according to Medline Plus 7. Doxylamine succinate eco sober house complaints is an antihistamine, which means it blocks the symptoms of allergies, including nasal congestion and sneezing. At Zinnia Healing, we believe that every individual should have access to quality medical attention combined with one-on-one, confidential support.

There would almost be no way that you should test positive when taking a regular dose. You would still violate the interlock device or probation requirements because you are told to avoid using any substance that contains alcohol while testing. You would be just setting yourself up for unnecessary trouble.

Articles Related to Alcoholism

If your liquid form is a suspension, shake the bottle well before each dose. Since NyQuil Cold & Flu is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember.

That is why alcohol detox and alcohol withdrawal treatment is administered by medical professionals. While alcohol can act as a sedative and can hasten the onset of sleep, it has known consequences on nighttime sleep quality and depresses respiration, sometimes inconspicuously. Studies have definitively shown that it decreases REM sleep, which has strongly been linked to feeling less rested in the morning.

Some formulations of the medication contain small amounts of alcohol as an active ingredient, while others do not. For example, nighttime versions of Nyquil have more alcohol than daytime versions to help promote sleep and relaxation. This formulation also is stronger because it contains more active ingredients. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, cough syrup abuse has been an issue for decades 10. While alcohol has been one of the reasons for this problem in the past, teens and young adults are currently turning to cold medicines for the active ingredient dextromethorphan 11. In fact, the National Capital Poison Center states that the recreational abuse of dextromethorphan is the reason behind approximately 6,000 emergency room visits each year 11.

  • If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember.
  • DXM is often abused in its original form or mixing it with soda and candy for flavor.
  • That’s why doxylamine is an ingredient of NyQuil, which is intended for nighttime use only, but not DayQuil.
  • Some of the drugs in Nyquil have side effects of their own which can be worse when you drink alcohol.

Here’s what you should know when it comes to alcohol and NyQuil. The biggest danger of mixing Vicks Nyquil with alcohol is the risk of severe liver damage. Alcohol and the active ingredients in Nyquil all put immense stress https://soberhome.net/ on the liver, and combining them all together only adds to the equation. Because misuse of cough and cold medications like Nyquil is a relatively new development, the long-term effects of Nyquil abuse are not known.

Hours & Info

It is not recommended to drink alcohol when you are using Nyquil, especially if you’re taking Nyquil Liquid, which already contains some alcohol. In addition to avoiding alcohol when taking NyQuil, it’s also crucial to avoid other medications that contain acetaminophen. Anything that causes you to exceed the daily recommended dose of acetaminophen is dangerous. However, it is important to remember that even alcohol-free NyQuil products may contain ingredients that could be dangerous when someone is drinking alcohol. Therefore, the main reason to avoid drinking alcohol while taking NyQuil is to help prevent accidents due to increased drowsiness and impaired vigilance.

nyquil and alcohol

When using any DayQuil or NyQuil product, carefully read each label to be sure the correct dose is taken. Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use. If you are taking this product on a regular schedule and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.

Can You Mix Alcohol and Nyquil?

Also call your doctor if your symptoms get worse, or if you have any redness or swelling. Considering all these risks and potential consequences, it is simply not worth using NyQuil as a defense against an alcohol test while on probation. If you need help managing your alcohol use or avoiding alcohol tests altogether, there are many resources available to help you get back on track and stay out of trouble with the law. Finally, probation officers understand some people try to use excuses like NyQuil to get out of taking responsibility for their actions.

Judges and hearing officers believe that a person is lying and is trying to cover up for drinking alcohol. Probation officers have heard NyQuil used as a defense for a positive alcohol test while on probation too many times. This is because people try to blame a positive test on Nyquil. Many people on probation also try to use this excuse, even though it does not always work.

This might include increased drowsiness, dizziness, excitability or confusion. Severe liver damage may also occur if you take DayQuil or NyQuil with other prescription or over-the-counter medicines that contain acetaminophen. Drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, upset stomach, nausea, nervousness, constipation, or dry mouth/nose/throat may occur.

While Nyquil contains a small amount of alcohol in specific formulations, this ingredient should be avoided if you are alcohol testing. The dosage amount can vary by product, so it’s imperative to read sober house boston the label on each medicine and use as directed. For example, 30 milliliters of NyQuil Liquid can be taken every six hours, while a proper dosage of NyQuil LiquiCaps is two pills every six hours.

The information contained in this blog should not be substituted for the advice from a personal consultation with an attorney. This blog does not establish an attorney-client privilege. Please remember that whatever you post to the public is not subject to an expectation of privacy. You can always call or schedule an appointment to discuss your case confidentially.