Dextromethorphan: Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and More

However, mixing dextromethorphan with alcohol can be problematic in several ways. 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. Made by the same manufacturer as DayQuil, NyQuil is the version meant for nighttime use. It has the same risks how long after taking dextromethorphan can i drink alcohol plus more because of its additional ingredients.

How long after taking dextromethorphan can i drink alcohol

• Some prescription medications contain dextromethorphan as an active ingredient.
• If you’re interested in taking Delsym instead of dextromethorphan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Like most drugs, dextromethorphan may cause mild to serious side effects.
• To disguise the taste, users often mix cough syrup with soda or candy, making it difficult to detect medicine misuse.
• Fortunately, when acetaminophen is used in safe amounts, the body is able to deal with the harmful effects of NAPQI.

Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, is a fever reducer and also works as a moderate pain reliever. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that comes from the same family of drugs as morphine. Taken correctly, this sedative can reduce coughs and slightly numb your throat, which makes it useful in sore throat treatments.

Interactions and Precautions

Higher levels still can even cause hallucinations, which has led to many people taking large amounts of cough medicines with dextromethorphan just for this purpose. This phenomenon is commonly known as skittling or robotripping, and it’s very dangerous. There are several interactions, particularly at high doses, and they do not produce complementary psychoactive effects. In fact, when used together — even at low doses — they put you at risk for extreme drowsiness and dangerously slowed breathing. 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.

Other Medication Interactions

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects dextromethorphan can cause. Or read the drug’s labeling information for the capsules and the suspension. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of dextromethorphan. Like most drugs, dextromethorphan may cause mild to serious side effects.

While it can provide temporary relief from coughing, it does not address the underlying cause of the cough. Therefore, it is crucial to consult a healthcare professional to determine the root cause of the cough and develop an appropriate treatment plan. Indulging in recreational activities often involves the consumption of various substances. One such substance, dextromethorphan, is commonly used as an ingredient in cough suppressant medications. However, it is crucial to understand the effects and uses of dextromethorphan before combining it with alcohol or engaging in any other activities. A sometimes-deadly combination of abused substances is the misuse of alcohol with a product containing dextromethorphan.

Although used orally in Dayquil, experts say it’s more effective as a nasal spray. Long Island Interventions will help guide you throughout the entire process of your loved one’s intervention and recovery. Our professional interventionists are board certified, licensed, and trained in every single aspect of substance use treatment.

Anti-Nausea Medications

• But binge drinking, which means having too many drinks in one sitting, can harm your body in many ways.
• A dry cough is a common symptom of respiratory infections, such as the common cold.
• The potency and unpredictable nature of these substances, when combined, can make it challenging to gauge the appropriate dosage.
• One common question that arises is the potential interactions between dextromethorphan and alcohol consumption.
• The effects of the mix can be especially serious—if not deadly—when the cough medicine also contains alcohol.
• Be sure to talk to your doctor about any other medication you may be taking.

They both dull your senses and slow down your coordination and judgment. Mixing the two can also cause severe nausea and vomiting, sometimes lasting for hours. Moderate social drinking is common and accepted around many parts of the world. If you or someone you know has taken DXM and is experiencing any of the above symptoms, call 911 immediately. DXM is one of the most common over-the-counter (OTC) products adolescents misuse.

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is an active ingredient in many cough, cold and flu medicines. 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.

What Medications Are Inside Dayquil? What Can They Do?

If you have questions about how much alcohol is safe to drink while taking dextromethorphan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking dextromethorphan. If you’re interested in taking Delsym instead of dextromethorphan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. To learn more about how generics compare with brand-name drugs, see this article.