What happens if you drink nyquil

This ingredient also causes drowsiness. Mixing doxylamine succinate with alcohol triggers dangerous levels of sedation. This is because both substances act as depressants and produce sedative effects. NyQuil Liquid contains 10 percent alcohol, which helps dissolve the other ingredients in the medication. Some people assume mixing NyQuil and alcohol is dangerous due to the overconsumption of alcohol.

Users consume about the same amount of alcohol from a regular dose of NyQuil as they would from a sip of white wine. Mixing NyQuil with alcohol produces a variety of side effects. Some people who mix the two substances just fall asleep faster and experience deeper sleep. However, if you consume a large amount of alcohol and take NyQuil, the effects can be extremely dangerous. A single occurrence of mixing NyQuil and alcohol is unlikely to cause severe side effects. Frequently mixing them can cause liver damage and other serious medical issues.

This is because the mixture of alcohol and acetaminophen puts stress on the liver. You should call or seek emergency medical attention immediately if you have mixed NyQuil and alcohol and notice any of the following symptoms:.

Anything that causes you to exceed the daily recommended dose of acetaminophen is dangerous. Many OTC medications contain acetaminophen. Other commonly used OTC medications that might elevate the level of acetaminophen in your system include:. Prescription medications that contain acetaminophen are also a concern. These include Percocet and Vicodin. Ideally, anyone taking a short-term medication to reduce a fever or alleviate flu symptoms should stay alcohol-free.

If you are unsure if a medication you use contains acetaminophen, check the ingredients list, contact your doctor, or talk to a pharmacist. Nyquil Cold and Flu Nighttime Relief Liquid contains 10 percent alcohol by volume similar to white wine.

It is listed as an "inactive" ingredient and is used to help the "active" ingredients dissolve. NyQuil can make you drowsy, dizzy, and cause temporary blurred vision the following day, depending on how much you took. If you consumed a high dose of an alcohol-containing NyQuil product, a false positive breathalyzer result can occur.

How long NyQuil stays in your system depends on how much you took and other physical factors, such as weight and age. A normal dose of NyQuil can help you sleep for four to eight hours. Com, www. Foust, Robert T. NyQuil is generally safe and effective for adults and children over the age of 6. Acetaminophen reduces fever and alleviates minor pain, dextromethorphan suppresses coughing, and doxylamine is an antihistamine anti-allergy medication which relieves congestion, sneezing, and sore threat.

Doxylamine also helps people sleep, but it sometimes causes drowsiness during the day. Vicks also manufactures and sells DayQuil, a similar medication for users who want to relieve cold symptoms without feeling drowsy during the workday. DayQuil alleviates the same symptoms as NyQuil.

DayQuil contains acetaminophen and dextromethorphan, but it does not contain doxylamine. Instead, DayQuil contains phenylephrine, a non-drowsy nasal decongestant.

Learn More. The most common side-effects of NyQuil, if any occur, are minor and do not require medical attention. NyQuil is not dangerous if it used properly. The most likely side-effects are:. It is important that people who use NyQuil follow the instructions on the bottle and avoid taking too much. Someone who regularly takes too much NyQuil could lose consciousness or suffer liver damage from the acetaminophen. Additionally, people should abstain from drinking alcohol while taking NyQuil and they should also avoid taking it together with an antidepressant or another medication which contains acetaminophen.

Moreover, it is possible for someone to have an allergic reaction to NyQuil. The symptoms of an allergic reaction to NyQuil include rash, hives, itchiness, difficulty with swallowing and breathing, and swelling in the face, throat, and mouth. A person who uses NyQuil correctly almost certainly will not become addicted, but someone who misuses NyQuil may develop dependence on the medication.

Someone can misuse NyQuil by taking too much of it or by taking it for the wrong reasons, such as to treat asthma or chronic bronchitis, or for recreation. NyQuil is only designed to treat short-term symptoms, not cure long-term health problems. NyQuil is not a cure for insomnia and it should not be used just to fall asleep. When a person starts to experience withdrawal symptoms when they put NyQuil back in the medicine cabinet, NyQuil dependence has escalated into NyQuil addiction.

Physical withdrawal symptoms most often characterize addictions to alcohol, opioids , and dangerous stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine , but addictions to common medications can cause withdrawal symptoms as well. The symptoms of NyQuil withdrawal include:. When someone has a NyQuil addiction, the symptoms of withdrawal might prevent them from achieving recovery.

Fortunately, people can manage withdrawal symptoms more easily with medical support, and someone with serious dependence on NyQuil or other drugs can escape the cycle of withdrawal and relapse by undergoing medically-supervised detox and therapy at a rehab facility.

Make a Call DXM is an ingredient in over 70 medications. In small doses, DXM is just a cough suppressant which does not pose any risks for serious side effects. Both OTC and prescription medications can contain acetaminophen. Be sure to carefully read the product labels to determine if a medication contains acetaminophen. In addition to NyQuil, some other OTC medications that can potentially contain acetaminophen include:.

Some examples of prescription medications that include acetaminophen are Percocet and Vicodin. Doing so can have some unpleasant short-term side effects and lead to more serious long-term effects in some cases.

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