Dayquil and Alcohol

What is Dayquil? Dayquil, a popular cold medicine, over-the-counter cold, and flu medicine, is typically used as a decongestant, cough suppressant, and fever reducer. It contains ingredients that can interact with other substances, including alcohol. It includes ingredients that can interact with other substances, including alcohol. For individuals struggling with alcohol addiction, it’s best to be cautious and avoid all medications containing dextromethorphan or acetaminophen.  Mixing Dayquil and alcohol also has many dangerous side effects. Learn more by reading this article.

Dayquil Ingredients

Dextromethorphan -Dextromethorphan is one of the more common ingredients in cough medicine. It’s a cough suppressant and sedative from the same chemical family as morphine. In recommended doses, it numbs the throat and senses. However, in excess, it can act as a powerful dissociative and hallucinogenic agent.

Phenylephrine-Phenylephrine is a decongestant that is suggested to be used as a nasal spray. However, studies have shown that oral intake of this drug has reduced efficiency.

Acetaminophen – Acetaminophen acts mainly as a moderate pain reliever and fever reducer. It’s also known as paracetamol.

Taking acetaminophen, or medications that contain it, and drinking alcohol increase your risk of liver damage. DayQuil manufacturer Procter & Gamble cautions that the safest choice is to not drink at all while taking DayQuil, especially if you usually drink heavily and regularly.

• Fever
• Joint pain or swelling
• Chills
• Excessive tiredness or weakness

• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes

Alcohol and Dextromethorphan Associated Risks

Dextromethorphan is found in Dayquil. This medication largely replaced codeine as a cough suppressant when codeine was found to contribute to the opioid addiction epidemic. However, in large doses, dextromethorphan is also an intoxicating substance and is abused more often.

Alcohol is one of the most-widely abused intoxicating substances in the world. It is often abused alongside other drugs. Some individuals drink to enhance their high from drugs, while others drink to reduce the anxiety or excitability associated with stimulants or other substances [3].

A central nervous system (CNS) depressant called dextromethorphan (DXM) induces sensations of relaxation, sleepiness, and pleasant pleasure. Similar effects are also produced by alcohol, but mixing depressants is extremely risky because the combined adverse effects might increase your chances of overdosing. The following are some immediate hazards of mixing Dayquil and alcohol:

Dissociation, or feeling out of the body, can cause panic. Brain lesions can lead to memory loss, cognitive impairment, and emotional and behavioral changes.

• Dissociation, or feeling out of the body, can cause panic.
• Brain lesions can lead to memory loss, cognitive impairment, and emotional and behavioral changes.

• Respiratory depression, irregular, slowed or stopped breathing.

• Epilepsy
• Permanent psychosis

• Dizziness
• Sluggishness
• Drowsiness
• Shortness of breath
• Itching
• Seizures

• Hives
• Palpitations
• Respiratory Depression
• Cardiac Arrest
• Coma
• Death

Can You Mix Dayquil and Alcohol?

Avoid drinking alcohol when you have the flu or a cold. Alcohol causes the body to lose moisture and weakens the immune system. While taking Dayquil, some individuals with the flu or cold could still be interested in drinking. Before mixing the two medications, there are a number of crucial factors to take into account.

Dayquil and alcohol shouldn’t be combined because:

• Alcohol interacts with both acetaminophen and dextromethorphan
• Different doses of Dayquil interact negatively with alcohol
• In high quantities, alcohol, and acetaminophen directly damage the liver
• Using both substances together can increase a person’s risk of overdose

Can you take Dayquil and drink alcohol? When used with a typical dose of DayQuil, only two or three drinks are necessary to have an adverse effect. Naturally, when a person takes more DayQuil or consumes more alcohol, the severity of liver damage will increase. People who combine Vicks DayQuil and alcohol frequently experience severe dizziness and lose control of their motor abilities, which increases the risk of a fall and possible liver damage.

Alcohol Can Interact with Certain Medications, But How Does it Interact with Dayquil?

Can you mix alcohol and Dayquil? Dayquil Cold & Flu, also known simply as Dayquil, cures cold and flu symptoms. The over-the-counter drug Dayquil Cold & Flu comprises acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant, phenylephrine is a decongestant, and acetaminophen relieves pain and lowers the temperature. However, the active components in various Dayquil formulations vary, so always read the product label.

Is It Bad to Take Dayquil and Drink Alcohol?

You should never take or mix Dayquil and alcohol because alcohol can interact with the acetaminophen in Dayquil and cause liver damage. The liver is responsible for breaking down acetaminophen and alcohol, and studies have linked these substances to liver damage. Can I mix Dayquil and alcohol? Dextromethorphan, another component of Dayquil, can interact with alcohol to alter the likelihood and intensity of side effects and how the drug functions. All of these components are in the formulation of DayQuil. With such risks, it is simply too dangerous to mix the two substances, regardless of how tolerant a person might be to Dayquil and alcohol interaction in the body.

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes)
• Abdominal pain in the upper right side
• Abdominal swelling

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Tiredness
• Sweating

Medically Assisted Detox

Usually, the first step in inpatient alcohol treatment is medically assisted detox. Doctors and addiction specialists monitor clients’ vital signs while alcohol exit the system. Depending on the type of substance a person is detoxing from, withdrawal symptoms may differ.

Cravings are very common during detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient treatment helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can provide necessary medicine and medical expertise to lessen cravings and withdrawals.

Psychotherapy

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of depression, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves changing both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression. 
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
• Person-Centered Therapy – is a strategy that allows and encourages clients to understand and resolve their concerns in a safe, supportive environment.