Cough syrups can also contain certain allergy medications, all of which interact with alcohol metabolism and may magnify some of alcohol’s most negative health impacts. 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.
Signs of misuse
- If you take medications for arthritis, it is important to know that mixing them with alcohol can increase your risk for stomach ulcers and bleeding in the stomach, as well as liver problems.
- Using dextromethorphan together with ethanol (alcohol) can increase nervous system side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating.
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- The effects of mixing alcohol with medication also depend on certain individual factors.
- Not only does it suppress the subconscious cough reflex, but it suppresses the conscious feeling of irritation that causes us to cough when we’re sick.
So, mixing the two together increases the likelihood of overdose on either substance. If you lie about the amount of alcohol you consume on a regular basis, your doctor can’t accurately judge the risks and benefits of prescribing a particular medication. Here is what you need to know about the possible unsafe interactions between alcohol and common prescription and over-the-counter medications. If you’re using DXM to treat a cough or cold, it’s advisable to avoid alcohol entirely until you’re fully recovered. Alcohol suppresses the immune system, which can extend the duration of your illness.
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On the other hand, some cough syrups contain DXM as the sole active ingredient. Dextromethorphan (DXM), an ingredient in some of the most widely used cold medicines, is becoming increasingly popular as a recreational drug. It’s said to induce hallucinations and happiness, and it’s often mixed with other drugs to enhance their effects. Let’s look at how these two drugs work in the body and talk about why mixing DXM and alcohol makes for a particularly dangerous cocktail.
Mixing DXM and Alcohol
Teens consume DXM at parties where people are drinking alcohol, often without understanding the risks involved. Others use DXM as a substitute for alcohol, thinking it offers a “safer” way to get drunk. The accessibility of DXM leads many to underestimate its dangers compared to illegal drugs.
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. If you drink alcohol while taking Mucinex DM, you may experience enhanced side effects such as increased dizziness or nausea.
It can range from as short as 2.4 hours to as long as 19 hours based on individual metabolism and other factors. Given that it takes about five half-lives for a drug to be completely cleared from your body, DXM can linger for up to four days. To avoid adverse effects, consult with a healthcare professional before consuming alcohol after taking DXM. There is no safe amount of alcohol, and any mixture of these substances poses dangerous risks. Misuse typically involves consuming DXM in quantities far exceeding the recommended therapeutic dose for cough suppression, seeking a psychoactive experience. Unfortunately, many people combine DXM with other substances, increasing the risk of severe side effects, which can be deadly in some cases.
While these products are safe and effective when used as directed, they can be extremely dangerous in high doses. In extreme cases, an overdose can be life-threatening, especially when combined with other substances like alcohol. Immediate medical attention is required if you suspect someone has overdosed on DXM. One of the biggest risks with DXM and alcohol co-use is the potential can i drink alcohol with dextromethorphan for additional harmful effects and stress on the liver. There are many dextromethorphan warnings to consider, but the most severe ones have to do with combining DXM and other substances, especially alcohol.
Defining heavy drinking
All information comes directly from medical research, reliable news sources, and people who have abused DXM. When people abuse DXM, they take a lot of it — many times the recommended dosage. If you had an alcoholic beverage and are not sure if you should take an OTC pain reliever, you can ask a local pharmacist or primary care provider if it is safe to do so.
Rehabilitation programs (inpatient or outpatient), therapy, support groups, or a combination of all three can help people recover from a substance use disorder. In some cases, medications can also help, like for alcohol use disorder. 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. While risks for alcohol use during pregnancy are well known, the effects of DXM use in pregnancy aren’t clear. But large doses of DXM with binge drinking can increase health problems for both the mother and fetus.
- Experts think the drug acts on the brain to suppress the cough reflex but are unsure exactly how it works.
- Alcohol can increase dextromethorphan’s ability to cause the body to overheat, leading to potentially fatal health problems like heat stroke.
- The effects of DXM are all exacerbated by alcohol since they both bind to NMDA receptors.
- Here is what you need to know about the possible unsafe interactions between alcohol and common prescription and over-the-counter medications.
- This means your body gets used to them, and you need higher doses to get the same results.
It contains the active drug guaifenesin, which helps to loosen mucus from the lungs. While consuming a limited amount of alcohol while taking Mucinex may not pose immediate dangers, it is generally advised to avoid mixing the two. Additionally, the combination of Mucinex and alcohol can cause an increase in intoxicating effects, such as drowsiness and dizziness, which can lead to injuries from tripping or falling. The depressant effects of both substances on the brain and central nervous system can be dangerous. However, even medications that don’t require a prescription can be unsafe when mixed with alcohol.
Diabetes Medications
Dextromethorphan’s ability to cause high blood pressure may be increased when it is combined with alcohol. 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. As a cough suppressant, when dextromethorphan is absorbed into the bloodstream, it binds to receptors in the brain called NMDA receptors. Dextromethorphan (DXM) inhibits the function of these receptors and prevents them from sending signals to the brain.
In extreme cases, the synergy between DXM and alcohol can result in brain lesions, memory loss, cognitive impairment, emotional and behavioral changes, seizures, and even epilepsy. The risk of respiratory suppression can escalate to unconsciousness, coma, and potentially fatal outcomes. Dextromethorphan is largely considered safe for most healthy adults when used as indicated. However, when combined with alcohol, dextromethorphan can be dangerous and cause potentially fatal complications.
On their own, opioids can cause drowsiness, dizziness, slowed or impaired breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, and memory loss. You should avoid drinking alcohol if you are taking allergy medications or any multi-symptom cold and flu formulation. Medications used to treat insomnia or help you fall and stay asleep should never be mixed with alcohol.
Alcohol is a depressant that can slow a person’s breathing, cause dizziness, and affect their balance. Mixing alcohol with Mucinex can lead to unwanted side effects such as a rapid heart rate and liver damage. Cough suppressing medicines strongly affect the body, so it is no surprise that there are many drug interactions to watch out for when using dextromethorphan. Over 300 food and drugs might affect or be affected by the use of this substance and 72 are considered major interactions. A sometimes-deadly combination of abused substances is the misuse of alcohol with a product containing dextromethorphan.
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