If you’re currently taking NyQuil, you should avoid consuming alcohol. Mixing can worsen Nyquil’s side effects and lead to serious complications.

Vicks NyQuil is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication. It’s used to treat symptoms associated with colds and the flu, such as cough, runny nose, and aches and pains.

Combining NyQuil with alcohol can make side effects like dizziness or drowsiness worse. In several cases, it could lead to liver damage.

Read on to learn more about the risks of mixing NyQuil with alcohol, and what to do if you’ve already mixed the two.

Why can mixing NyQuil and alcohol be dangerous? Simply put, alcohol can enhance the effects of the active ingredients in NyQuil, leading to potentially harmful consequences.

The active ingredients in NyQuil work together to help relieve the different symptoms of colds and the flu. Below, we’ll explore these active ingredients to further understand the effects that alcohol can have on them individually.

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is a drug that eases pain and reduces fever. It’s included in a variety of OTC and prescription medications. You may be familiar with acetaminophen in OTC tablet forms, such as Tylenol.

Both alcohol and acetaminophen are broken down (metabolized) by your liver. Too much of either can lead to liver damage, and combining the two can place additional stress on your liver.

Taking a recommended dose of acetaminophen and having a few drinks once in a while won’t typically lead to liver problems. However, heavy alcohol use (three or more drinks a day) and repeated acetaminophen use can lead to liver damage.

Dextromethorphan (DXM)

DXM is a drug that acts as a cough suppressant. Like acetaminophen, it can be found in a variety of OTC medications, such as Robitussin. When taken as directed, it works effectively to reduce coughs.

However, in higher doses, DXM can cause a sensation similar to being drunk and hallucinations. These effects are amplified if you combine DXM with alcohol.

Doxylamine succinate

Doxylamine succinate is an antihistamine that can help with a runny nose and sneezing. It makes you drowsy, which is why it’s often an ingredient in OTC sleep medications, such as Unisom. For this reason, it’s also the component of NyQuil that makes you sleepy.

Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it also has a sedative effect. Because alcohol is a depressant drug, it also has sedative effects. Taking doxylamine succinate with alcohol can lead to a potentially dangerous level of sedation.

But doesn’t NyQuil contain alcohol?

The liquid form of NyQuil contains 10% alcohol, which helps the active ingredients dissolve. This concentration is similar to what you’d find in white wine.

However, the recommended dose of NyQuil is much smaller than a typical glass of wine, so you only consume the equivalent of a sip or two of wine when you take NyQuil as directed.

Short-term side effects of mixing alcohol and NyQuil include:

  • increased drowsiness
  • dizziness
  • coordination issues
  • increased heart rate
  • stomach upset

Repeatedly mixing the two can eventually lead to liver damage. This is due to the acetaminophen that’s present in NyQuil. Together, alcohol and acetaminophen can place extra stress on your liver.

If you’ve already mixed NyQuil and alcohol, you should avoid consuming more alcohol. This can help you to lower your risk of experiencing unpleasant side effects.

If you’ve only had one or two drinks, you likely don’t need to be too concerned. If you’ve had more than that, it’s probably best to seek medical treatment.

Seek emergency treatment if you notice:

  • intense feelings of sleepiness or drowsiness
  • rapid heart rate
  • nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • irritability or agitation
  • loss of appetite
  • confusion
  • hallucinations
  • seizures

In addition to alcohol, there are a few other things you’ll want to steer clear of while taking NyQuil.

Other medications with acetaminophen

Since NyQuil already contains acetaminophen, you should avoid doubling up. The maximum total daily dose of acetaminophen in adults is 4,000 milligrams (mg), so taking additional medications with acetaminophen can potentially cause you to exceed the recommended daily dose and increase your risk of liver damage.

Both OTC and prescription medications can contain acetaminophen. Be sure to carefully read the product labels to determine if a medication contains acetaminophen. You’ll find it listed under the active ingredients.

Tylenol is a common name brand for 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.

If you’re still unsure about whether a medication contains acetaminophen, ask your healthcare professional or a pharmacist.

Other considerations

You should talk with your healthcare professional or pharmacist before taking NyQuil if:

Read on for answers to more questions about mixing NyQuil with alcohol.

How long does NyQuil stay in your system compared with alcohol?

This can depend on your weight, age, and the dose that you take.

Generally speaking, it takes Doxylamine about 40 to 50 hours to come out of your system. The other ingredients don’t stay as long in your system, but because of Doxylamine, NyQuil can stay in your system for up to 4 to 5 days.

The body metabolizes alcohol at a rate of about one drink per hour.

If you’ve had several drinks, you may feel intoxicated for several hours until the alcohol leaves your system. If you’ve also taken NyQuil, the effects can be amplified to a dangerous level. If you drink daily over the course of several days, the alcohol you consume can interact with the Doxylamine in your system.

What other substances should not be mixed with NyQuil?

In addition to avoiding any other medication that contains acetaminophen while taking NyQuil, you should avoid any medication that may also cause drowsiness or sedation, such as a sleep medication, an antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), or a tranquilizer.

If you’re taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), ask your doctor if NyQuil is safe for you.

What other medications should not be mixed with alcohol?

Many medications can interact badly with alcohol. These include many OTC nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other pain medications, certain medications for mood disorders, and many more.

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) offers a thorough list of different prescription and OTC medications that may interact with alcohol. However, it may not include every medication, so you should ask your doctor if it’s safe to drink alcohol with any medication you’re taking.

NyQuil and alcohol shouldn’t be mixed. Doing so can have some unpleasant short-term side effects and lead to more serious long-term effects in some cases.

If you’ve already combined them, make sure you know how to recognize the signs of a potential overdose. Seek immediate treatment if you start to have any unusual symptoms.