The effects of DXM are all exacerbated by alcohol since they both bind to NMDA receptors. Users should consult their healthcare provider, drink in moderation, and monitor their body’s response when consuming alcohol while on Ozempic. These considerations are crucial to ensure the optimal management of diabetes and overall health in Ozempic users.

Generic drugs are thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name drug on which they’re based. When you or a loved one are ready to embark on the path to recovery, our Recovery Advocates are here, ready to assist. Reach out to learn more about our tailored treatment programs, designed to cater to your specific needs and situation. It’s important to understand that alcohol may also interact with other drugs.

Can I experience liver damage if I drink alcohol with Delsym?

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. Once you have finished your course of Delsym and it is no longer in your system, you can safely consume alcohol if it does not interact can you drink alcohol with dextromethorphan with any other medications you may be taking. To ensure Delsym has sufficiently cleared your system, it is recommended to wait a full 24 hours before consuming alcohol.

• The most recent data, in 2024, indicate that the percentage dropped somewhat.
• It is often combined with other ingredients such as antihistamines, decongestants, or pain relievers in multi-symptom cold and flu medications.
• Teens often misuse DXM, mistakenly thinking it’s safer because it’s OTC.

One of the deadliest combinations is alcohol and narcotic pain medications. 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. The sedating effect of these drugs can be increased by alcohol, leading to slowed or impaired breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, memory loss, and fainting.

What Are the Symptoms From Drinking Alcohol with Dextromethorphan?

Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance. DXM is the most popular cough suppressant sold in the United States. Paranoia can disrupt daily life and cause a person to miss work, school, or meaningful social engagements. It can also lead to dangerous behaviors like self-harm or violence. Dextromethorphan can cause similar hallucinatory effects to those experienced by ketamine or PCP users, and this effect is exacerbated by alcohol.

This is especially true if you are taking a medication that makes you sleepy or causes sedation. More intense side effects mean you might be more impaired after having one drink than you would typically be. The mixture of opiates and alcohol, for example, can cause your breathing to stop and is a common cause of death. If they get damaged, it could lead to complications such as high blood pressure or even more severe kidney issues over time. People with existing liver problems or a history of pancreatitis should especially avoid alcohol while using Ozempic to prevent these risks.

The survey began monitoring OTC cough-and-cold medication abuse every year in 2006. That year, the MTF reported that 4.2% of 8th-graders, 5.3% of 10th-graders, and 6.9% of 12th-graders misused OTC cough-and-cold medications in the previous year. In 2015, 2.6% of 8th-graders, 3.3% of 10th-graders, and 4.0% of 12th-graders reported past-year misuse. The most recent data, in 2024, indicate that the percentage dropped somewhat. However, a recent alert from the National Drug Early Warning System at the University of Florida (NDEWS) suggests a resurgence of interest in DXM and its combination with antihistamines. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking dextromethorphan with other medications to ensure there are no potential interactions.

This risk can differ with the amount of alcohol and DXM you consume. Some people intentionally take too much DXM, a practice called Robotripping, dexing and skittling. It is never safe to combine any cough medicine containing dextromethorphan with alcohol, as this can lead to dangerous interactions and increased side effects.

Monitor your body’s response

Overdosing on these multi-ingredient products increases the risk of liver toxicity and liver failure. However, even medications that don’t require a prescription can be unsafe when mixed with alcohol. One ingredient in some cough suppressants called dextromethorphan (DXM) can be especially dangerous because it can cause extreme sedation and respiratory depression. In some cases, mixing alcohol with medications can lead to an overdose or alcohol poisoning—both of which are potentially life-threatening medical emergencies. More than 125 over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for cough and colds contain DXM. It’s in Coricidin, Dimetapp DM, Nyquil, Robitussin Cough and Cold, and store brands for cough-and-cold medicines.

Effects of DXM

A coma is a state of unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened. The hyperthermia that can result from mixing DXM and alcohol can cause coma or damage to the brain. You should not drink when taking dextromethorphan as it can lead to severe and unpredictable side effects. Always ask your healthcare provider what not to take with Benadryl before taking this medicine.

More than 100 different cough and cold products have it, including some from Robitussin. DXM works by curbing the cough reflex in the brain to reduce coughing. If you’d like to explore an alternative to dextromethorphan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking dextromethorphan. They can tell you how much, if any, is safe to drink while taking dextromethorphan. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with dextromethorphan.

More on Drugs & Medications

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a drug found in many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines like Robitussin, Delsym, and Mucinex DM. However, in high doses, it can produce dissociative and hallucinogenic effects, making it a target for abuse, especially among teens and young adults. Mixing DXM with alcohol greatly increases the risks, leading to dangerous levels of intoxication and potentially fatal consequences. If you have diabetes, drinking alcohol can affect your blood sugar levels.

Contact Texas Recovery Centers Now

Some research has found that alcohol does not appear to worsen liver inflammation in certain people who take medication for their cholesterol. A 2006 Harvard study found that moderate alcohol use did not have a significant negative effect on the livers of men taking statins after heart surgery. You might not need to completely avoid alcohol if you are taking a blood thinner. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting your intake to no more than one or two occasional drinks if you are on anticoagulant therapy.

Also, excessive drinking may lead to behaviors that go against lifestyle changes needed for managing diabetes, such as eating a balanced diet or exercising regularly. Turning our attention to Ozempic sheds light on its significant role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and its support for weight management. Ozempic acts as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a type of medication that mimics the action of an appetite-regulating hormone.

Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your life. Lastly, even those who take DXM as directed are at risk when mixing it with alcohol. Because alcohol is an immunosuppressant, drinking when unwell can prolong and worsen your illness, keeping you sick for longer. However, it is never a good idea to mix cough medicine and alcohol. Clearly, mixing DXM and alcohol comes with a host of risks, most of them serious. Misusing either substance alone can be dangerous enough, but taking them together amplifies this risk and reinforces addictive behaviors.

Regular dextromethorphan or alcohol abuse can weaken the body’s ability to function without them. As the body becomes more tolerant of the substances, more significant amounts are needed to achieve the desired effects. Benadryl is a potent first-generation antihistamine that crosses the blood-brain barrier, a protective filter that helps keep harmful substances from reaching the brain. It works on the CNS by slowing it down to block the effects of histamine, a chemical released by the immune system that causes allergy symptoms.