Certain drugs decrease the activity of this enzyme, and taking one of these drugs with dextromethorphan may prevent your body from breaking down dextromethorphan properly. This can increase the amount of dextromethorphan in your system, which raises your risk of side effects. If you take dextromethorphan with memantine, your doctor may recommend that you take a lower dose of dextromethorphan. Or your doctor may suggest that you do not take dextromethorphan with memantine and can recommend a different treatment for your cough.

The Accessibility of DXM

  • Regular dextromethorphan or alcohol abuse can weaken the body’s ability to function without them.
  • It’s also important to understand dextromethorphan’s label and other paperwork that may come with the drug.
  • Alcohol use syndrome, once referred to as alcoholism, has known causes, risk factors, and health complications.
  • This includes opioids, marijuana, alcohol, sedatives, and sleep medications.
  • Examples include dizziness, drowsiness, and problems with balance, coordination, and reactions.

A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Use the dosing cup provided with the product or ask your pharmacist to recommend an appropriate measuring device. While less common, the most serious side effects of dextromethorphan are described below, along with what to do if they happen. There is 1 alcohol/food/lifestyle interaction with dextromethorphan. If you did not get paperwork with dextromethorphan, ask your pharmacist to print a copy for you.

But interactions, as well as side effects of any medicine or chemical, also depend on the user’s sex, age, general health, genetics and other drugs used simultaneously. So a combination of medicines that appears safe for one person may have dangerous or deadly consequences for another person. In addition, combining the use of DXM with alcohol produces extra strain on the liver for any user.

Side Effects

Cough drops are over-the-counter medications that are used to relieve coughing and sore throats. They typically contain active ingredients like menthol, eucalyptus oil, honey, or dextromethorphan that help suppress cough reflexes and soothe irritation in the throat. Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down the central nervous system and impacts brain function and motor skills alcohol and dextromethorphan when consumed in excess. Many people wonder if it is safe to consume alcohol while taking cough drops to treat cold and flu symptoms. There are a few factors to consider when determining whether this combination is safe or could potentially cause negative side effects. Using dextromethorphan together with ethanol (alcohol) can increase nervous system side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating.

What happens when you mix DXM and alcohol?

Popular weight loss drugs, like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and liraglutide (Victoza), have transformed the way doctors treat diabetes and obesity. Now research suggests these meds — part of a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) — may one day be a promising treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Whether in a large or small quantity, consuming an alcoholic drink while taking an antihistamine should be avoided whenever possible. The side effects can even be life-threatening, especially in older adults, as it can increase the risk of falls. Taking Benadryl and drinking alcohol, especially in larger amounts, at the same time can have severe outcomes that can be life-threatening.

Co-use can increase the common side effects of both, like becoming dizzy or drowsy, and increased heart rate. Side effects of DXM and alcohol can last for several days, depending on the person and the drug mix. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re experiencing side effects from DXM use. Long-term heavy use of DXM can cause toxicity and tolerance to the drug. The maximum daily recommended dose of DXM is 120 milligrams (mg) taken in divided doses. A 2018 report found 1 in 30 teens misuse DXM, and 6 in 10 teens misuse alcohol.

What are the most common side effects of dextromethorphan?

It should never be mixed with MAOIs, a class of antidepressants, as this can cause serotonin syndrome – a dangerous spike in serotonin levels. If you struggle with drinking while taking DXM or are mixing DXM and alcohol to get high, stopping can seem overwhelming. At The Recovery Village Kansas City, our medical detox staff can help you wean off alcohol and DXM safely and comfortably. We also have inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization and aftercare programs to help support your long-term sobriety. If you’re unsure whether any medications you take are MAOI drugs, ask your pharmacist or doctor about this before taking dextromethorphan.

Dextromethorphan and Alcohol/Food Interactions

More research is still needed to determine if GLP-1 drugs are a safe and effective treatment for AUD. Until then, you might want to hold off on asking your doctor about GLP-1 drugs for AUD. Benadryl is a commonly used medicine for allergies that is available over the counter and with a prescription.

Dextromethorphan Oral Forms Interactions: Alcohol, Medications, and Others

The body’s ability to breathe is slowed down by alcohol and dextromethorphan, creating an unsafe situation for users because combining these substances puts users at risk of respiratory failure. Those that have developed a tolerance to lower quantities of the combo and therefore increase the volume they ingest are at an even higher risk of respiratory failure, which can lead to death. Another common side effect of medicines containing this ingredient is drowsiness. But those who need cough and cold remedies often feel poorly and feeling sleepy can be a positive side effect when coughing or congestion keeps them from sleeping soundly. Along with sleepiness, those who use OTC or prescription medicines with this ingredient also may have impaired judgment or lessened mental alertness. So medical professionals encourage users to limit activities that require participation in any decision-making activities while the compound is active.

If you’re taking an MAOI or have taken one recently, your pharmacist or doctor can recommend an alternative to dextromethorphan to treat your symptoms. There are several interactions, particularly at high doses, and they do not produce complementary psychoactive effects. In fact, when used together — even at low doses — they put you at risk for extreme drowsiness and dangerously slowed breathing. Since DXM is common and available over-the-counter, it’s easily accessible for the purpose of misuse, particularly among young adults and teenagers who may find it easier to obtain than other substances.

Julie Marks is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health, lifestyle, and science topics. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, her work has been featured in WebMD, SELF, Healthline, A&E, Psych Central, Verywell Health, and more. Her goal is to compose helpful articles that readers can easily understand and use to improve their well-being.

If you have questions about avoiding alcohol while taking dextromethorphan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Before you start taking dextromethorphan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the factors above apply to you. They can help determine whether dextromethorphan is safe for you to take.

Does dextromethorphan interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Taking dextromethorphan exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions. There are currently no reports of dextromethorphan interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests done while taking dextromethorphan, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test. There are currently no reports of dextromethorphan interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about receiving certain vaccines during your dextromethorphan treatment, talk with your doctor.

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. Seizures are sudden changes in the electrical activity of the brain, and they can cause convulsions, loss of consciousness, and death. People who abuse DXM and alcohol together in high doses are at increased risk for seizures. Delirium is a state of confusion or dissociation caused by many different things, including infection, illness, injury, and substance abuse. Delirious people may have trouble thinking clearly, they may be disoriented, and they may experience an out-of-body sensation.