sudafed and alcohol: Sudafed PE Severe Cold and Alcohol Food Interactions

Your pharmacist or other health care provider can help you determine which medications interact harmfully with alcohol. Using cold medicine and alcohol recreationally can also lead to addiction. Even though cold remedies are available without a prescription, they’re still drugs, and there’s a fine line between drug abuse and drug addiction. If you find yourself often using cold medication with alcohol, it could be a sign you’ve become addicted to the high.

Further, alcohol-induced nasal symptoms like nasal stuffiness and runny nose can occur, especially in women and with wine consumption. As a result, drinking can counteract any effect guaifenesin may have on nasal secretions and worsen your infection. If you have diabetes, drinking alcohol can affect your blood sugar levels. Sudafed is one of many drug options available today for treating nasal congestion and pressure. If you have further questions about using Sudafed, ask your doctor or pharmacist. They can help you choose a medication that can help safely relieve nasal symptoms for you or your child.

What Is Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine)?

Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients.

So, mixing the two together increases the likelihood of overdose on either substance. Alcohol can make some medications less effective by interfering with how they are absorbed in the digestive tract. In some cases, alcohol increases the bioavailability of a drug, which can raise the concentration of the medication in your blood to toxic levels. Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research.

Limit or avoid drinking alcohol while taking decongestants

That said, there are stronger types of Sudafed (like 12-hour and 24-hour Sudafed), which require more time to clear from the body. Similar to 12-hour Sudafed, 24-hour Sudafed releases in the body throughout the day. 24-hour Sudafed is typically a higher dose than 12-hour Sudafed https://sober-home.org/ and other quick-release versions, so it’s more dangerous to mix with alcohol. Using this type of Sudafed with alcohol will lead to long-lasting side effects that make hangovers dangerous. After the 24-hour period, it’s safe to consume alcohol without any side effects.

Nerve problems –fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, seizure . Ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. You can also get into some interesting situations when taking NyQuil before a bout of drinking. I took one shot of the green before having a couple of glasses of red wine with dinner. My wife asked if I was alright sometime after guests left, and all I could say is « There’s a lot of drunk in that wine. » She went to bed and I woke up later in the kitchen. This medicine is available over-the-counter without a doctor’s prescription.

Hour Sudafed and Alcohol

If your doctor prescribes these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment to safely take this combination. As suggested by its name, alcohol-linked nasal symptoms can result from drinking while taking Sudafed. Women are more in danger of suffering from ANS than men during drug interactions.

Although each substance has its own individual side effects, taking both together should not impact or worsen the side effects of either substance. Understand that pseudoephedrine is a stimulant, and alcohol is a depressant. Common symptoms reported are feeling “out of it,” such as an altered perception.

Pseudoephedrine may also interact with several other medications. A multicenter, randomized, placebo controlled study of pseudoephedrine for the temporary relief of nasal congestion in children with the common cold. Sudafed can interact with these medications, causing a sudden, severe increase in blood pressure and a slowed heart rate. Due to alcohol’s harmful effects on the immune system, it is best to wait until you have gotten over your cough or cold before you start drinking again.

In fact, adults who take more than 240 milligrams of Sudafed will encounter issues without alcohol. The amount of Sudafed that’s dangerous to take with alcohol also depends on the type of Sudafed. Some types of Sudafed can last for up to 24 hours, which makes them more dangerous eco sober house price to take with alcohol. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. There are 2 alcohol/food/lifestyle interactions with Sudafed PE Severe Cold (acetaminophen / diphenhydramine / phenylephrine).

Don’t mix combo meds containing Sudafed and alcohol

While it typically gets better after stopping taking the medications, there has been concern that alcohol could potentially make liver inflammation worse. Drinking even a small amount of alcohol while taking an antibiotic called Flagyl can cause a severe reaction, making you extremely sick with nausea and vomiting. You will want to avoid alcohol for three days before you start and after you stop Flagyl. Antipsychotics may be prescribed for people with conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The mixture of opiates and alcohol, for example, can cause your breathing to stop and is a common cause of death. Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only.

• This is an allergy medication that helps relieve symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose.
• However, that does not mean it is a good idea to combine them.
• I know it’s a bit of a pain in the rear, but it’s better than suffering an adverse reaction.
• Even though cold remedies are available without a prescription, they’re still drugs, and there’s a fine line between drug abuse and drug addiction.
• Give your child relief from nasal congestion in a grape-flavored liquid.

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Some of these side effects may go away as your body gets used to the medication. If any of these side effects are a problem for you or if they don’t go away, call your doctor.

The FDA states that children under 2 years may be at risk of serious and life threatening side effects if they take Sudafed. During lactation, only small amounts of a single daily oral dose of pseudoephedrine pass into breast milk. This amount is roughly 0.5% of the dose, according to a 2021 research review. Alcohol consumption may decrease how effective Sudafed is for treating nasal congestion.

Alcohol can slow the person’s immune response to viral or bacterial infections. This may cause them to experience the symptoms of the infection for longer. Below are some reasons a person may wish to avoid using Sudafed with alcohol. Because of its stimulant effects, some people misuse Sudafed in nonmedical or recreational ways, such as for sports doping or increasing energy. This article outlines whether a person can take Sudafed with alcohol, what effects alcohol can have on Sudafed, who can take Sudafed, and more.

If you add more alcohol to the punch, it will just increase the strength of the dosage and too much antihistamine can cause problems. That’s because NyQuil has pseudoephedrine in it also along with 500 mg of acetaminophen which won’t get you high but will deliver a one two punch to your liver. Please keep in mind that pseudoephedrine can cause hallucinations, arrhythmia, and hypertension on its own without the addition of alcohol. You may have an adverse reaction to pseudoephedrine in general.

Sudafed Dose

You should avoid drinks and food that contain caffeine, like coffee, drinks, tea, and chocolates. Caffeine intake with Sudafed causes an increase in heart rate and makes you feel restless. Limit or avoid the intake of products that contain caffeine to prevent health issues.

In addition, it can increase the risk of liver damage, heart problems, and even death. Ask your doctor before using naproxen together with ethanol. Alcohol can increase your risk of stomach bleeding caused by naproxen. Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines.

We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Those who already experience symptoms relating to elevated heart rate and blood pressure put themselves at risk of a heart attack.

Sudafed is also a stimulant that reduces the intoxicating effects of alcohol, which makes alcohol feel less intoxicating. While alcohol feels less intoxicating when taking Sudafed, BAC still rises and increases the risk of alcohol poisoning. Liquor is the most dangerous type of alcohol to mix with Sudafed because it has the highest alcohol percentage per volume. That said, alcohol and Sudafed will have worse side effects when taken together.

Medications prescribed to lower cholesterol levels can cause flushing, itching, stomach bleeding, and liver damage. Combining these drugs with alcohol can make the risks and side effects worse, especially if you have liver disease. In addition to worsening the side effects of antidepressant medications, mixing these drugs with alcohol can sober houses in boston also make symptoms of depression worse. In fact, nasal decongestants can lead to trouble sleeping. However, different people may react differently to certain medications. If you take Sudafed for the first time, you should see how your body reacts to this medication before driving or performing activities requiring mental alertness.