Second-generation antihistamines such as Zyrtec (cetirizine), Allegra (fexofenadine), and Claritin (loratadine) are less likely to cause drowsiness. When DXM is misused, larger doses are taken to get a “high†or hallucinogenic effect. All information comes directly from medical research, reliable news sources, and people who have abused DXM.
The Dangers of DXM Abuse
When people abuse DXM, they take a lot of it — many times the recommended dosage. To view an interaction report containing 4 (or more) medications, please sign in or create an account. There are no known interactions between dextromethorphan and foods or drinks. If your cough lasts more than 7 days, stop taking dextromethorphan and call your healthcare provider.
Drug and food interactions
If you have questions about taking dextromethorphan with an SSRI, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you take dextromethorphan with an SSRI, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of the SSRI or recommend a lower dose of dextromethorphan. If you have an injury or medical condition that causes pain or spasms in your muscles, you might be given medications to relax them. Muscle relaxants are commonly used to treat back and neck pain, as well as certain kinds of headaches. 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.
How can I minimize the risk of dextromethorphan side effects?
Dextromethorphan may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider. Dextromethorphan is commonly used to reduce cough caused by common cold or inhaled allergens or that makes it hard for you to fall asleep. Taking dextromethorphan exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions. As with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with dextromethorphan. If you take St. John’s wort and need to take dextromethorphan, ask your pharmacist or doctor if you should stop taking St. John’s wort until you finish taking dextromethorphan.
- Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re experiencing side effects from DXM use.
- Someone who is dealing with dextromethorphan and alcohol abuse will likely show signs in their physical and mental health.
- One of the deadliest combinations is alcohol and narcotic pain medications.
- If you’re drinking excessively or regularly, you are increasing the risk of adverse medication reactions.
- At The Recovery Village Kansas City, our medical detox staff can help you wean off alcohol and DXM safely and comfortably.
Dextromethorphan Oral Forms Interactions: Alcohol, Medications, and Others
Your body can develop tolerance to DXM and alcohol with continued use. This means your body gets used to them, and you need higher doses to get the same results. Side effects of DXM and alcohol can last for several days, depending on the person and the drug mix.
Symptoms of dextromethorphan overdose may include confusion, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, rapid heart rate, and even hallucinations. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking dextromethorphan with other medications to ensure there are no potential interactions. Mixing dextromethorphan with alcohol can lead to increased drowsiness, dizziness, impaired coordination, and respiratory depression. 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. Unfortunately, many people combine DXM with other substances, increasing the risk of severe side effects, which can be deadly in some cases.
Signs of misuse
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. 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.
Mixing anti-anxiety and epilepsy medications with alcoholic beverages can cause slowed breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, and memory loss. 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. Neurological damage can result in issues with simple or complex movements that can lead to accidents and other potential injuries. Both alcohol and DXM are central nervous system depressants, meaning they decrease the activity of the neurons of the brain and spinal cord.
While ketamine did not exhibit direct MOR agonist properties in this work, it was essential to demonstrate some MOR action to inhibit the NMDA receptor 44. Both receptors may contribute to the antidepressant effects of ketamine 47. The identification of the swift antidepressant effects of intravenous ketamine has resulted in a transformative change in the drug discovery process for depression 27. This stems from the evidence that partial agonism at the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) is a contributing molecular mechanism to the effectiveness of these rapid-acting antidepressants 28. The administration of opioid receptor antagonists should enhance both effects.
Are there any severe side effects of combining Delsym and alcohol?
Even though OTC drugs are safe for the most part, there are warnings on the containers about mixing them with alcohol. However, people who struggle with alcohol abuse or who have a history of substance abuse problems are more likely to mix DXM drugs and alcohol, accidentally or on purpose. Get help overcoming substance abuse problems before an overdose happens. Dextromethorphan (DXM) is an active ingredient in many cough, cold and flu medicines.
Mental pain, as conceptualized in Panksepp’s emotional theory, is especially relevant when considering the key role of the opioid system, which can influence feelings tied to grief and separation. There has been a renewed interest in targeting the opioid system for antidepressant treatment in MDD and to soothe mental pain. Antidepressant drugs endowed with partial mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonism and kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) antagonism might represent novel pharmacological tools to address unmet needs in MDD patients. The combination of dextromethorphan and bupropion is a well-tolerated, rapid-acting treatment option for adults affected by MDD. We hypothesized that dextromethorphan-bupropion could impact the reduction of mental pain in MDD patients by targeting the opioid system, as supported by Panksepp’s theory. The combination of dextromethorphan with bupropion might deal with various aspects of mental pain, possibly improving treatment results.
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 Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief (dextromethorphan). 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.
Despite the existence of multiple classes of monoamine-based drugs, a considerable number of patients fail to achieve durable remission of depressive symptoms. 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.
Pregnancy risks
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. While severe side effects are rare, combining Delsym and alcohol can increase the risk of dizziness, confusion, and impaired judgment. It is best to avoid drinking alcohol while you have Delsym in your system to prevent any adverse effects. To reduce the risk of side effects from dextromethorphan, it is important to take the medication as directed and avoid combining it with alcohol or other substances. Both dextromethorphan and memantine work by blocking the NMDA receptor in your brain.
If you’re having trouble abstaining from alcohol use while taking dextromethorphan, you may be suffering from an alcohol addiction. Intentionally combining dextromethorphan with alcohol to intensify the effects is also a type of substance misuse and it can lead to drug addiction. We believe that addressing mental pain in clinical practice points to major patient-related outcomes. Emphatic understanding of mental pain is crucial, and personalized treatment is of utmost importance. If our hypothesis is to be confirmed, possibly a reduction of mental pain could also be achieved through partial MOR agonism combined with KOR antagonism.
Dextromethorphan can interact with SSRIs, which are drugs prescribed to treat depression and certain other mental health conditions. If you’re unsure whether any medications you take are MAOI drugs, ask your pharmacist or doctor about this before taking dextromethorphan. 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.
It is generally advised to wait at least 24 hours after taking any medication containing dextromethorphan, such as Delsym, before drinking alcohol. This waiting period allows your body enough time to process and eliminate the medication from your system, reducing the risk of any potential complications. It is not recommended to drink alcohol if you have recently taken dextromethorphan as it can increase the risk of side effects and interactions. In addition, mixing alcohol and DXM can increase your risk of a potentially fatal DXM overdose.