One of the biggest risks with DXM and alcohol co-use is the potential for additional harmful effects and stress on the liver. Both alcohol and DXM are central nervous system depressants, meaning they decrease the activity of the neurons of the brain and spinal cord. Taking two central nervous system depressants together enhances their actions, potential side effects, and potential dangers, often far more significantly than using either alone. Dextromethorphan can cause similar hallucinatory effects to those experienced by ketamine or PCP users, and this effect is exacerbated by alcohol. The effects of alcohol and dextromethorphan use can be very dangerous.
DXM and Alcohol: A Guide to the Dangers of Mixing Substances
DXM is one of the most common over-the-counter (OTC) products adolescents misuse. When DXM is misused, larger doses are taken to get a “high” or hallucinogenic effect. If you believe you or someone you love may be struggling with addiction, let us hear your story and help you determine a path to treatment. High blood pressure is a condition that occurs when the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries is too high. Dextromethorphan’s ability to cause high blood pressure may be increased when it is combined with alcohol.
Can I Mix DXM (Dextromethorphan) and Alcohol?
It is well-known that we can provide solace to domestic animals alcohol and dextromethorphan by petting them. Monitoring the weeping of young animals while they are held or not held is a simple method for objectively studying such effects. This contact comfort is partially mediated by the activation of brain opioid systems, as demonstrated by different preclinical and clinical studies 22. Neurochemicals other than opioids contribute to the sensation of contact comfort. Primates have also been verified to release opioids in the brain through touch 23.
- By ingesting large doses of this ingredient, users report feeling an “out of body” experience that is similar to phencyclidine (PCP) or ketamine which is often called “robo-tripping,”.
- As a result, users are told to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery for up to six hours after ingesting a medicine with this ingredient.
- We also have inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization and aftercare programs to help support your long-term sobriety.
- Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk.
What Are The Dangers of Mixing Alcohol With Dextromethorphan (DXM)?
Initially approved by the FDA in 1958, the drug is one of the most common ingredients in over-the-counter medications for cough. Experts think the drug acts on the brain to suppress the cough reflex but are unsure exactly how it works. Although DXM is structurally similar to opioids, it works on different receptors in the brain than opioids. Nonetheless, about 1.5 million Americans misuse DXM and other cough medications to get high. Most standard cough drops that contain menthol, eucalyptus, honey, or benzocaine are unlikely to cause adverse side effects when paired with mild to moderate alcohol intake. However, drinking heavily or taking cough medicine with alcohol can be dangerous due to increased sedation.
Interactions between your drugs
In the short term, DXM can cause extreme drowsiness and sedation, impairing our dexterity, balance, reaction time, and mental clarity. Users may experience dizziness, confusion, and impaired motor coordination, increasing their risk of falls and injuries. It can also impair our judgment and decision-making abilities and lead to hallucinations, delusions, or a dissociative state.
Dextromethorphan, acting as a low-potency NMDAR antagonist for GluN2D subtypes, can exert its rapid antidepressant effects in the absence of dissociative side effects. Bupropion, on the other hand, is known for its interaction with dopamine and norepinephrine transporters, which may help with the emotional pain that comes with major depressive disorder. The combination of dextromethorphan with bupropion might target various aspects of mental pain, possibly improving treatment results. To this end, thorough long-term clinical studies with proper assessment of mental pain in major depression disorders are needed. Mental pain might constitute a psychiatric emergency when it overcomes the threshold to be sustained. In this regard, suicide risk is often considered a way out when other solutions fail to provide relief.
Dextromethorphan undergoes rapid metabolism via cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6), reducing its bioavailability and complicating the attainment of therapeutic plasma concentrations after oral administration. The co-administration of bupropion with dextromethorphan results in substantial increases in dextromethorphan exposure across all assessed doses in three Phase I studies. Being well-informed about potential health risks and exercising caution is key to safely using cough drops with alcohol. When in doubt, it is best to abstain from drinking when taking any kind of medication. With opioid cough suppressants, even small amounts of alcohol can produce pronounced reactions, so complete avoidance is strongly advised. As with any medication, always read the label carefully and ask your pharmacist about potential alcohol interactions.
The opioid receptor antagonist naloxone has been shown to increase grooming in primates, possibly as a response to the adverse effects of reduced opioid levels in the brain. Primates groom each other for social comfort, and opiate medications may reduce the desire to be touched by promoting opioid self-satisfaction in the brain. Opioids that activate MOR are particularly effective in reducing the arousal of GRIEF/separation distress in animals. Opioid receptor blockers reduce the effectiveness of this contact, but socially isolated birds settle down and cry less. But the most dangerous side effect of both substances is respiratory.
Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. In the event of a medical emergency, call a doctor or 911 immediately. This website does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk. Drinking alcohol while taking DXM can be an unpredictable combination.
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One of the main safety concerns with taking cough drops while drinking alcohol is the risk of interactions with dextromethorphan (DXM). DXM is a cough suppressant that works by depressing activity in the brain centers responsible for coughing. When taken in very high doses, DXM can produce euphoric effects similar to dissociative hallucinogens. While DXM is a common ingredient in cough syrups, the two are not synonymous. There are cough medications and even cough suppressants that do not use dextromethorphan, and many cough syrups containing dextromethorphan also contain other therapeutic ingredients.
Mixing DXM and Alcohol
The monoamine systems, encompassing serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine, have historically dominated depression research and treatment. When dextromethorphan is an ingredient in a cough suppressant medication, the compound’s primary expected effect is a reduction in an urge to cough. But this strong medicine does more than just tell your brain to cough less.
Alcohol Use Disorder: 8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Attending a Holiday Party
You should not take a higher dose of either medication than what’s prescribed or recommended. Both dextromethorphan and memantine work by blocking the NMDA receptor in your brain. Combining the two drugs can raise your risk of certain side effects caused by this action, including dizziness and agitation. Dextromethorphan can interact with SSRIs, which are drugs prescribed to treat depression and certain other mental health conditions. It’s best to avoid drinking alcohol while you’re taking dextromethorphan. Both alcohol and dextromethorphan can cause central nervous system depression.
It is a potent first-generation antihistamine that can cause drowsiness. Taking alcohol with Benadryl can increase the sedating effect and drowsiness and even lead to the danger of overdosing. Ketamine’s antidepressant effects can also be influenced by its actions on a variety of other neurotransmitter systems, including opioid systems, in addition to its glutamatergic effects 30. Add your drug list to My Med List to view medical information in a simple, easy-to-read, personalized format. Automatically receive FDA alerts, drug interaction warnings, plus data on food, allergy & condition interactions. This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with dextromethorphan.
Researchers don’t yet understand exactly how GLP-1 drugs work for AUD, according to Dr. Leggio. “Scientific evidence suggests that these mechanisms may be at least partially overlapping with those regulating food craving and food seeking,” he says. Always ask your healthcare provider what not to take with Benadryl before taking this medicine. Dextromethorphan (DXM) is the most popular cough suppressant sold in the United States.
Therefore, we hypothesize that KOR antagonism can contribute to the antidepressant action of dextromethorphan. The glutamatergic system has become a significant focus of research 25. Despite the existence of multiple classes of monoamine-based drugs, a considerable number of patients fail to achieve durable remission of depressive symptoms. For those with any of these risk factors, it is best to avoid alcohol completely when taking cough drops or other cold medications.
Unlike abuse of a single substance, when alcohol and DXM are combined, the effects can last up to several days before improving. Cough drops work by coating the throat with an ingredient like menthol or eucalyptus to temporarily numb nerve endings that trigger coughing. Other ingredients may also work to thin mucus secretions or soothe inflammation in the throat.
