Can You Get Drunk On NyQuil?
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses whether or not you can get drunk by taking NyQuil.
I always feel really tipsy after I take NyQuil. Am I getting drunk on it?
Aug 07, 2022- You're unlikely to get drunk from NyQuil because one dose contains only about 3 grams of pure alcohol, which is less than a quarter of a standard drink. You would experience serious side effects from too much of NyQuil's other active ingredients before the alcohol content would make you intoxicated. If you take medication that slows alcohol metabolism or have certain medical conditions, even small amounts of alcohol from NyQuil could affect you.
Answer
While you may feel some minor effects from the alcohol contained in NyQuil, it's extremely unlikely that it will cause intoxication or get you 'drunk'.
NyQuil contains 10% alcohol by volume. Compare this with the average percentage of alcohol in common beverages:
- Beer (4-6%)
- Wine (12-16%)
- Liquor (35-60%)
'One standard drink' of alcohol is defined by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as 14 grams of pure alcohol.
In terms of the standard alcoholic beverages, 14 grams of alcohol equates to:
- 12 ounces of beer
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces of liquor
Amount Of Alcohol In A Dose Of NyQuil
While NyQuil is more concentrated in terms of alcohol content than most beers, it is important to consider how much you are consuming.
One dose of NyQuil is 30mL (one ounce). This yields only about 3 grams of pure alcohol per dose, less than a quarter of what is considered to be 'one standard drink'.
Considering that it takes multiple 'standard drinks' for someone to become intoxicated, it stands to reason that you really can't get drunk on NyQuil unless it is misused or abused.
You are far more likely to experience serious adverse effects from ingesting too much of the active ingredients in NyQuil before you are much affected by the alcohol content.
Nevertheless, if you have a medical condition or are taking medication that inhibits the metabolism of alcohol (e.g. Antabuse), it is feasible that you may feel some untoward effects from any amount of alcohol you consume.
Final Words
Thanks for reaching out to us and please let us know if you have any more questions. We're always more than happy to answer.
References & sources
- Alcohol by Volume: Beer, Wine, & Liquor — Alcohol.Org
- What Is A Standard Drink? — National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- NyQuil Manufacturer Website — NyQuil
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Alcohol by volume
- The percentage of pure alcohol contained in a liquid beverage or product.
- Intoxication
- The state of being drunk or impaired by consuming alcohol.
- Standard drink
- A measured amount of alcohol defined by health authorities, containing 14 grams of pure alcohol.
- Pure alcohol
- Alcohol in its unmixed form, measured by weight or volume to determine actual alcohol content.
- Active ingredients
- The components in a medication that produce the intended therapeutic effects.
- Adverse effects
- Unwanted or harmful reactions that occur from taking a medication or substance.
- Metabolism
- The chemical process by which the body breaks down and eliminates substances like alcohol.
- Antabuse
- A medication that prevents the body from metabolizing alcohol, causing unpleasant reactions if alcohol is consumed.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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