Can You Take Xanax With NyQuil?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Xanax can be taken with NyQuil.
I currently take Xanax as needed. Not every day, but once in a while. Can I take NyQuil at night? Is there an interaction?
Sep 30, 2022- Xanax and NyQuil together can cause increased drowsiness and serious side effects because both medications affect the central nervous system, and NyQuil also contains alcohol which should not be mixed with Xanax.
- If you need to take both medications, space them out or consider using NyQuil alternatives like DayQuil that don't contain the antihistamine ingredient that interacts with Xanax.
Answer
Both Xanax (alprazolam) and NyQuil (acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and doxylamine) can potentially cause respiratory depression, sedation, and other CNS effects.
At the very least, the combination will likely make you feel quite drowsy, and in some cases, produce more serious side effects depending on how much you take of each. You also have to consider that NyQuil contains some alcohol, which also should not be used with Xanax.
So, overall, the use of these medications may worsen the potential side effects and should only be used together with caution. Spacing the medications out or avoiding the use of products containing antihistamines are two possible ways to avoid the interaction.
NyQuil Information
Nyquil comes in a variety of formulations and contains several different ingredients.
The interacting ingredient with Xanax is the antihistamine doxylamine. Doxylamine is a first-generation antihistamine that crosses the blood-brain barrier to cause CNS side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness. Other first-generation antihistamines include Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Dramamine (dimenhydrinate), Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheniramine), Tavist (clemastine), and Phenergan (promethazine), among others.
Xanax Information
Xanax is FDA approved for the treatment of anxiety, anxiety associated with depression, and generalized anxiety disorder. It is also approved for panic disorder. Xanax usually starts working within 15-30 minutes and reaches peak effect in about 1-2 hours. The half-life of alprazolam is approximately 11 hours and should be completely cleared from the bloodstream in about 3 days. The risk of causing additive effects with Nyquil would be low after about 24 hours but is highly dependent on patient-specific factors like liver function and weight.
NyQuil - Xanax Alternatives
To help avoid the interaction with Xanax and doxylamine, other cold & flu products may be used depending on the reason for taking the medications.
Dayquil Cold & Flu contains acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine, but does not contain any antihistamines. Single-ingredient products may be preferred to avoid the greater risk of multiple medications.
Final Words
Thanks for reaching out to us! We're always more than happy to answer any question that comes our way.
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Respiratory depression
- A condition where breathing becomes shallow or slowed, reducing the amount of oxygen your body receives.
- CNS effects
- Effects on the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord and controls basic functions like breathing and consciousness.
- Antihistamine
- A medication that blocks histamine, a chemical in your body that causes allergy symptoms and can make you drowsy.
- Blood-brain barrier
- A protective layer that controls which substances can pass from your bloodstream into your brain.
- First-generation antihistamine
- An older type of allergy medication that easily crosses into the brain and commonly causes drowsiness as a side effect.
- Half-life
- The time it takes for half of a medication to be broken down and removed from your body.
- Additive effects
- When two medications combine to increase the strength of side effects beyond what either one alone would cause.
- FDA approved
- A medication that has been reviewed and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective for specific uses.
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...
More answers from Brian →