Possible Risks of Taking Sudafed and Alcohol

What Are the Possible Risks of Taking Sudafed and Alcohol?

As a common rule of thumb, it’s best to avoid combining drugs of any type — prescription, over-the-counter, or otherwise — with alcohol. Mixing two foreign substances in the human body is often dangerous because the combo can be worse than an individual drug’s effects. Even a common medication like Sudafed and alcohol can be a powerful combo because the decongestant is known to hide many of the intoxicating impacts of alcohol. People in need of addiction treatment in California might have problematic drinking habits or addictions, leading to unwise decisions and health effects, including the possible risks of mixing alcohol with medications. Let’s explore how these two substances interact and what you can do to avoid the risks.

Can You Mix Sudafed and Alcohol?

Yes, you can take pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in Sudafed, at the same time as drinking alcohol. However, it comes with some pretty serious potential side effects, including anxiety, dizziness, blurry vision, and an increased heart rate. When it comes to your body’s health, safety is rule No. 1. That’s why it is important to be cautious and know all of the potential dangers of combining the two. Oftentimes, people don’t realize just how much alcohol they have in their systems, especially if they drink heavily for long periods of time. This only increases their risk of injury, violence, and even alcohol poisoning. Alcohol stays in the human body and weakens the immune system for a full 24 hours. In other words, it becomes harder to fight off infections or illnesses, whether they are bacterial or viral. Unwanted symptoms are not only increased, but they also tend to last longer. Mixing alcohol with Sudafed in moderation is OK, but it can slow your healing time. 

What Possible Risks Come From Mixing Sudafed and Alcohol?

Consuming alcohol can actually reduce how much people’s noses are open, regardless of whether they are heavy drinkers or not. That means that the symptoms of nasal congestion can take longer to improve if a person drinks while taking Sudafed.

You may already be aware of the severe dangers of mixing alcohol with opioids. The combo is known to restrain the body’s central nervous system. Before you know it, you may have trouble breathing. Fortunately, Sudafed and alcohol’s combination effect is a different story. Let’s take a good look at Sudafed. The over-the-counter medication is quite commonly recommended for treating:

Possible risks of mixing Sudafed with alcohol include:

• Dizziness.
• Drowsiness.
• Reduce the effectiveness of Sudafed.
• Masked feelings of intoxication increasing risk of injury. 

Just remember that there are still some dangers involved with mixing Sudafed and alcohol. Not unlike opioids, taking the pair together can lead to cardiovascular issues. One’s blood pressure may shoot up, along with his or her heart rate. Before you know it, you may suffer from an irregular heartbeat, palpitations, or even a potentially lethal heart attack. The combination has led to drowsiness and impaired judgment in less severe cases. Nobody wants to make a bad decision, whether at the office or on the highway. The mixture can actually reduce the overall effectiveness of Sudafed for nasal congestion. To make matters worse, taking alcohol with Sudafed increases one’s risk of overdosing. 

Is It Possible to Overdose on Sudafed?

While Sudafed is not addictive, a person can still take too much and experience an overdose with some rather scary side effects. Symptoms to look out for include a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and anxiety. Some people experience increased blood pressure, even if they don’t show any other symptoms. In some scenarios, people could have grand mal seizures. A person may also have a bad reaction to Sudafed if he or she suffers from blood vessel disease, type 2 diabetes, an overactive thyroid, an enlarged prostate, or glaucoma. Speaking to a doctor about any possible risks before taking the medication is recommended.

What Should You Not Mix with Sudafed?

Taking Sudafed and alcohol together is not the only combination that can cause harm to the body. For instance, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) that are used to combat depression and the antibiotic linezolid that treats skin conditions may boost people’s blood pressure when taking pseudoephedrine-containing medicines like Sudafed. The same can be said for ergot derivatives that are used for everything from migraine headaches and upset stomachs to type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. The oral weight loss medicine phentermine may speed up your heart rate when mixed with Sudafed. The same can be said for drinking too much caffeine. The combination of Sudafed with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and digoxin that helps folks with respiratory conditions may cause an abnormal heartbeat. Sudafed can even lower the positive effects of popular blood pressure medications, including Katerzia and Zestril. Make sure you talk with your healthcare provider about any concerns related to mixing your medications with Sudafed.

Avoid the Risks of Sudafed and Alcohol by Getting Help with Addiction Treatment

The overall relationship between Sudafed and alcohol is complicated, and if a person decides to take them simultaneously, there are some risks involved. If you or somebody you care about is mixing the two on a regular basis, it could be a sign of alcohol addiction — and a warning that it’s time to get help and put heavy drinking in the past. Excessive alcohol consumption can take a heavy toll on the brain, disrupting everything from speech patterns to hand-eye coordination. The heart can suffer a stroke, while the liver often becomes inflamed. The pancreas may become swollen, disrupting the digestion process. People’s immune systems can weaken, making them prone to deadly illnesses like pneumonia. Too much alcohol can even lead to a variety of cancers, such as breast, esophageal, and liver cancers. If you or someone you care about has an alcohol problem, it is time to take action by reaching out to a drug and alcohol rehab facility that can provide the right treatment and therapy you need to get better. Call Resurgence Behavioral Health today at 855-458-0050 for more information and help.

External Sources

• SingleCare — Is It Safe to Drink Alcohol While Taking Sudafed?
• GoodRx  — 10 Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) Interactions You Should Know About
• Medical News Today — Is It Safe to Mix Pseudoephedrine and Alcohol?

Josh Chandler
After growing up in Chicago and North Carolina, Josh chose to get help with substance use disorder and mental health in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than five years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for four years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. Josh remains passionate about the field because he understands that one phone call can alter the course of a person's life.

Research | Editorial