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What happens if you drink alcohol with Sudafed?

By Michael Gray

Sudafed is a stimulant “[This] can lead to excessive drinking or alcohol-related injuries from drinking more.” Alcohol can also intensify the side effects of Sudafed, such as increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness, anxiety, and blurred vision, McMillan and Dr. Soliman say.

Is Sudafed hard on your heart?

Nasal sprays/decongestants. These drugs often contain vasoconstrictors that narrow your blood vessels, which can cause heart problems with long-term, frequent use.

What does Sudafed do to your heart?

Over the years, there have been reports of heart attacks, strokes, disturbed heart rhythms, and other cardiovascular problems linked with use of pseudoephedrine.

What should you not mix with Sudafed?

Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, metaxalone, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this medication.

Does Sudafed contain alcohol?

This non-drowsy, grape-flavored liquid cold symptom relief medicine contains pseudoephedrine HCl and is alcohol- and sugar-free.

How long until Sudafed is out of your system?

The half-life of pseudoephedrine is between 5 and 8 hours, though the more acidic the urine, the lower the half-life. Pseudoephedrine can be illegally used to manufacture methamphetamine, which has become a national epidemic.

Does Sudafed raise BP?

Cough and Cold Medications Decongestants can make blood pressure worse in two ways: Decongestants may make your blood pressure and heart rate rise. Decongestants may prevent your blood pressure medication from working properly. Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) is a specific decongestant that can increase blood pressure.

What happens if you take Sudafed for too long?

Over-the-Counter Nasal Sprays and Oral Decongestants “If you take it too long, it can actually make your congestion worse,” Marciniak says. Taking decongestants containing pseudoephedrine by mouth long term can lead to other problems, including seizures, hallucinations, headaches, and insomnia.

Is it bad to take Sudafed every day?

Is it safe to take for a long time? Decongestants should only be used for a short time, usually less than 10 days. If you take them for longer, you’re more likely to get side effects. Only take pseudoephedrine for longer than 10 days if a doctor has said it’s OK.

Is Sudafed OK with high blood pressure?

To keep your blood pressure in check, avoid over-the-counter decongestants and multisymptom cold remedies that contain decongestants — such as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, naphazoline and oxymetazoline. Also, check the label for high sodium content, which can also raise blood pressure.

Is it safe to mix Sudafed and alcohol?

Theoretically, it may be okay if you’re drinking in moderation because there aren’t specific interaction warnings between the two, but you should never mix the two without speaking to your pharmacist or physician. Mixing alcohol and Sudafed can cause the symptoms of either to become more obvious, and it can also alter your thinking and perception.

What are the most common side effects of Sudafed?

Some of the most commonly occurring side effects include restlessness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and weakness. Some of the more serious side effects of Sudafed can include a rapid heart rate, breathing problems, hallucinations, psychosis, heart problems and even heart attack or stroke, although of course, these side effects are rare.

Is Sudafed made of pseudoephedrine?

There is also something called Sudafed PE which has the active ingredient phenylephrine instead of pseudoephedrine. Also available is Sudafed Non-Drowsy, which is made of pseudoephedrine-guaifenesin. As with most medicines, Sudafed does have potential side effects.

Can you mix alcohol and pseudoephedrine?

If you’re still wondering if you can mix alcohol and pseudoephedrine, the answer is yes – but only a small amount. If you’re taking medicine like Sudafed, you should consult with your doctor before drinking alcohol just to be on the safe side. They will want to see what other medications you’re on and discuss your options with you.