Can You Get Drunk On NyQuil? | HelloPharmacist

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Can You Get Drunk On NyQuil?

In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses whether or not Dramamine you can get drunk by taking NyQuil.

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Question

I always feel really tipsy after I take NyQuil. Am I getting drunk on it?

Asked by Hunter On Aug 07, 2022

Answered by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist Staff

Pharmacist's Answer Published Aug 07, 2022 Last updated Jan 21, 2026

Key points

• NyQuil contains 10% alcohol by volume.
• Recommended doses of NyQuil are unlikely to get you 'drunk' but could potentially cause alcohol-related effects, such as drowsiness.

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

• Alcohol by Volume: Beer, Wine, & Liquor, Alcohol.Org
• What Is A Standard Drink?, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• NyQuil Manufacturer Website, NyQuil

• Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
• 3 years ago
• 11101 views

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About the Pharmacist

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD

Dr. Brian has been practicing pharmacy for over 13 years and has wide-ranging experiences in many different areas of the profession. From retail, clinical, program development, and administrative responsibilities, he's your knowledgeable and go-to source for all your pharmacy and medication-related questions! Dr. Brian Staiger also has herbalist training and educational certificates in the field of medical ethnobotany. Feel free to send him an email at [email protected]! You can also connect with Dr. Brian Staiger on LinkedIn.

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