Why should I avoid alcohol when taking cold and flu medication?!
Question:
Why should I avoid alcohol when taking cold and flu medication?
I have a cold (otherwise I wouldn't be asking this question). I've taken some cold and flu tablets to clear my sinuses so I can sleep. The tablets say they may make me drousy but they seem to have had the opposite affect. I CAN'T SLEEP! Sometimes a wee nip of brandy helps me get to sleep but the box says "avoid alcohol". I want to know why. Is it because it will make me more drowsy? (Bring it on!) Or because it will melt my liver? (Not so good me thinks)
Answers:
Anything used in excess is a liver-melter. If by "wee nip" you mean 1-2 oz, the brandy shouldn't be a big problem- I definitely wouldn't "nip" anything if you were taking medicine that DID make you tired though. The combination of two depressants wouldn't be a good thing.
You know, there are nighttime & daytime formulas though. They put the non-drowsy ingredients in the daytime, and the stuff that knocks you out in the nighttime.
Good luck, hope you feel better. And set up a humidifier or vaporizer by your bed if you have one.