At Long Island Center for Recovery, we’ve had the pleasure of helping a tremendous amount of individuals get through their battle with alcohol addiction and on the right track to a life of sobriety. It’s such an accomplishment for those individuals and they are almost always eager and excited to celebrate their new found life and genuine success, but all the same, many become justifiably concerned with falling back into those familiar habits. They try their best to remove themselves from a world of alcohol which leads to questions, such as what actually contains alcohol, and should can I have it? In this article we will explore the commonly asked question, “Does Nyquil have alcohol in it?” and if so, is it dangerous for an individual who was formerly addicted to alcohol.
NyQuil is a Vicks over-the-counter (OTC) medicine product that treats nighttime symptoms of cold and flu. Originating in 1966, Vicks and Nyquil were the first multi-symptom cough and cold syrup to be formulated. Starting as a single standalone product, NyQuil now comes in several variations from syrups, pills, daytime (DayQuil), nighttime, and kid products sold direct to consumer throughout the country.
Due to the variety of NyQuil products, there can be varying effects and efficacy results, which may make it difficult for individuals with the question, does NyQuil have alcohol in it? With that said, below is a list of example NyQuil products that contain alcohol as well as those that don’t.
The following NyQuil products DO contain alcohol and are estimated to contain up to 10% alcohol:
The following NyQuil products DO NOT contain alcohol:
There are many NyQuil brand products available at the pharmacy. Not all Vicks NyQuil products contain alcohol, so check the label if you are trying to avoid alcohol. Speak to your pharmacist to determine which product may be best for you or your child and always follow the directions on the package labeling before use.
This is also NOT all the information you need to know about NyQuil for safe and effective use and does NOT take the place of the directions on the label. Review the full product information, and discuss any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
One of the most important things to remember about recovery, it’s not one size fits all, and no journey is exactly the same. If you feel you are in a good place with your recovery, have spoken with your health care providers and pharmacists, and feel any of the NyQuil products that contain alcohol will better treat your current condition, then after all those points, you are the best judge for what to do next. As stated in a prior article on the effects of non-alcoholic beer, while this is a great way to curb cravings for alcohol, many are unaware that non-alcoholic is not the same as alcohol free. Despite this minor detail, switching to this less addictive option can be a great move for many individuals. Don’t be too hard on yourself when it comes to NyQuil and other helpful medicines. Just make sure to stay the course, reach out to those who support you, keep yourself moving in a positive direction, and if required, at least you now know there are also alcoholic-free options of NyQuil that may be effective.
We hope you now have a better understanding of whether or not NyQuil products contain alcohol, and some options if you are strictly avoiding alcohol in you or your loved ones lives. If you or a loved one needs any additional assistance with addiction treatment services for an addiction to alcohol or any other addictive substances, please reach out to Long Island Center for Recovery at 1-800-344-5427, and we’d be happy to assist you or your loved ones in any way possible.
References:
Drugs.com: Does NyQuil have alcohol in it?
https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/nyquil-alcohol-3565849/
Vicks. FAQs, NyQuil. Proctor and Gamble 2022
https://vicks.com/en-us/safety-and-faqs/faqs/vicks-nyquil-faq
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