Nyquil has many ingredients intended to help you fight off the common cold. The ingredients include cough suppressant, pain relievers, antihistamines and alcohol. And while the quantity of alcohol is very small and has a specific purpose, it is still good to know how much is included before you take it yourself, or give it to someone else.
Amount
NyQuil has 25 percent alcohol content. The alcohol is listed as an inactive ingredient and is in NyQuil Cold & Flu Relief Liquid, NyQuil Cold & Flu Symptom Relief Plus Vitamin C, and NyQuil Cough.
Purpose
The alcohol in NyQuil, according to Proctor and Gamble, is used to keep the three active ingredients in a solution. They are ingredients that normally would not mix, and so without the alcohol the liquid would not remain stable.
Side Effects
It is important to remember, according to David J. Hansen PhD., that "Laws against driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) do not distinguish between blood alcohol content (BAC) that comes from drinking alcoholic beverages, [or] from medications." The alcohol from NyQuil may not be enough to get you drunk, but if enough is taken, it can still register on a Breathalyzer.
Other Ingredients
NyQuil contains three active ingredients, acetaminophen, dextromethorphan HBr, and doxylamine succinate, all of which have potential side effects. Acetaminophen breaks down in the body as a "cannabinoid," the same compound found in marijuana; Dextromethorphan HBr which, if taken in too high a quantity can leads to distorted perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment--dissociation--from the environment and oneself." And doxylamine is a powerful sleep aide. It is important when taking NyQuil to keep in mind that alcohol is not the only ingredient that you need to watch out for.
Other Options
There are other NyQuil products that do not contain alcohol, these include: NyQuil Cold & Flu Relief LiquiCaps, NyQuil Sinus LiquiCaps, and Alcohol-Free NyQuil Cold & Flu Relief Liquid.
