If you wake up with a bad cold, you will take almost anything to get relief. The congestion, drainage, and cough can be oppressive, and you may feel as if the pressure will pound out of your head.
It is not uncommon for people suffering from these symptoms to go by a pharmacy and get some over-the-counter medication.
Many of the medicines that are readily available can work wonders to get rid of your symptoms temporarily.
Mucinex D is a popular remedy to help relieve a stuffy nose and ease swelling and pressure.
The active ingredient in most of these is pseudoephedrine, which can cause side effects when taken alongside coffee, which contains caffeine.
What Is Mucinex?
Mucinex is an over-the-counter medication that contains an expectorant. By thinning the mucus in your airway, it can become looser and easier for you to cough up.
It is effective in helping to ease the congestion that can come with the common cold or influenza.
Mucinex D is a more powerful version that contains pseudoephedrine. That narrows the blood vessels around your nose to help reduce the swelling.
It can help you to breathe easier and help the drainage to clear more quickly.
What Does Pseudoephedrine Do to Your Body?
Pseudoephedrine is a common drug that can have a lot of side effects. Most of those are rare, but some are experienced more frequently, such as nervousness, restlessness, and trouble sleeping.
Those symptoms can be exacerbated by consuming products containing caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that can increase your blood pressure and heart rate.
Since Mucinex D can cause these things, consuming a lot of coffee for some time is not a good idea after taking it.
Who Should Avoid Caffeine and Mucinex?
Even though drinking beverages with a lot of caffeine can cause an interaction with Mucinex in anyone, the effects multiply in some people.
Those who take medication to treat an abnormal heartbeat or high blood pressure can be especially susceptible.
You should avoid caffeine if you take medication that affects your heart or have a heart issue.
How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
The amount of caffeine in one cup of coffee is insufficient to cause many problems in someone who has taken Musinex D.
However, once you have started on that second or third cup, you could expect discomfort, and your hands can begin feeling shaky.
Coffee in large amounts can cause some of these issues in some people by itself, but mixing with pseudoephedrine can compound the problem.
Some beverages contain a lot more caffeine, which should be avoided. Some sodas and teas contain a lot of caffeine.
Energy drinks should always be avoided when taking medication. Some energy drinks mixed with Mucinex could cause a dangerously high or irregular heart rate.
Other Things To Avoid When Taking Mucinex
The only other food or beverage to avoid when taking Mucinex DM is alcohol. We drink alcohol to relax because it is a depressant and relaxes us.
You get tired or sleepy after a few beers or glasses of wine.
The effects that alcohol has on the body are similar to many of the things we take Mucinex to get rid of.
That means that taking Mucinex DM and then having a few drinks could cause an increase in itching, stuffiness, and congestion.
You may notice an increase in symptoms related to your allergies. Drinking alcohol can also weaken your immune system, which may make it easier to get sick.
Dehydration
It is essential to drink a full glass of water when taking Mucinex D. It can cause dehydration if you do not consciously stay hydrated.
Caffeine is a diuretic because it increases urine production, which can worsen dehydration symptoms and cause them to set in much quicker.
What Should Be Avoided With Mucinex?
When you are taking Mucinex, most food and drink are okay in moderation. However, other medications should be avoided.
These medications can have serious side effects with pseudoephedrine.
- Ergot derivatives treat migraines and Parkinson’s disease. Taking it with a medicine like Mucinex D can cause a rise in blood pressure.
- Antidepressants can lead to dangerously high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat when taken with pseudoephedrine.
- Never take another cold medicine, along with Mucinex can cause you to take too much pseudoephedrine. While it may seem like a good idea to double up on something that might make you feel better, you can suffer a rapid heart rate and even pass out if you overdose.
Other Medications With Caffeine
Food and drinks are not the only places you can get caffeine. You should understand that if you take a medication with a decongestant like Mucinex D, you should avoid taking anything with caffeine.
While a cup of coffee may not be too much, you can quickly get to a dangerous level by taking medications with caffeine.
Midol
Women use this pain reliever to ease the pain related to cramping and bloating during their menstrual cycle.
NoDoz
There are several medications marketed toward helping you stay awake when you haven’t been able to get enough sleep.
They work by dosing your body with caffeine, comparable to a cup of coffee with every pill.
Excedrin
This is a pain medication that targets migraine. It helps ease migraines by constricting blood vessels by using caffeine.
Energy Shots
Little bottles of carbonated liquid can be found on gas station counters and promise several hours of energy to help you get through your day. These drinks contain a concentrated amount of caffeine.
Conclusion
Drinking coffee when taking Mucinex should be kept to a minimum, if not avoided altogether.
The caffeine in the coffee and the active ingredient in Mucinex (pseudoephedrine) do not go well together, and there can be an increased risk of adverse side effects.
Always follow the directions on your medication package and speak with your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
