# Cough Syrup with Alcohol and Acetaminophen

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-alcohol-and-acetaminophen/570262>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 5, 2011, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-alcohol-and-acetaminophen/570262 "2011-02-05T06:04:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jimromenator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@jimromenator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimromenator)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-alcohol-and-acetaminophen/570262/1 "2011-02-05T06:04:31Z")

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If mixing alcohol with acetaminophen is so bad, why is it so common for cough syrups to be 10% alcohol and also contain acetaminophen as an active ingredient?

Thanks,

Jim

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-alcohol-and-acetaminophen/570262/2 "2011-02-05T08:05:39Z")

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It isn’t bad, it just adds an unpredictable element to the already significant risk associated with acetaminophen. And we’re generally talking about **drinking** alcohol – a single drink contains more than ten times the 1 ml present in an adult dose of cough syrup.

ETA: Oh, and it’s in there as a solvent.

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**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-alcohol-and-acetaminophen/570262/3 "2011-02-05T15:20:13Z")

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Dosages are key in medicine. I doubt anybody would have concerns about drinking a tablespoon of wine with your Tylenol. Because (a) that much alcohol isn’t going to cause a problem, and (b) who drinks their wine by the tablespoon anyway?

[This](http://www.funnyhumor.com/pictures/189.php) is more what the doctors are concerned about …

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**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-alcohol-and-acetaminophen/570262/4 "2011-02-05T15:27:34Z")

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OK, now that the question has been answered, let me jump on my soap box:

Frankly, I don’t know why \*any \*cough medicine contains acetaminophen, and I think the practice should be banned. Acetaminophen isn’t a cough suppressant or an expectorant, it’s there so that they can sell these “all in one” cold remedies which are pretty dangerous. People can easily overdose on the acetaminophen by taking a couple of Tylenol for body aches and then a dose of “cough” medicine and then a dose of TheraFlu with acetaminophen in it…which really isn’t that outlandish a cold regimen.

They should make cold medicines single action, IMHO, and let people take what need for their symptoms, clearly labeled. Better to take three meds than three all-in-ones that can hurt you with their additive effects.