As the name suggests, Mucinex Dm is a product that helps you deal with your troubles when your nose begins to run. It’s meant to be used as a nighttime solution to clear out your sinuses and get you some relief. But does it make you sleepy? Many people who take this medication report feeling groggy or drowsy after using it. As with any over-the-counter medication, there are certain side effects that may occur when using Mucinex DM. This is especially true if it’s not taken in accordance with the directions given on the label by your pharmacist or doctor. If you begin to feel sleepy after taking this medication, read on to learn why that’s happening and what you can do about it to prevent further issues.
Does Mucinex Dm Make You Sleepy?
Mucinex DM is an over-the-counter medication that is used to relieve symptoms of common cold and upper respiratory tract infections. The active ingredients in Mucinex DM are guaifenesin, an expectorant, and dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant. These ingredients work together to help thin and loosen mucus in the lungs, making it easier to cough up. Mucinex DM also acts as a mild sedative, which can cause drowsiness. However, this side effect is not experienced by everyone who takes the medication.
What Causes The Drowsy Feeling?
Difficulty Sleeping
For some people, the very act of using a medication to help them sleep is enough to make them feel tired. This is especially true if you’ve been up for hours on end trying to deal with your sinus issues. If you’re using Mucinex Dm, it’s very likely that you’re not sleeping well because your nose is so congested. Once you begin using this product, it can take as little as an hour or as much as three or four hours before you start feeling drowsy and ready to go to sleep. That makes sense because the medication slowly starts draining the fluid from your sinuses, which then allows your nasal passages to open up and allow air through more easily. When that happens, it can be easier for you to breathe and fall asleep.
Allergy Medication
The active ingredient in Mucinex DM is dextromethorphan HBr which belongs to a group of medications called decongestants which help open up nasal passages by constricting blood vessels in the nose, thereby reducing congestion and swelling in the mucous membranes of your sinuses. But there are other medications that belong in this same category including Benadryl and Sudafed PE Sinus & Allergy tablets, among others. If you take these medications at night when trying to go to sleep, they may cause drowsiness or fatigue because they work by reducing inflammation in your nasal passages.
Other Medications
Mucinex DM may also cause you to feel drowsy if you’re taking certain other medications at the same time. This is especially true if you’re using other medications that are decongestants, sedatives, or pain relievers. If you’re taking any medication that falls into one of these categories, then it’s a good idea to check with your pharmacist or doctor before using Mucinex Dm because it may be that another medication is causing the drowsiness and not the Mucinex itself.
The Amount You Take
You may notice that if you take too much Mucinex Dm, then it can make you feel drowsy, especially if this is your first time taking this medication and your body isn’t used to it yet. For some people, even one pill can cause them to feel groggy and tired so they take two pills instead of just one in order to get relief from their congestion more quickly. This can lead them to overdose on the medication which causes their blood pressure to drop dramatically and makes them feel extremely sleepy or even pass out for a short period of time. If this happens, it’s important for you not to panic but rather sit up slowly until your head clears and then go lie back down again so that your body has an opportunity to recover from the sudden drop in blood pressure.
Alcohol
If you drink alcohol at the same time that you take Mucinex Dm, then it will also make you feel drowsy and cause you to have difficulty falling asleep. This can happen even if you just drink a little bit of alcohol but it’s important for you to know that if you drink enough alcohol, then it can cause your body to metabolize Mucinex DM more slowly which means that the medication will stay in your system longer than expected. If this happens, then it may be more likely for you to experience drowsiness and fatigue because the medication is still in your bloodstream when you go to bed.
Is Mucinex Dm Safe To Take Before Bed?
- It May Make You Sleepy Some people who take Mucinex Dm report feeling drowsy after taking it. That’s because it contains dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant that can cause drowsiness. This is something you should be aware of before taking the drug, especially if you have to drive or do something else that requires your full attention. If you do begin to feel drowsy after taking this product, don’t drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until the feeling passes.
- It Could Interfere With Other Medications If you’re taking any other medications, never take Mucinex DM unless your doctor tells you to. The combination of two or more drugs can lead to serious side effects, including drowsiness and fatigue. If you have questions about how this medication might interact with any other medications you may be taking, speak with your pharmacist or doctor before using it for the first time.
- You May Have an Allergy to It If you know that Mucinex Dm has made you sleepy in the past but want to try using it again for another round of congestion relief, there may be an underlying allergy causing the side effect instead of a reaction to the medication itself. Check with a medical professional if this is the case so they can help determine what’s causing your symptoms and rule out any potential allergens in your environment that could be making things worse.
- It Could Be a Side Effect of Other Medications You’re Taking If you’re taking any other medications, this may be the reason you feel groggy after taking Mucinex DM. Sometimes medications that work well on their own can cause side effects when combined with other drugs in your system. If you’ve been taking any prescription or non-prescription medication recently, ask your doctor if there are any issues with combining it with Mucinex DM to see if there’s a better solution for your symptoms.
Drowsiness After Taking Mucinex Dm
- Mucinex DM may not be the right medication for you. If you take Mucinex DM and have trouble falling asleep, it’s possible that it’s not the right medication for you. You may need a different type of medication to help you fall asleep at night or combat your symptoms.
- 2. You may be taking too much Mucinex DM. The directions on the bottle say that a maximum of 1 dose should be taken every 12 hours, but many people find that they need more than one dose per day to combat their symptoms. If this is the case, then you’re probably taking more than the recommended dosage, which could lead to drowsiness and other side effects.
- It’s possible that your body is not used to taking Mucinex DM every day as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. This could also lead to drowsiness and other side effects if you take too much of it at once.
- You might have an allergy or sensitivity to some ingredients in Mucinex DM such as dextromethorphan (DXM), dextropropoxyphene (DPX), or guaifenesin (G). These ingredients are common in over-the-counter cold remedies and many cough syrups, but they can cause allergic reactions in some people who use them regularly without experiencing any negative side effects beforehand. If this is the case with you, it’s best to talk to your doctor and pharmacist about alternatives to Mucinex DM that are free of these ingredients.
- You might be taking Mucinex DM at the wrong time of day. If you take this medication at bedtime, but can’t fall asleep, then it’s possible that you’re taking it too late in the evening or too early in the morning. If this is the case, then you should try taking it earlier or later in the day so that you can get a better night’s sleep.
Conclusion
Overall, the drowsiness side effects of Mucinex DM can be prevented if you follow the directions printed on the label. If you find that you’re still experiencing drowsiness, it’s best to talk to a doctor about alternatives. If you take Mucinex DM as directed, you may find that it helps to clear up your sinuses and lets you get a better night’s sleep. Although it’s important to keep in mind that you can still experience certain side effects while taking this medication. Because some people experience drowsiness after taking Mucinex DM, it’s best to wait at least four hours after taking it before going to bed. You may also want to consider taking it during the day if you become too groggy.
