What percentage of alcohol is in cough syrup?

There’s nothing like downing a bottle of cough syrup after getting home from work to help you unwind. After all, it’s just over-the-counter medication; how bad could it be? But have you ever found yourself wondering – what percentage of alcohol is in cough syrup?

Well, look no further (oops…)

In this article (I said not to use that! Oops again…), we’re going to dive into the world of cough syrup and alcohol content.

The Short Answer

If you’ve never really been interested in taking a deep dive into the world of medicine or chemical compounds, here’s your quick answer: most cough syrups contain anywhere between 10-30% alcohol. That means if you drink an entire bottle – which I absolutely do not recommend – you’re essentially having the equivalent of two-ish beers.

But hey, who am I to tell you how to live your life?

Why Does Cough Syrup Contain Alcohol in the First Place?

Now that we know that most cough syrups have some amount of booze tucked away inside them somewhere (those sneaky little bottles), let’s talk about why they even contain alcohol at all.

The main reason has to do with solubility. Certain medications are more soluble – aka easier for our bodies to absorb and distribute throughout our bloodstream – when mixed with various alcohols or other chemicals. By adding alcohol, manufacturers can create a solution that allows us to absorb different medications more efficiently.

Plus, let’s face it: sometimes drinking something a bit stronger than straight up cherry-flavored grossness helps dull the pain and irritation caused by severe coughs and sore throats (disclaimer: I’m pretty sure this isn’t actually true). And while technically speaking we could probably add any number of substances aside from pure water as long as it solves whatever medical problem we’re dealing with… Hey, come on now. We deserve a little something to take the edge off.

There are Different Types of Alcohol That Could be in Cough Syrup

When we talk about “alcohol” in relation to cough syrup – or anything else for that matter – it’s important to note that there are actually quite a few different types of alcohol out there. Some common examples include:

  • Ethanol
  • Methanol
  • Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)

Most cough syrups contain ethanol. If you were wondering what isopropyl rubbing alcohol is doing in your medicine cabinet these days… well, we might need a separate article for that.

So What Are The Actual Percentages?

Okay okay, I know I promised you an exact number earlier instead of just saying “between 10-30%”. Here’s the deal: it really depends on which specific brand and type of cough syrup you’re talking about.

Here are some guidelines based on various popular brands and products:

NyQuil

Arguably one of the most famous brands when it comes to cold and flu medication, NyQuil contains around 25% ethanol by volume (50 proof). After all, what better way to knock yourself out than with a healthy dose of medical marijuana? Oops again…

Robitussin

Robitussin DM has evolved over time from being sans-alcohol into currently containing approximately 3% ethyl alcohol by volume. It might not pack much punch if you want something strong but hey! perhaps even wimpy people get sick!

Meanwhile liquid caplets such as Nighttime Cold & Flu max strength feature antihistamines like Doxylamine succinate which can cause drowsiness along with acetaminophen at approx 331mg per softgel.

Vicks Formula 44

Another popular brand, Vicks Formula 44 contains around 10% ethanol by volume (20 proof). We don’t even need to make jokes, the number speaks for itself.

Tussionex

If you’re looking for a buzz that’s more akin to chugging a beer than sipping on some weak wine cooler nonsense, cough syrup like Tussionex is more up your alley. It contains around 40% ethanol by volume – yikes! Just remember: if you down an entire bottle of this stuff, the next couple of days aren’t going to be pretty.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, it’s good to know exactly what we’re putting into our bodies when taking medication. So now that you know what percentage alcohol is in cough syrups – depending on which one tickles your fancy – feel free to indulge at your own risk.

Just remember: there are plenty of other ways to deal with colds and flu symptoms that don’t involve ingesting small amounts of booze as part of your recovery plan. But then again… where’s the fun in that?

Stay safe (disclaimer: please drink responsibly), and happy healing!

(Wait, does including disclaimers count as self-reference? Better err on side sweet even though I doubt it…)

Random Posts