SOCIAL media can be a great place to connect with friends and family as well as learning about the newest trends and talking points. But doctors have warned people to steer clear of the latest fad – as it poses a danger to your health. The so-called ‘sleepy chicken’ trend sees users concocting their very […]
SOCIAL media can be a great place to connect with friends and family as well as learning about the newest trends and talking points.
But doctors have warned people to steer clear of the latest fad – as it poses a danger to your health.
The so-called ‘sleepy chicken’ trend sees users concocting their very own chicken dish, braised in a cold and flu remedy.
Users refers to the recipe as ‘Nyquil chicken’ or ‘sleepy chicken’, and the UK equivalent to Nyquil would be a product like Night Nurse.
Doctors have warned that you should not be braising your chicken – or anything for that matter in a cold and flu remedy product.
Several videos on TikTok show people making the ‘dish’, with some using close to half a bottle of the medicine for their meat.
While most people usually take medicines or food with supplements, this trend sees the food being soaked in the solution.
Physician and assistant clinical professor of family medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr Aaron Hartman explained why the trend is dangerous.
“When you cook cough medicine like NyQuil, you boil off the water and alcohol in it, leaving the chicken saturated with a super concentrated amount of drugs in the meat.
“If you ate one of those cutlets completely cooked, it’d be as if you’re actually consuming a quarter to half a bottle of NyQuil”, he told MIC.com.
Some of the videos online show people boiling raw chicken in the medicine for just five minutes before serving it ‘ready to eat’.
Dr Hartman explained that this could actually lead to food poisoning, which will likely lead to sickness and diarrhoea.
He also explained that another big risk when cooking your chicken in medicine, is the fact that you are breathing the medicine in, as well as eating it.
“Inhaled, these medicines also enter your bloodstream really quickly and are not going past your liver for detoxification. The effects can be quite bad depending on how much you inhale”, he added.
Medicine likes NyQuil contain a range of ingredients that are put together in order to help you sleep properly while alleviating your cold symptoms.
The medicine contains acetaminophen as well as antihistamines and decongestants.
It also contains dextromethorphan, which is a cough suppressant which can affect parts of the brain, which in turn helps reduce your urge to cough.
Dextromethorphan has previously been used, not-as-directed by recreational drug users.
It can cause both physical and psychological effects and in extreme cases can result in liver failure.
When you buy over-the-counter medicines you should always read the leaflet which comes with it and if you have any concerns or questions about the medication you should ask a pharmacist or medical professional.
While there isn’t a cure for the common cold, there are some treatments that can help.
Symptoms come on gradually and can include a blocked or runny nose, sore throat, headaches, muscle aches, coughs, sneezing.
You can also have a raised temperature, pressure in your ears and face as well as a loss of taste and smell.
First off, doctors recommend you get rest and sleep and keep warm while drinking lots of water.
Gargling salt water can help with a sore throats.
At the chemist or supermarket you can buy decongestant sprays or tablets.
Painkiller like paracetamol and ibuprofen help reduce fever and aches.
The Sun has contacted the manufactures of NyQuil and Night Nurse.
