What Are Dayquil And Nyquil
Dayquil is made up of acetaminophen, a pain reliever and fever reducer dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant and phenylephrine, a decongestant.
Nyquil also contains acetaminophen and dextromethorphan, but instead of phenylephrine, it contains doxylamine, an antihistamine and sleep aid.
“Dayquil and Nyquil are both products that help alleviate cold and flu symptoms, such as runny nose, coughing, sore throat, fever, headache, and muscle aches,” explains Sara Huberman Carbone, MD, a pediatrician at One Medical in California. “The Daytime version, Dayquil, does not contain ingredients that are known to help with sleep, where Nyquil does.”
The Problem With Too Much Acetaminophen
Nevertheless, you may not realize that acetaminophen is an active ingredient in a combination medication unless you read the label carefully. For example, NyQuil, Theraflu, and Percocet all contain acetaminophen. Unfortunately, using multiple products that contain acetaminophen can result in accidental misuse and overuse, as well as potential liver damage.
Acetaminophen is primarily processed in the liver. The liver breaks down most of the acetaminophen in a normal dose and eliminates it in the urine. But a small portion of the drug is converted to a byproduct that is toxic to the liver cells. If you take too much acetaminophen all at once or over a period of several days this toxic breakdown product can build up and cause damage to the liver.
In addition, there is some evidence that people with dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea, persistent fevers, or underlying liver problems may be at slightly increased risk of liver damage when taking normally safe doses of acetaminophen. The resulting symptoms of right-sided abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and general malaise may be mistaken for a worsening flu-like illness instead of being recognized as warning signs of liver damage.
What Side Effects Are Possible With This Medication
Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.
The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.
Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.
- abdominal pain
- nervousness
- vomiting
Although most of the side effects listed below don’t happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
- blurred vision or other eye symptoms
- dizziness
- fluid retention
- ringing in the ears
- signs of clotting problems
- skin rash
Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:
- signs of bleeding in the stomach
- symptoms of a severe allergic reaction
Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.
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Stay Home Except To Get Medical Care
- Avoid doing anything outside your home except getting medical care.
- Dont go to work, school, or other public areas.
- Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing services, and taxis.
When To Contact Your Healthcare Provider
- You have trouble breathing when youre resting.
- You have trouble breathing when you walk short distances. An example of a short distance is walking from one room to another, about 25 feet .
- Youre getting chemotherapy and have a new fever of 100.4 °F or higher.
- You have a fever of 102 °F or higher that lasts for 24 hours and doesnt get better after you take acetaminophen.
- You have blood in your sputum.
- You have chest pain.
- You have a very bad headache.
- You have questions or concerns.
For more information about what to do if you or a person in your home has COVID-19, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick. For the latest information about how MSK is prepared for COVID-19, visit www.mskcc.org/coronavirus
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Cold And Flu Prevention Strategies
To prevent the flu, Health Canada encourages all Canadians over six months of age to be vaccinated the vaccine takes two weeks to become active and lasts for six months. Ideally, you should get one at the beginning of flu season which in Canada runs from November through April but its still effective even if you get it at a later date. Pregnant women, seniors, children and people with chronic health conditions have a higher risk of complications from the flu, so it is especially important that they get vaccinated. According to Campbell-Scherer, its also possible to have some immunity if the strain of cold or flu virus going around is a variation on one youve either contracted or been immunized for before.
Otherwise, the best way to avoid getting either the flu or a cold is to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time, says , a naturopathic doctor in Victoria and a director at the British Columbia Naturopathic Association. If soap and water arent available, a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is the next best thing. Supplementing with vitamin D may also help.
But if youre an adult who is normally in good health and just feeling sick, stay at home in bed, says Campbell-Scherer. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and manage your symptoms with one of these over-the-counter remedies.
Before Taking This Medicine
Ibuprofen can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke, even if you don’t have any risk factors. Do not use this medicine just before or after heart bypass surgery .
Ibuprofen may also cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are using Advil Cold & Sinus, especially in older adults.
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to ibuprofen or pseudoephedrine, or if you have ever had an asthma attack or severe allergic reaction after taking aspirin or an NSAID.
Do not use Advil Cold & Sinus if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and others.
Do not give ibuprofen to a child younger than 12 years old.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if this medicine is safe to use if you have ever had:
-
enlarged prostate, urination problems.
If you are pregnant, you should not take Advil Cold & Sinus unless your doctor tells you to. Taking an NSAID during the last 20 weeks of pregnancy can cause serious heart or kidney problems in the unborn baby and possible complications with your pregnancy.
Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
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Advil Cold & Sinus Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction or a severe skin reaction .
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of a heart attack or stroke: chest pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, leg swelling, feeling short of breath.
Stop using Advil Cold & Sinus and call your doctor at once if you have:
-
confusion, severe drowsiness, ringing in your ears, severe dizziness, feeling like you might pass out
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fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
-
easy bruising or bleeding
-
a skin rash, no matter how mild
-
signs of stomach bleeding–bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
-
liver problems–loss of appetite, stomach pain , tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice
-
kidney problems–little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath or
-
nerve problems–fever, headache, neck stiffness, chills, increased sensitivity to light, seizure .
Common side effects may include:
When Can I Resume Taking Dayquil Or Nyquil
Both Dayquil and Nyquil may reduce milk supply so it is best to wait until your baby has weaned to take either medication again. Although the antihistamine in Nyquil has somewhat less potential to reduce milk supply, it can also cause drowsiness and irritability in your infant, so it is still better to wait until after weaning to take this medication.
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Cold Medicine And Antidepressants
There are several classes of drugs that are used to treat psychiatric conditions, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, tranquilizers, and anticonvulsants.
Many medications have the potential to interact poorly with the common active ingredients in OTC cold medications.
Cold and flu remedies that are available over-the-counter often contain ingredients like pseudoephedrine , diphenhydramine , dextromethorphan , or guaifenesin .
These substances can interact with prescription medications used to treat depression and other mental health conditions and have the potential to be serious.
The following are just a few common examples of medications that can interact with over-the-counter cold remedies. It is not an exhaustive list.
If you are taking any prescription medication, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take any over-the-counter medication or supplement.
What Should I Discuss With My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Ibuprofen And Pseudoephedrine
Ibuprofen can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke, especially if you use it long term or take high doses, or if you have heart disease. Even people without heart disease or risk factors could have a stroke or heart attack while taking this medicine.
Do not use this medicine just before or after heart bypass surgery .
Ibuprofen may also cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are using ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine, especially in older adults.
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to ibuprofen or pseudoephedrine, or if you have ever had an asthma attack or severe allergic reaction after taking aspirin or an NSAID.
Do not use ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
Do not give ibuprofen to a child younger than 12 years old.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have:
- enlarged prostate, urination problems.
Taking ibuprofen during the last 3 months of pregnancy may harm the unborn baby. Do not use ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine without a doctor’s advice if you are pregnant.
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What Should I Do If I Forget A Dose
This medication is usually taken as needed. If your doctor has told you to take phenylephrine regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
How To Avoid Spreading Covid
COVID-19 can easily be passed from one person to another. It can spread in droplets in the air or left on surfaces after a sick person coughs or sneezes. It can also spread if someone touches a sick person and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Follow the instructions in this section to help keep COVID-19 from spreading to people in your home and community.
- If you have COVID-19 symptoms and are waiting for your test results, follow these instructions until:
- You get your test results and theyre negative. If you had a rapid test and get a negative result, get a PCR test to check your results. Keep following these instructions until you get a negative PCR test result.
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How Does This Medication Work What Will It Do For Me
This product is a combination of 2 medications: ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that reduces pain, fever, and inflammation by reducing a substance in the body that leads to inflammation and pain. Pseudoephedrine is a that relieves the symptoms of nasal and sinus congestion by reducing swelling in nasal passages and sinuses.
This medication is used to relieve nasal congestion, sinus congestion, sinus pain, fever, headache, sore throat, and body aches and pains that are associated with the common cold, sinusitis, or the flu.
Your doctor or pharmacist may have suggested this medication for conditions other than the ones listed in this drug information article. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor or pharmacist has not recommended it.
Search Ingredients On Global Dro
If an exact match for an over-the-counter medication isnt listed on Global DRO, the best thing to do is find the Drug Facts panel on the medication and search for each Active ingredient. Users do not have to search for the inactive ingredients, which are usually water, glycerol, colors, or flavorings. By searching for each active ingredient, you will be better able to get the correct anti-doping status of your medication.
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Search Products On Global Dro
When choosing a cold, flu, or allergy product, make sure to search for them onGlobal DRO. However, please keep in mind that not all brands of cold and flu products are added to Global DRO.
This is because there are so many new products every year, sometimes with the same name but different ingredients, making it very difficult to ensure that an athlete will select the exact version they are using from the Global DRO search results. Similarly, many products made by different companies have identical names but different ingredients. For example, there are multiple companies that sell a product called Severe Cold and Cough but with different ingredients. Athletes have to be very careful to select the brand that exactly matches their product.
What Other Information Should I Know
Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about phenylephrine.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
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Antipsychotics Tranquilizers And Sedatives
Some OTC cold remedies have ingredients that can make you feel sleepy. If you have a bad cough that’s been keeping you awake at night, that can be helpful. However, certain antipsychotics and tranquilizers also have sedative effects. If you take these drugs with cough medicine, some decongestants, or an antihistamine, the sedating effect can be intensified.
What Other Drugs Could Interact With This Medication
There may be an interaction between ibuprofen – pseudoephedrine and any of the following:
- acetazolamide
- alpha-blockers
- aminoglycoside antibiotics
- amphetamines
- angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
- angiotensin receptor blockers
- anticoagulants
- antipsychotics
- atomoxetine
- “azole” antifungals
- beta-adrenergic blockers
- bimatoprost
- calcium channel blockers
- cannabis
- corticosteroids
- cyclosporine
- deferasirox
- diabetes medications
- digoxin
- diuretics
- dorzolamide
- ergot alkaloids
- fast-acting bronchodilators
- fentanyl
- glucosamine
- herbs that may increase the risk of bleeding
- imatinib
- long-acting bronchodilators
- lumacaftor and ivacaftor
- MAO inhibitors
- methotrexate
- other NSAIDs
- pemetrexed
- quinolone antibiotics
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
- sodium phosphates
- theophyllines
- thyroid replacements
- ticagrelor
- topiramate
- tricyclic antidepressants
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
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What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Ibuprofen And Pseudoephedrine
Ibuprofen can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke, even if you don’t have any risk factors. Do not use this medicine just before or after heart bypass surgery .
Ibuprofen may also cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. These conditions can occur without warning while you are using ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine, especially in older adults.
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to ibuprofen or pseudoephedrine, or if you have ever had an asthma attack or severe allergic reaction after taking aspirin or an NSAID.
Do not use ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and others.
Do not give ibuprofen to a child younger than 12 years old.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if this medicine is safe to use if you have ever had:
- heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or if you smoke
- a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot
- stomach ulcers or bleeding