Is It Safe To Take Nyquil As A Sleep Aid
There are no studies examining the safety and effectiveness of Nyquil as a sleep aid.
Some studies have examined the use of antihistamines to help with sleep. According to a 2012 literature review, some first-generation antihistamines may be helpful in treating short-term insomnia.
However, theres relatively little research on doxylamine succinate, the antihistamine that causes drowsiness in Nyquil. The authors of a concluded that there werent enough quality studies to determine its safety or effectiveness as a sleep aid.
In addition, doxylamine may cause undesirable side effects, including daytime drowsiness. Other side effects can include:
- blurred vision
- mouth, nose, and throat dryness
- nausea
- respiratory congestion
- restlessness
You can develop tolerance to doxylamine quite quickly, which means that if you take it regularly, its sedative effects wont be as strong.
Given that Nyquil contains additional ingredients that can cause side effects, its safer to use a less risky nonprescription sleep aid for temporary relief from insomnia.
To take Nyquil safely, follow the instructions on the label. You should always speak with your doctor before taking Nyquil if you:
- have a medical condition
- are over the age of 75
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
Since Nyquil causes drowsiness, you shouldnt combine it with other sleep aids, like melatonin for instance. This could cause potentially risky sedative effects, such as shallow breathing.
What Are The Side Effects Of Tylenol Cold + Flu Multi
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives difficult breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. If you have this type of reaction, you should never again take any medicine that contains acetaminophen.
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:
- any new or worsening symptoms
- severe drowsiness
- feeling restless or excited or
- sleep problems .
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What Should I Avoid While Taking This Medicine
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen or APAP.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while you are taking acetaminophen, and can increase certain side effects.
This medication may cause blurred vision and may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
You May Like: Best Time Of Day To Get A Flu Shot
Cold And Flu Warning: The Dangers Of Too Much Acetaminophen
- By Susan Farrell, MD, Contributing Editor
Cold and flu season is here.
Peruse the aisles of a local pharmacy or grocery store and you will find more than 30 over-the-counter medications available to treat the symptoms of fever, headache, sore throat, and achy muscles. Many of these multi-symptom products contain acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. This means cold and flu sufferers who are using multiple combination cough and cold remedies may inadvertently be taking more acetaminophen than they intend and putting themselves at risk for a serious complication: acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity.
Acetaminophen is the most commonly available pain-relieving and fever-reducing medication. It is an ingredient in more than 600 over-the-counter and prescription medications, and it has a remarkable safety profile: the dose at which potential toxicity occurs is dramatically higher than the amount that most adults need to effectively treat their symptoms . Moreover, acetaminophen does not cause the unwanted effects that are associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or prescription opioids. As a result, acetaminophen is known as a very safe and effective over-the-counter medication for the treatment of pain and fever, and is taken by millions of people.
What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About This Medicine
Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.
Do not take more of this medication than is recommended. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death. Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice .
In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.
Don’t Miss: Theraflu Severe Cold And Flu Nighttime
Why Does Cold Medicine Make Me Drowsy
There are two main reasons cold medicines might make you drowsy. One is that one or more ingredients in the medicine may cause drowsiness. The second reason is that an ingredient in the cold medicine could be interacting with another medicine you take, which could cause drowsiness. First, lets look at ingredients typically found in cold medicines.
Before You Buy Tylenol Cold Multi
Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime is available to treat multiple symptoms of the cold and flu. It does contain a decongestant, unlike its competitor, NyQuil. It may be the right medication to treat the symptoms you are suffering from and help you get a good night’s sleep.
Also Check: Target Cvs Minute Clinic Flu Shot
Youre Spending Too Much Money On Brand Names
According to a 2014 study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, pharmacy customers spend an extra $44 billion a year on brand-name products, including OTC medications and other health items. Healthcare professionals, on the other hand, are more inclined to buy generics, as they are able to make sense of the ingredients on drug labels and know what the best choice is for their symptoms.
But its hard for the average American to tell apart names like pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine or dextromethorphan and doxylamine, so they stick to household names and brands they see on TV. It might be worth asking your provider or pharmacist for a list of ingredients to look for before you browse medications next time you have a cold or the flu.
Tylenol Cold + Flu Severe Day/night Liquid Medicine 8 Fl Oz
SKUaccount icon
Item No. 0385029
Temporarily relieve multiple cold and flu symptoms both day and night with Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Severe Liquid Medicine Value Pack. This two-pack contains one bottle of liquid non-drowsy daytime relief and one bottle of liquid nighttime relief. The daytime flu relief for adults features a powerful non-drowsy formula to keep you going through waking hours with a warming honey lemon flavor. The nighttime liquid medicine relieves symptoms to help you sleep and comes in a soothing berry flavor. The liquid medicines both provide temporary relief of cold & flu symptoms including fever, cough, nasal and chest congestion, headache, body aches and sore throat. They also aid in loosening mucus & thinning bronchial secretions for more productive coughs. Both of these effective cold relievers are formulated with acetaminophen, phenylephrine HCl, guaifenesin, and dextromethorphan HBr cough suppressant. The nighttime formula also contains doxylamine succinate, an antihistamine.
| No |
Also Check: Will Getting Two Flu Shots Hurt You
Also Check: Does Advil Cold And Flu Make You Drowsy
How Should This Medicine Be Used
Dextromethorphan comes as a liquid-filled capsule, a chewable tablet, a dissolving strip, a solution , an extended-release suspension , and a lozenge to take by mouth. It is usually taken every 4 to 12 hours as needed. Follow the directions on the package or prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
Dextromethorphan should only be used according to the label or package directions. Do not take more than the recommended amount of dextromethorphan in a 24-hour period. Refer to the package or prescription label to determine the amount contained in each dose. Taking dextromethorphan in large amounts can cause serious side effects or death.
Dextromethorphan comes alone and in combination with antihistamines, cough suppressants, and decongestants. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on which product is best for your symptoms. Check nonprescription cough and cold product labels carefully before using 2 or more products at the same time. These products may contain the same active ingredient and taking them together could cause you to receive an overdose. This is especially important if you will be giving cough and cold medications to a child.
If you are giving dextromethorphan or a combination product that contains dextromethorphan to a child, read the package label carefully to be sure that it is the right product for a child of that age. Do not give dextromethorphan products that are made for adults to children.
Theraflu: No Gluten Ingredients
Theraflu makes syrups, caplets, and powders in a variety of different cold- and flu-fighting formulations. Products include:
- Theraflu ExpressMax Daytime Severe Cough and Cold caplets, powder, and syrup
- Theraflu ExpressMax Flu, Cold & Sore Throat Syrup
- Theraflu ExpressMax Nighttime Severe Cold & Cough syrup and powder
- Theraflu ExpressMax Severe Cold and Flu caplets, powder, and liquid
According to the manufacturer: “Following a review of the product formulations and detailed supplier documentation, we can confirm that Theraflu products* do not contain gluten as a directly added ingredient. However, GSKCH does not test the final products for the presence of gluten, and therefore cannot rule out the presence of trace amounts as a result of third-party manufacturing processes.”
Gluten-free substitutes for Theraflu products include:
- Target Up & Up Daytime Cough and Flu liquid caps
- Walgreens Multi-Symptom Nighttime Cold & Flu Relief liquid
Don’t Miss: Target $5 Gift Card Flu Shot
What Other Drugs Will Affect Tylenol Cold & Flu Severe
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also using any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before taking acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
Can I Take This Cold Medication With That One
Michael Menna, DO, is a board-certified, active attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York.
From fever to nasal congestion, body aches to sore throat, colds can come with several bothersome symptoms. Many reach for over-the-counter medications to ease themand some reach for more than one, especially if their cold symptoms are varied or severe. Some cold medications can be taken at the same time without issue, but other combinations can pose safety concerns.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Also Check: Example Of Religious Exemption For Flu Vaccinations
What Are Some Other Side Effects Of Tylenol Nighttime Cold & Flu
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:
- Not able to sleep.
- Feeling sleepy.
These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
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.
Recommended Reading: Can Flu Shot Cause Ringing Ears
What Happens If I Overdose
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of acetaminophen can be fatal.
The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
More About Tylenol Cold Head Congestion Day And Night
1. âProduct Information. Coricidin .â Schering-Plough Healthcare Products, Memphis, TN.
2. âProduct Information. Chlortrimeton .â Schering-Plough, Liberty Corner, NJ.
3. âProduct Information. Ah-Chew D .â WE Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ramona, CA.
4. Schuller DE, Turkewitz D âAdverse effects of antihistamines.â Postgrad Med 79 : 75-86
5. Bantz EW, Dolen WK, Chadwick EW, Nelson HS âChronic chlorpheniramine therapy: subsensitivity, drug metabolism, and compliance.â Ann Allergy 59 : 341-6
6. Polles A, Griffith JL âDextromethorphan-induced mania.â Psychosomatics 37 : 71-4
7. Stubb S, Reitamo S âFixed-drug eruption due to dextromethorphan .â Arch Dermatol 126 : 970-1
Read Also: What Is A Flu Block
How Is This Medicine Best Taken
Use Tylenol Maximum Strength Flu Nighttime as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.
- Take with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.
What do I do if I miss a dose?
- If you take Tylenol Maximum Strength Flu Nighttime on a regular basis, take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
- If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
- Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
- Many times Tylenol Maximum Strength Flu Nighttime is taken on an as needed basis. Do not take more often than told by the doctor.
How To Take Tylenol Cold + Flu Multi
Use Tylenol Cold + Flu Multi-Action Day/Night Extra Strength exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. An acetaminophen overdose can damage your liver or cause death. Cold or cough medicine is only for short-term use until your symptoms clear up.
Always follow directions on the medicine label about giving cough or cold medicine to a child. Do not use the medicine only to make a child sleepy. Death can occur from the misuse of cough or cold medicines in very young children.
You must chew the chewable tablet before you swallow it.
Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device .
Dissolve one packet of the powder in at least 4 ounces of water. Stir this mixture and drink all of it right away
If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the surgeon or doctor if you have taken this medicine within the past few days.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow liquid medicine to freeze.
Since this medicine is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. Skip any missed dose if itâs almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.
Don’t Miss: Is It Safe To Get A Flu Shot Now
How Long Does Tylenol Cold And Flu Stay In Your System
Acetaminophen: Each Tylenol #3 tablet contains 300 milligrams of acetaminophen. For most people, this amount of Tylenol has a half-life in the blood of 1.25 to 3 hours. All of the drug will have passed out through the urine within 24 hours. Note that this could take longer in someone who has a poor liver function.
What Are Other Ways To Treat And Prevent The Flu
Antiviral prescription medicines and an annual flu vaccine are available for treating and preventing the flu.
Prescription anti-flu medicines include amantadine , rimantadine , zanamivir and oseltamivir . These drugs do not cure the flu, but they can make the symptoms milder and make you feel better more quickly. They are only effective when used in the first 48 hours of flu-like symptoms.
These drugs are not needed for healthy people who get the flu. They are usually reserved for people who are very sick with the flu or those who are at risk of complications from the flu, such as people with long-term chronic medical conditions or older age.
Flu vaccine . Although there is currently no vaccine against the common cold, there is a vaccine to prevent the flu. The vaccine is available by both shot and nasal spray. It works by exposing the immune system to the viruses. The body responds by building antibodies against the flu. The flu shot contains dead flu viruses. The nasal spray contains live, but weakened, flu viruses. The nasal spray is only approved for healthy children and adults two to 49 years old and who are not pregnant.
Recommended Reading: Cold And Flu Medicine While Breastfeeding