What do Dayquil and Nyquil products treat?
Most Dayquil and Nyquil products are used to help with different cold and flu symptoms. Several different products are available, and each contains one or more of the following ingredients to help your symptoms.
- Antihistamine (chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, or doxylamine) can improve symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, and cough. They may also help you sleep. They work by blocking histamine.
- Cough suppressant (dextromethorphan) works in your brain to reduce the urge to cough.
- Decongestant (phenylephrine) helps with symptoms such as a stuffy nose, sinus pressure, or congestion by narrowing the blood vessels in these areas.
- Expectorant (guiafenesin) helps decrease chest congestion by thinning and loosening mucus. This can help make your cough more productive, clear the mucus from your airways, and make it easier to breathe.
- Pain reliever/fever reducer (acetaminophen) seems to work in your brain in the temperature control center to reduce fever and by blocking pain signals to help symptoms such as sore throat, headache, or other aches and pains.
There are Dayquil and Nyquil products for adults and children as young as 6 years old.
What are the possible side effects of Dayquil and Nyquil products?
Because Dayquil and Nyquil products contain different active ingredients, review the ingredients in your specific product to understand which side effects you might experience.
Stop taking a Dayquil or Nyquil product and ask your health care provider if any of the following happen.
- Your pain or cough gets worse or lasts longer than seven days
- Your fever gets worse or lasts longer than three days
- Redness or swelling happens
- You have new symptoms
- Your cough comes back or occurs with rash or your headache does not seem to go away
Stop using the medicine if you develop a rash or hives. Get medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips, or throat.
What should I know before using Dayquil and Nyquil products?
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your health care provider before taking a Dayquil or Nyquil product.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Risk. Many Dayquil and Nyquil products have acetaminophen in them. It is also in many other over-the-counter (OTC) cold and pain medicines. Taking too much acetaminophen or drinking large amounts of alcohol (three or more drinks per day) can hurt your liver. Never take more than the recommended dose, limit the amount of alcohol you drink, and talk to your health care provider if you have liver problems or are not sure which medicines contain acetaminophen.
Antihistamine Risk. Antihistamines, such as chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, and doxylamine, can cause drowsiness. Do not drive or do things that need you to be alert until you know how it affects you. Avoid drinking alcohol or taking other antihistamines, sedatives, or tranquilizers while taking a Nyquil product with an antihistamine in it as it can increase drowsiness.
Drug Interaction Risk. You should not take a Dayquil or Nyquil product with a phenylephrine or dextromethorphan in it if you take or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the past two weeks. An MAOI is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease. Before taking a Dayquil or Nyquil product with phenylephrine or dextromethorphan in it, you should ask your health care provider if you take or have taken an MAOI.
Health Conditions Risks. If you have certain health conditions, you may need to check with your health care provider before taking certain DayQuil and Nyquil products. Follow product labels to check with your health care provider if any of the following apply to you.
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems
- Glaucoma
- Breathing problems or chronic cough from asthma, smoking, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema
- Trouble peeing due to an enlarged prostate
- You follow a low-sodium diet
- Cough with lots of phlegm (mucus)
Sore Throat Risk. If your sore throat is severe or lasts longer than two days or you also have a fever, headache, rash, nausea, or vomiting with it, you should contact your health care provider. Your health care provider may want to evaluate you to see what is going on.
There may be side effects, additional warnings, and interactions with other medicines that are not listed here. These may vary depending on the combination of ingredients in the specific Dayquil and Nyquil product you are using. Always check the label before taking any over-the-counter medicine. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your health conditions and other medicines to help determine which products are safe for you.
Choosing the right product for your symptoms
DayQuil products are for daytime symptoms and NyQuil products are for nighttime symptoms. They often come in day and night combination packs.
Daytime relief for adults (ages 12 and up)
| Primary Symptoms | Recommended Products (Active Ingredients) |
|---|---|
| Cough + Headache, Fever, Sore Throat, Aches, and Pains | Products with acetaminophen and dextromethorphan (e.g., DayQuil Elderberry Cold & Flu, DayQuil High Blood Pressure Cold & Flu) |
| Cough + Headache, Fever, Sore Throat, Aches, Pains + Stuffy Nose, Stuffy Head | Products with acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine (e.g., DayQuil Cold & Flu liquid or liquicaps) |
| Cough + Chest Congestion + Headache, Fever, Sore Throat, Aches, Pains + Stuffy Nose, Stuffy Head | Products with acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine (e.g., DayQuil Severe Cold & Flu, DayQuil VapoCool Severe) |
Nighttime relief for adults (ages 12 and up)
| Primary Symptoms | Recommended Products (Active Ingredients) |
|---|---|
| Cough + Headache, Fever, Sore Throat, Aches, Pains + Sneezing, Runny Nose | Products with acetaminophen, an antihistamine, and dextromethorphan (e.g., NyQuil Cold & Flu, NyQuil Elderberry Cold & Flu) |
| Cough + All Above + Stuffy Nose, Stuffy Head | Products with acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and phenylephrine (e.g., NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu, NyQuil VapoCool Severe) |
Daytime relief for kids (ages 6 and up)
| Primary Symptoms | Recommended Products (Active Ingredients) |
|---|---|
| Cough + Chest Congestion (Daytime) | Products with dextromethorphan and guaifenesin (e.g., DayQuil Kids Cold & Cough + Mucus) |
| Cough + Fever, Sore Throat, Aches (Daytime) | Products with acetaminophen and dextromethorphan (e.g., DayQuil Kids Cold & Cough + Fever) |
Nighttime relief for kids (ages 6 and up)
| Primary Symptoms | Recommended Products (Active Ingredients) |
|---|---|
| Cough + Runny Nose and Sneezing (Nighttime) | Products with diphenhydramine (e.g., NyQuil Kids Cold & Cough + Runny Nose) |