Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Long Does It Take to Work?What’s a Normal Adult Dosage?Is There Nyquil for Children?Side Effects & PrecautionsWhat to Do If You Took Too MuchAlternativesFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Long Does It Take to Work?
What’s a Normal Adult Dosage?
Is There Nyquil for Children?
Side Effects & Precautions
What to Do If You Took Too Much
Alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Nyquil is an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine used to treatsymptoms of flu, colds, and other respiratory illnesses, including the following:
It is available as syrup and as liquid caps.
Nyquil is typically combined withantihistamines, cough suppressants, and pain relief medications for maximum effectiveness.
It contains several active ingredients, including the following:
Each ingredient has a different duration of action (how long it lasts). How long Nyquil’s effects last varies from person to person, depending on personal factors and the formulation used.
This article will cover Nyquil, what it treats, its precautions, and alternative approaches.
Sleeping.Dmitriy Bilous / Getty Images
Dmitriy Bilous / Getty Images
How Long Does It Take for Nyquil to Work?
Most people will feel the benefits of Nyquil within 30 minutes of taking the medicine.
Nyquil typically provides relief between 4 and 6 hours.
It’s best to consult with a pharmacist if you are concerned about Nyquil. A pharmacist can give advice tailored to your particular health situation and the medications or supplements you take.
What’s a Normal Nyquil Dosage for Adults?
Your dosage instructions may be different based on your healthcare provider’s instructions. For personalized advice, it is best to consult your healthcare provider or read and adhere to the instructions on the package.
Avoid taking more than the recommended dose of Nyquil or multiple medications with similar ingredients, as this can lead to anoverdose. Take at most four doses of Nyquil in 24 hours.
Do not exceed 3,200 milligrams of ibuprofen in a day.In contrast, the maximum dosage of Tylenol (acetaminophen) for adults is 4,000 milligrams per day.It’s important to note that certain individuals (ex., those with liver issues) and children should take a lower dosage.
Do not exceed 3,200 milligrams of ibuprofen in a day.
In contrast, the maximum dosage of Tylenol (acetaminophen) for adults is 4,000 milligrams per day.
It’s important to note that certain individuals (ex., those with liver issues) and children should take a lower dosage.
Consult a healthcare provider or pediatrician first before giving Nyquil to children.
Side effects of Nyquil may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Alcohol: Drinkingalcoholwhile taking Nyquil may increase your risk for liver damage and make you feel drowsy.
Coordination: Nyquil can also impair coordination—do not drive or operate machinery while on this drug.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Nyquil may pose risks to the fetus pregnant people and the infants of breastfeeding people. Hence, if you are pregnant or nursing, speak to your healthcare provider before taking any over-the-counter (OTC) drug, including Nyquil.
People with certain medical issues should not use Nyquil. Let your healthcare provider know before taking Nyquil, especially if you have the following:
Nyquil may also interact with some medications like the following:
Does NyQuil Have Alcohol in It? Here’s Which Products Do
What to Do If You Took Too Much Nyquil
Signs of a Nyquil overdose may include the following:
If you experience severe symptoms after taking Nyquil, contact emergency services immediately or visit your nearest emergency department.Contact Poison Control Center’s helpline at 800-222-1222. They will provide expert guidance tailored to your situation and advice on the next steps.
If you experience severe symptoms after taking Nyquil, contact emergency services immediately or visit your nearest emergency department.
Contact Poison Control Center’s helpline at 800-222-1222. They will provide expert guidance tailored to your situation and advice on the next steps.
Alternatives to Managing Symptoms
While Nyquil may be safe and effective, other alternatives to treat your symptoms include the following:
Summary
Nyquil is an OTC drug used to treat flu and cold symptoms. It begins to work within 30 minutes after ingestion and lasts 4 to 6 hours.
Please get in touch with your healthcare provider if symptoms like severe pain, fever, or breathing difficulty worsen. These could be signs that something more serious is going on.
Pregnant or breastfeeding people who take certain medications or have had alcohol need to avoid using Nyquil.
Always seek personalized medical advice and guidance tailored to your specific situation.
Nyquil’s active ingredient, doxylamine, which has antihistamine and sedating effects, can lead to sleepiness. Nyquil can cause different degrees of sleepiness, depending on the individual lasting anywhere from 4 to 6 hours on average. However, this could vary based on factors such as your metabolism, age, and other substances or medications.
Nyquil’s full effects can take between 15 and 30 minutes to manifest, depending on factors such as metabolism and severity. Nyquil can provide relief in 15 to 30 minutes; however, full effects may not be apparent for an hour.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Vicks Nyquil Cold and Flu label.DailyMed.Ibuprofen label.Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen label.DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the common cold.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(5):281-289.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Vicks Nyquil Cold and Flu label.DailyMed.Ibuprofen label.Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen label.DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the common cold.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(5):281-289.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
DailyMed.Vicks Nyquil Cold and Flu label.DailyMed.Ibuprofen label.Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen label.DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the common cold.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(5):281-289.
DailyMed.Vicks Nyquil Cold and Flu label.
DailyMed.Ibuprofen label.
Food and Drug Administration.Acetaminophen label.
DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the common cold.Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(5):281-289.
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