Can You Take Mucinex and Nyquil?

Mucinex and Nyquil are two common over-the-counter medicine you can find at a pharmacy.
Can you take Mucinex and Nyquil? Yes, read on to discover why that is possible.

What is Mucinex?

Mucinex is a brand name for the products whose active ingredient is guaifenesin. It is used to treat chest congestion by loosening the mucus in the chest and throat area, making it less thick so it does not stick in your airways when you cough it up and out.

Mucinex begins to work 20 to 30 minutes after it has been taken and its effect lasts for about 12 hours, depending on what dosage form you are taking.

There is the regular (short-acting) dosage form, which has a strength of 100-400mg that is to be taken 3-4 times a day. And there is the extended-release dosage form with 600-1200mg drug strength, which should be taken twice a day.

Mucinex products may also contain other active ingredients like acetaminophen, phenylephrine, dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, and pseudoephedrine.

WHAT IS NYQUIL?

Nyquil is also a brand name for over-the-counter medicines used for the temporary treatment of cold or flu symptoms such as fever, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, minor aches and pains, and sneezing.
Nyquil products contain doxylamine, a sedating antihistamine. Other active ingredients are acetaminophen and dextromethorphan. Each of these ingredients works differently.

For instance, acetaminophen relieves pain and reduces fever. Dextromethorphan suppresses the brain signal that triggers the coughing reflex. Doxylamine blocks histamine, a substance in the body that causes symptoms of allergy, such as runny nose, itching, watery eyes, and itchy throat. All packed in one drug, Nyquil helps to relieve these symptoms.

MUCINEX VS NYQUIL

The major differences between these two drugs are their active ingredients and their mechanism of action, which we have seen while looking at the drugs individually.
Let’s look at their common and different side effects and the drugs they can interact with.

SIDE EFFECTS

Mucinex and Nyquil each cause side effects, but while Mucinex only caused headache, nausea, and vomiting, Nyquil causes headache, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, stomach pain, vomiting, dry mouth, drowsiness, restlessness, and nervousness.

Also, Mucinex does not cause any severe effect, on the other hand, severe side effects from Nyquil can lead to – loss of vision or blurry vision- difficulty in vomiting- allergic reaction with symptoms like skin redness, rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, and swelling of face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, or lower legs. In the case of any of these severe side effects, you should talk to your doctor and probably stop using the drug.

DRUG INTERACTION

Drug interaction can increase or decrease the potency of other medications. While there is no significant interaction with the active ingredient in Mucinex, all three active ingredients in Nyquil interact with other drugs.

Acetaminophen interacts with:- warfarin- isoniazid- carbamazepine- phenobarbital- phenytoin- phenothiazines

Dextromethorphan can interact with:- isocarboxazid- phenelzine- selegiline- tranylcypromine
Doxylamine can interact with:- isocarboxazid- phenelzine – selegiline- tranylcypromine- linezolid- opioids such as morphine and fentanyl.

COMPLICATIONS

Some medical conditions may affect how Nyquil works for you. In some cases, it might cause you harm, so ask or tell your doctor if you have:- liver disease- glaucoma- frequent urination due to enlarged prostate gland

CAN YOU TAKE MUCINEX AND NYQUIL

Yes. Mucinex and Nyquil can be safely taken together since there is no known drug interaction between the two and they both contain different ingredients.

However, there are different Mucinex in the market such as Mucinex DM. Mucinex DM and Nyquil share a similar ingredient -dextromethorphan. It is advised not to take this particular product of Mucinex with Nyquil, instead take only Nyquil.

So long as you take both drugs according to the recommended dosage, there is no need to worry. However, you may not want to take them at night because it might keep you from falling asleep.
Even though Nyquil is known to induce sleep, the guaifenesin in Mucinex will make you feel like coughing out a lot of mucus, which can likely keep you awake all night.

PRECAUTIONS

You should note the following precautions and warnings during Mucinex and Nyquil administration:

– Drug interaction can lead to severe side effects, so before you take Nyquil, make sure it has been up to 14 days after you took drugs such as selegiline, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine.

– You should tell your doctor if you smoke and if you have ever had a serious cough that occurs with large mucus production, or if you have ever had any breathing disorder such as asthma or chronic bronchitis.

– Pregnant women, intending pregnant women, or lactating women should not use Nyquil without medical advice. This is because the ingredient in Nyquil may harm unborn babies or pass into breast milk and harm the nursing baby.

– Nyquil and Mucinex should not be used if mothers are breastfeeding.

– Patients should avoid alcohol and any sedative while on these medications, because drinking alcohol or taking any sedatives can increase the risk of having severe side effects.

– Patients should always stay hydrated while on this medication.
You can take Mucinex and Nyquil, however, you should do so under a doctor’s guidance.