DayQuil And NyQuil

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DayQuil and NyQuil are both products from the same manufacturing company, they do the same function which is to treat the symptoms of common cold and flu. However, they have different time to be used because of the side effects. 

One difference between both drugs is that one causes drowsiness because of the sedating ingredients it is made with while the other is best to be taken during the day. There is also a combination pack that contains both drugs. we shall learn about them all in this article. First, we will explain both drugs, their ingredients , uses, dosage and the combination pack.

WHAT IS DAYQUIL?

DayQuil is a drug that is made with active ingredients like acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine. These ingredients help to treat the symptoms of common cold and flu which are cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, minor pain and aches, and fever. DayQuil is designed to be used during the day as it does not cause drowsiness which is mostly associated with other drugs that treat common cold and flu. 

WHAT IS NYQUIL?

NyQuil is a drug that is used to treat the symptoms of common cold and flu which are sore throat, cough, runny nose, fever, sneezing and minor aches. This drug is made with active ingredients like acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and doxylamine. NyQuil is made to be used at night as it can cause drowsiness which can disrupt daily activities. 

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DAYQUIL AND NYQUIL : How Do They Work?

DayQuil Works by:

  • Suppressing the urge to cough 
  • Controlling how the body’s temperature is regulated
  • Reducing the swollen blood vessels in the nasal passage thereby decongesting the nose
  • Changing how the body senses pain and relieving pain as well.

NyQuil Works by:

  • Calming the body’s cough center and reducing cough
  • Decongesting the nose by reducing swelling of the blood vessels
  • Blocking the chemicals that causes wakefulness
  • Relieving pain and changing how the body senses pain
  • Reducing fever.

DAYQUIL AND NYQUIL : Ingredients

These drugs are made with different ingredients although their active ingredients are almost the same.

The active ingredients for DayQuil are:

  • Acetaminophen 325 mg (This acts as pain reliever and fever reducer)
  • Dextromethorphan 10 mg (It suppresses cough)
  • Phenylephrine 5 mg (It decongests the nose)

Other inactive ingredients are:

  • FD&C Red No. 40
  • FD&C Yellow No. 6
  • Gelatin
  • Glycerin
  • Polyethylene Glycol
  • Povidone
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Purified Water
  • Sorbital Sorbitan Solution
  • Titanium Dioxide

The active ingredients for NyQuil are:

  • Acetaminophen 325 mg (This reduces fever and relieves pain)
  • Dextromethorphan 15 mg (It suppresses cough)
  • Doxylamine Succinate 6.25 mg (Blocks the action of histamines)

Other inactive ingredients are:

  • D&C Yellow No. 10
  • FD&C Blue No. 1
  • Gelatin
  • Glycerin
  • Polyethylene Glycol
  • Povidone
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Purified Water
  • Sorbital Sorbitan Solution 
  • Titanium Dioxide

DOSAGE FOR DAYQUIL AND NYQUIL

Both DayQuil and NyQuil comes in two forms which are liquid solution and LiquiCaps form, but their dosage differs. 

The recommended dosage for liquid form of DayQuil is:

  • Adults and children from the age of 12 and above : 30 ml to be taken every 4 hours. You are not to take more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
  • Children from the age of 11 to 6 years : They should take 15 ml every 4 hours, and should not exceed 4 doses in 24 hours.
  • Children from 5 to 4 years should get their dose from a doctor. Do not use if the child is below 4 years.

The recommended dosage for DayQuil LiquiCaps form is: 

  • Adults and children from 12 years and above : They should take 2 capsules every 4 hours. Do not take more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
  • Children from the age of 4 to 11 years should have their dose prescribed by a doctor. Do not use DayQuil if the child is below 4 years.

NyQuil is to be used at night. The recommended dosage for NyQuil liquid form is:

  • Adults and children from the age of 12 and above are to take 30 ml ( 2 tablespoons ) every 6 hours. You should not take more than 8 tablespoons in 24 hours.
  • Children from 4 to 11 years should take the drug as prescribed by a doctor. Do not use if the child is below 4 years.

Recommended dosage for NyQuil LiquiCaps form is:

  • Adults and children from age 12 and above should take 2 capsules every 6 hours. You should not take more than 8 capsules within 24 hours.
  • Children from 4 to 11 years should use the drug as prescribed by a doctor. Do not use for children younger than 4 years.

VICKS DAYQUIL AND NYQUIL

This is a combination pack of both the day drug and night drug. It comes in a pack with either 24, 48 or 72 LiquiCaps, this means you have the relief for common cold and flu anytime you need whether during the day or at night. The NyQuil treats cough caused by minor irritation of the throat and bronchitis, aches and pain, sore throat, fever, sneezing and running nose and headache.

DayQuil can treat stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, fever, cough, minor aches and pain. Using this combination pack is better because NyQuil Cold & Flu contains an ingredient that act as nasal decongestant while the DayQuil cold & Flu also has an ingredient that helps to loosen the mucus in the nose and thin bronchial secretions.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DAYQUIL AND NYQUIL

There are differences between DayQuil and NyQuil. The first is that DayQuil does not the drowsiness effect, it is made with phenylephrine which acts as a decongestant that relieves the symptoms of cold and flu during the day. NyQuil on the other hand, has a sedating ingredients known as doxylamine that can help the user to sleep at night.

Some NyQuil has 10 percent alcohol whereas DayQuil has no trace of alcohol. It is always recommended that you take DayQuil during the daytime as the side effects does not affect your daily activities. NyQuil makes you sleep so it is only used at night.

CAN YOU TAKE DAYQUIL AND NYQUIL IN THE SAME DAY?

DayQuil and NyQuil can be used on the same day but not at the same time because of the following reasons.

Taking both drugs at the same time can increase your risk of developing liver disease because of excess acetaminophen. Both DayQuil and NyQuil contains high amounts of acetaminophen ( 650 mg each ) which can lead liver disease. The body has a limit of acetaminophen it can break down in a day, when this limit is exceeded, they are stored as toxic products in the liver. With time, they break down the liver.

The recommended daily limit is around 3000 mg/day maximum. The maximum dose for DayQuil and NyQuil is 4 a day and this would give 2600 mg of acetaminophen per day and this is close to the recommended daily limit. 

CAN YOU MIX DAYQUIL AND NYQUIL?

These two drugs are made with almost the same ingredients, the only thing is additional antihistamine in NyQuil. If you decide to take both at the same time, there are some reactions you will experience.

  • The label gave doses for each medicine, so if you mix them, you may take more than the dosage.
  • People with liver, kidney or other chronic disease may add serious complications to their medical conditions.
  • Mixing both DayQuil and NyQuil at the same time means you are taking 1300 mg of acetaminophen. You will feel tired and sleepy than normal.
  • Each of these drugs has its own side effects even when you stick to the right dose. Combining both will cause heavier and severe symptoms.
  • There may be allergic reactions when you combine DayQuil and NyQuil.
  • Excess intake of acetaminophen can damage the liver after some time.

HOW OFTEN CAN YOU TAKE DAYQUIL AND NYQUIL?

If you are using both DayQuil and NyQuil on the same day, you are not to exceed 4 doses in a total of 24 hours, you will still get the result. Do not use both drugs at the same time. Take them at least 4 to 6 hours apart. If you are using just one dose of the NyQuil at night, then you should take only three dose of the DayQuil during the day. Take the NyQuil 4 to 6 hours after taking the DayQuil, you will feel drowsy 30 minutes after taking the night dose.

SIDE EFFECTS OF DAYQUIL AND NYQUIL

Some common side effects of using DayQuil and NyQuil are:

  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Stomach upset
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Nervousness
  • Dry mouth, nose and throat

These common side effects are temporary and go away when your body has become used to the drugs. But if they continue after sometime or become serious, you should stop using the drugs and see your doctor.

Serious side effects of these drugs are:

  • Hallucinations
  • Confusion
  • Shaking
  • Changes in breathing
  • Trouble in urinating
  • Seizure
  • Rashes
  • Itching
  • Swelling of the face, tongue and throat
  • Severe dizziness

You should see a doctor if you notice any of the serious side effects, they may be caused by allergic reactions to the drug. 

CONCLUSION

DayQuil and NyQuil are made from the same manufacturing company for treating the symptoms of common cold and flu. DayQuil is to be used during the day while Nyquil is to be used at night. Do not miss both at the same time and stick to the recommended dosage to avoid complications. 

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