Can You Take Delsym and Nyquil Together?

When a cold or flu hits, it’s natural to do everything possible to feel better. In this case, medicines like Delsym and Nyquil can bring great relief. And for fast relief, you may wonder – can you take Delsym and Nyquil simultaneously?

The answer is a big no. You can’t take them together.

Delsym and Nyquil carry a common element named “dextromethorphan”. So when you take both, the particular element will be overdosed. Not only that, Delsym itself carries dextromethorphan that is also present in Nyquil. So it’s unnecessary to take Delsym if you are already intaking Nyquil.

Still confused? Don’t worry! Because we are here to clear up all your confusion. In this article, we will discuss differences, potential risks, drug interactions, and instructions more precisely. Stay tuned with us. 

Can you take Delsym and NyQuil?

When it comes to taking two medicines at a time, some facts must come together. First, we will enlighten you on the active ingredients, element amounts, basic differences and similarities, and purposes of both suppressants. 

Delsym

Active ingredients

Fundamentally, Delsym is an Extended-Release suspension that contains active ingredients like dextromethorphan polistirex. In fact, it is equivalent to 30 mg of dextromethorphan hydrobromide.  

Duration and effectiveness 

Certainly, it starts to work within 15–20 minutes. And then the effects of the medications last for 5 to 6 hours. 

Age limitations to intake

In any case, doctors prescribe the liquid Delsym dose based on the child’s age. However, liquid medicines are available to children aged 4 and up. On the other hand, the capsule is for kids ages 12 and older. 

 

Age Form Quantity  Frequency of dosage Limit of dose in 24 hours
4 years and older Liquid 15mg – 30mg  Every 12 hours Don’t exceed 2.5 ml 
12 years and older Capsul  30mg  Every 6-8 hours Don’t exceed 5 ml
Adult Liquid  60 mg Every 12 hours Don;t exceed 10ml 

Is it safe to take Delsym with Nyquil

Nyquil

Active ingredients

Active  ingredients of Nyquil are following:

Active Ingredients Quantity
Acetaminophen  325 mg
Dextromethorphan HBr 15 mg
Doxylamine succinate 6.5mg

Duration and effectiveness

Basically, it starts to work within 30 minutes. And  the effects of the medications last for 8 hours.

Age limitations to intake:

Children aged 12 years or older can take NyQuil. In that case,1 dose means 2 tablespoons every 6 hours. However, there is a special children’s version, “Children’s NyQuil”. 6 years and older can take this. 

Point to be noted, don’t exceed 4 doses in 24 hours.

Can You Take Nyquil and Delsym Together

Similarities and differences between Delsym and NyQuil

To know similarities and differences between the both, here’s a comparison table of Delsym and NyQuil:

Delsym VS NyQuil

Features  Delsym Nyquil
Purpose  Only works as cough suppressant Works for cold and flu including cough
Daytime/nighttime Available in both daytime and nighttime formulations Available in both daytime and nighttime versions 
Dosage form Syrup Capsule/liquid capsule/liquid
Dosing frequency  Usually taken every 12 hours Taken 3 times a day
Alcohol content  Alcohol free May contain alcohol 
Common Side Effects Drowsiness, dizziness, upset stomach Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness.

 

The Potential Risks of Taking Delsym and NyQuil Together

As we said before, both have a common ingredient, dextromethorphan. Hence, excessive intake of this particular element will occur when you take them both. As a consequence, the patient may experience the following problems.

  • There may also be coordination issues and blurred vision.
  • constipation, nausea, and other gastrointestinal issues.
  • Rapid heartbeat and palpitations.
  • May experience confusion or disorientation.
  • Hallucinations and other cognitive disturbances may occur.
  • Allergic reactions may occur.

 

Safe Usage Guidelines & Precautions When Taking Delsym & Nyquil:

  • Don’t take more than 120 mg in 24 hours.
  • It has inactive ingredients that cause allergic reactions. Hence, if you have any kind of allergy, ask your pharmacist whether you are capable of taking it or not 
  • Avoid alcohol when you start to take these medications.
  • People with Lung problems such as asthma or emphysema should not take NyQuil and Delsym together due to overdose of dextromethorphan, which is a common ingredient in both the medicine.
  • If you have PKU ( an amino acid that causes mental disorders), you must limit aspartame/phenylalanine intake. Since Delsym contains aspartame, this element increases the level of PKU.
  • One ingredient in Nyquil is acetaminophen. Acetaminophen overdose may result in severe liver damage. For that reason, acetaminophen dosage for adults shouldn’t exceed 4g per day. 
  • Pregnant, breastfeeding women can’t take these medications.

 

Interactions With Other Drugs

How does Delsym and NyQuil interact with other medications? So here we are representing a table where you will learn about the side effects of each of these brands interacting with other medications:

Medications Interaction with NyQuil Interaction with Delsym
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) Increased the chance of high blood pressure life-threatening reactions may occur
Sedatives/hypnotics increased sedation and sleepiness increased sedation and sleepiness
Antidepressants Increase the risk of serotonin syndrome  increase the risk of serotonin syndrome
Blood thinners Increasing the risk of bleeding.  Delsym does not typically interact with blood thinners
Antihypertensive drugs Increase blood pressure.  Delsym does not typically interact with antihypertensive drugs,
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Increases the risk of liver damage.  Delsym does not typically interact with NSAIDs, 

 

FAQs

Why does NyQuil make me sleepy?

Nyquil carries a component named doxylamine, which is an antihistamine. Basically, asthma symptoms are treated with it. In fact, it blocks the histamines from attaching to the receptors in the brain. Therefore, taking this, you may feel exhausted and sleepy

What do I do if I miss a dose of Delsym?

If you forget to take a dose, do so right away. Skip the missing dose if you only remember it before the next dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Be careful not to double the dose to match. 

What to do if cough medicine doesn’t work?

First, talk to your health professional, if cough medicine doesn’t work. Then, follow his suggestions or you can try home remedies. In this case, to calm an inflamed throat and loosen mucus, drink plenty of liquids or use a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer. Furthermore, before going to sleep, have some honey. According to studies, sweet things can help soothe a cough. However, honey should not be given to infants younger than 12 months.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope that we are able to answer you the question “can you take Nyquil and Delsym together?” However, It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional or pharmacist before combining Nyquil and Delsym. Besides that, understand the potential risks and side effects specific to your situation. 

Marzia Khan
Marzia Khan

Marzia Khan is the director of content and operations at RobustAlive. She contributes to content strategy and process management across product initiatives, RND, and the editorial. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Frontline, and the PBS. Before joining RobustAlive, she also co-authored award-winning research on health and wellness and participated in various initiatives to increase awareness about healthy living and chronic disease prevention. She acts as the co-editor for RobustAlive and brings an expansive network of connections to the table while managing activity execution where required.

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