Is It Safe to Take Nyquil and Advil Cold & Sinus Together for Colds?

Treating Cold Symptoms With Nyquil and Advil Cold & Sinus

When suffering from cold and flu symptoms like sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, aches and pains, many people reach for over-the-counter medications to help provide relief. Two popular options are Nyquil and Advil Cold & Sinus. But is it safe to take both of these medications at the same time?

What is Nyquil?

Nyquil is an over-the-counter medication manufactured by Vicks that is intended to relieve common cold and flu symptoms. It contains the following active ingredients:

• Acetaminophen - a pain reliever and fever reducer
• Dextromethorphan - a cough suppressant
• Doxylamine succinate - an antihistamine that treats runny noses and sneezing
• Alcohol (10%) - a soothing ingredient that can cause drowsiness

Nyquil comes in both liquid and capsule formulations and is intended to be taken before bedtime as the drowsiness side effect can help promote sleep. There are daytime formulations without alcohol and the sleep-aid doxylamine succinate if needing symptom relief while remaining awake and alert.

What is Advil Cold & Sinus?

Advil Cold & Sinus is an over-the-counter treatment also intended to alleviate cold and sinus infection symptoms like headaches, fever, nasal congestion and sinus pressure. The active ingredients include:

• Ibuprofen - a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce fever, pain, and inflammation
• Phenylephrine - a nasal decongestant that constricts blood vessels to help drain sinus pressure and congestion

Advil Cold & Sinus comes as a caplet, liquid gel capsule, or liquid suspension formulation. Unlike Nyquil it does not cause drowsiness and can be taken day or night as needed to tackle cold symptoms.

Is It Safe to Take Nyquil and Advil Cold & Sinus Together?

The short answer is yes, it is generally safe to take both Nyquil and Advil Cold & Sinus together provided you adhere strictly to the recommended dosing instructions. However, some care and precautions should still be observed.

Consider Active Ingredients

As already outlined, both medications share some overlapping active ingredients that could increase your risk of certain side effects if stacks improperly or beyond approved doses. For example:

• Acetaminophen - Nyquil already contains acetaminophen so the additional dose in Advil Cold & Sinus increases your risk of liver toxicity if exceeding maximum daily amounts.
• Antihistamines - Doxylamine in Nyquil causes drowsiness already, adding another decongestant like phenylephrine further impacts the central nervous system.
• Alcohol (Nyquil) - Alcohol can amplify the sedative properties and other side effects of both medications.
• NSAID - Ibuprofen adds risk of stomach bleeding and ulcers, especially if also using alcohol.

Follow Dosing Directions

To use Nyquil and Advil Cold & Sinus safely together, it is imperative to follow all dosing directions for both medications and not exceed:

• No more than 4000mg acetaminophen per day from all sources
• No more than 1 Nyquil dose every 6 hours
• No more than 2 Advil Cold & Sinus caplets every 6 to 8 hours

Carefully calculating total acetaminophen doses from both products over a 24 hour timeframe can help avoid unsafe levels of the pain and fever reliever. Using beyond approved frequencies also prevents build up of decongestants and antihistamines over the advised time spans.

Avoid Alcohol

It is best practice to avoid alcohol when taking these two medications together. Nyquil already contains 10% alcohol plus the added drowsiness antihistamine side effect. Consuming extra alcohol significantly increases risks of:

• Intensified sedative effects
• Impaired coordination and cognition
• Exaggerated side effects
• Liver toxicity

Moderation or abstinence from alcohol use allows both products to work effectively while minimizing additive side effects.

Treating Specific Cold and Flu Symptoms

Understanding what symptoms Nyquil and Advil Cold & Sinus each target can help determine optimal combined usage strategies. Here is a breakdown of what each OTC medication best treats:

Nyquil Key Symptom Relief

• Cough and sore throat - Dextromethorphan cough suppressant
• Sinus congestion - Doxylamine antihistamine drying effect
• Low grade fevers - Acetaminophen fever reduction
• Aches and pains - Minor analgesic benefits of acetaminophen
• Runny nose/sneezing - Antihistamine doxylamine

Advil Cold & Sinus Key Symptom Relief

• Nasal and sinus congestion - Phenylephrine decongestant vasoconstriction effects
• Headaches - Ibuprofen pain, swelling and inflammation reduction
• Higher fevers - More potent ibuprofen fever lowering at higher doses
• Body aches and sinus pain - Anti-inflammatory benefits of ibuprofen

As you can see, certain symptoms like stuffy noses, coughs, and fevers can be better managed using Nyquil and Advil Cold & Sinus together compared to either medication alone. Just be sure not to double up on acetaminophen doses.

Daytime vs Nighttime Use

Due to the alcohol and drowsiness inducing antihistamine doxylamine, Nyquil is best suited for nighttime use to help promote sleep while relieving cold symptoms.

Meanwhile Advil Cold & Sinus lacks these sedating properties and can be taken round the clock while awake and through the day alongside non-drowsy Nyquil formulations if additional acetaminophen symptom relief is needed.

Other Considerations

Here are some other quick tips regarding use of Nyquil and Advil Cold & Sinus together:

• Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery when taking together due to increased sedation effects
• Monitor for side effects like stomach pain, bleeding, ulcers (NSAID risks)
• Discontinue use if nervous system side effects emerge signaling high decongestant levels
• See a doctor if symptoms persist beyond 7-10 days recommending alternative treatments

While taking both over-the-counter products simultaneously is generally considered safe for most healthy adults, it is always best practice to err on the side of caution and use only as needed at lowest effective doses. Monitoring your symptoms and stopping immediately if any concerning reactions develop is also advisable.

The Bottom Line

Nyquil and Advil Cold & Sinus can be taken together by adults provided usage guidelines and dosing limits are carefully followed. This paired approach may help enhance relief of some stubborn cold and sinus symptoms. However, caution is advised and drinking alcohol heavily discouraged due to increased sedative side effect risks when combined.

Pay close attention to acetaminophen quantities from both products not exceeding 4000mg daily maximums from all sources. And stop usage right away if unusual side effects start to show themselves like gastrointestinal bleeding or nervous

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.