There are numerous over-the-counter treatments you can use to help get rid of a stuffy nose and make it easier to breathe. One of the most common is Nyquil, which comes in liquid form and usually has about 10 milligrams of alcohol per teaspoon.
This medicine also comes in tablet form and usually has around 500 milligrams of acetaminophen (the drug found in Tylenol) combined with 30 milligrams of diphenhydramine (the drug found in Benadryl). Drinking lots of alcohol is never a good idea, but how much nyquil you can take at once will depend on your age and if you take any other medications as well.
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How Many Days Can You Take Nyquil?
Nyquil is an over-the-counter medication. This means that you can take it as many days as you like without a prescription. Some over-the-counter medications can be taken for only a few days at a time. You should read the directions on the package and look for information that says how long you can take it. If you have a cold or the flu, you can take Nyquil for up to 10 days.
When Should You NOT Take Nyquil?
You should not take Nyquil if you have certain health conditions or if you are taking certain medications. If you have ever had an allergic reaction or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat after taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), you should avoid taking Nyquil.
This includes medications like Advil and Aleve. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney problems, glaucoma, or are an older adult, you may want to avoid taking this medication. If you take certain blood thinners, you should avoid taking Nyquil. This includes warfarin (Coumadin) and clopidogrel (Plavix). If you are taking an oral blood thinner, you should check with your doctor before taking this medication. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should avoid taking this medication. If you have certain mental illnesses, you should avoid taking this medication. This includes depression, schizophrenia, and certain anxiety disorders.
How Many Times a Day Can You Take Nyquil?
You can take Nyquil up to four times a day, every six hours. Each dose contains 500 milligrams of acetaminophen and 30 milligrams of diphenhydramine. You should not take more than the daily recommended amount. If you have a high fever, you should not take Nyquil.
- The maximum amount of acetaminophen you can take in one day is 4,000 milligrams. If you are taking other medications that contain acetaminophen, you should not exceed this amount.
- The maximum amount of diphenhydramine you can take in one day is 600 milligrams. If you are taking other medications that contain diphenhydramine, you should not exceed this amount.
What Are the Side Effects of Taking too Much Nyquil?
If you take too much of this medication, you may experience side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, blurred vision, confusion, slurred speech, and clumsiness. You may also become nauseous, have headaches, stomach pain, or become more sensitive to light. If you experience these side effects, you should speak to your doctor.
When you take more than the recommended amount of acetaminophen, you may experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, unusual fatigue, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. If you experience these symptoms, you should speak to your doctor.
Is It Safe to Drink Alcohol While Taking Nymqul?
Drinking alcohol while taking Nyquil is never safe, even when you are not pregnant or breastfeeding. Drinking alcohol when taking Nyquil can increase your risk for side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech, nausea, and feeling lightheaded. Alcohol can also make acetaminophen less effective in lowering your temperature.
Bottom Line
You can take Nyquil for up to 10 days when you have a cold or the flu. If you have ever had an allergic reaction or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat after taking an NSAID, you should avoid taking Nyquil. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney problems, glaucoma, or are an older adult, you may want to avoid taking this medication. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should avoid taking this medication. If you have certain mental illnesses, you should avoid taking this medication. If you drink alcohol while taking Nyquil, you may experience increased side effects.
