Cold & Flu Treatment Over the Counter What You Need to Know About NyQuil By Kristina Duda, RN facebook twitter linkedin Kristina Duda, BSN, RN, CPN, has been working in healthcare since 2002. She specializes in pediatrics and disease and infection prevention. Learn about our editorial process Kristina Duda, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO on January 07, 2020 Michael Menna, DO, is board-certified in emergency medicine. He is an attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York and also works at an urgent care center and a telemedicine company that provides care to patients across the country. Learn about our Medical Review Board Michael Menna, DO on January 07, 2020 Print NyQuil is a very popular medication used to treat cold and flu symptoms. Find out if it is right for you and your symptoms. Antonio_Diaz / Getty Images Active Ingredients (in each 15ml tablespoon) Acetaminophen 500mg (pain reliever) Dextromethorphan HBr 15mg (cough suppressant) Doxylamine succinate 6.25mg (antihistamine) Dosage Adults - Two tablespoons every six hours as needed for cold and flu symptoms. Do not take more than four doses in 24 hours. Children - Ask a doctor. Uses for Nyquil Temporary relief of cold and flu symptoms including: Cough Sore Throat Headache Minor aches and pains Fever Runny nose Sneezing Side Effects of Nyquil Drowsiness Excitability, especially in children Warnings Do not consume if you drink more than three alcoholic drinks a day. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage. Ask your doctor if you should take acetaminophen if you regularly drink more than three alcoholic drinks per day. Do not use with other medications containing acetaminophen. Do not use this medication if you are taking an MAOI (medication for depression, psychiatric, emotional conditions or Parkinson's disease) or for two weeks after stopping an MAOI. Ask a Doctor Before Use If you have glaucoma If you have a cough that produces a lot of mucus If you have a breathing problem or chronic cough that is caused by asthma, smoking, chronic bronchitis or emphysema If you have trouble urinating because of an enlarged prostate If you are taking sedatives or tranquilizers If you are pregnant or breastfeeding Caution Stop use and ask a doctor if: Pain or cough worsens or lasts more than seven days Fever worsens or lasts more than three days Redness or swelling is present in area causing pain New symptoms occur Cough returns or occurs with a rash or headache that won't go away Other NyQuil Information Do not take this product when you have to operate machinery, drive a vehicle or perform other tasks that require alertness. Nyquil is likely to make you very drowsy; be sure you can devote time to sleep before taking this product. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to avoid getting the flu? Our free guide has everything you need to stay healthy this season. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Label. Vicks Nyquil Cold and Flu - acetaminophen, dextromethorphan hydobromide, and doxylamine succinate capsule, liquid filled. DailyMed. Updated January 23, 2012. Vicks. Vicks Nyquil FAQ. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Acetaminophen: avoiding liver injury. Updated June 24, 2009.