Can You Take Bactrim With NyQuil?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses if it is safe to combine Bactrim and NyQuil.
I have an infection and my doctor gave me Bactrim. I am having issues sleeping at night and want to make sure it is safe to take NyQuil. Thanks in advance for your help.
Dec 09, 2022- It is safe to combine NyQuil and Bactrim as there is no known drug interaction between them.
- NyQuil can help relieve infection symptoms and has sedative effects to help you sleep at night.
Answer
Yes, it is safe to combine NyQuil and Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim). There is no known drug interaction between them.
NyQuil represents an effective choice to help alleviate some of the symptoms you may be experiencing with an infection and can help you fall asleep at night due to its sedative effects.
Details
It's always a good idea to check into potential drug interactions between prescription and over-the-counter drugs, especially multi-ingredient ones like NyQuil.
There are a variety of different NyQuil products on the market, but the two most common are:
- NyQuil
- NyQuil Severe
NyQuil contains the following drugs:
- Acetaminophen - Pain reliever
- Dextromethorphan - Cough suppressant
- Doxylamine - Sedating antihistamine
NyQuil Severe adds one additional drug, the nasal decongestant phenylephrine.
All of the drugs contained in NyQuil products are safe to take with Bactrim.
In fact, Bactrim is safe with most over-the-counter cough and cold medications. There is a minor interaction between it and some NSAIDs (like naproxen and ibuprofen), but it generally isn't thought to be overly clinically significant for most individuals. NyQuil does not contain an NSAID.
Final Words
Thanks for your question and I hope you found this helpful.
Reach back out anytime.
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Bactrim
- A prescription antibiotic medication containing sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim used to treat bacterial infections.
- Drug interaction
- A situation where two or more medications affect each other's action in the body, potentially causing harmful or reduced effects.
- Acetaminophen
- A common pain reliever and fever reducer found in many over-the-counter medications.
- Dextromethorphan
- An ingredient in cough medicines that helps suppress the urge to cough.
- Doxylamine
- A type of antihistamine that causes drowsiness and is used to help people sleep.
- Phenylephrine
- A nasal decongestant that reduces swelling in the nasal passages to relieve congestion.
- NSAIDs
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, a class of pain relievers and fever reducers such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
- Antihistamine
- A medication that blocks the body's histamine response to reduce allergy symptoms and promote drowsiness.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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