Can You Take NyQuil And Delsym Together?

Answer

NyQuil (and NyQuil Severe) should not be taken with Delsym as they both contain the same ingredient, the cough suppressant dextromethorphan.

Taking NyQuil and Delsym would be considered a therapeutic duplication (as you'd be taking the same drug) and you would be at risk of you taking too much at one time, which could increase the risk of side effects.

Always Check The Label Of Over-The-Counter Products

It is very important to always look at the label of the product you are looking to take to understand the active ingredients(s) it contains.

Although there are several different 'NyQuil' and 'Delsym' products available, most of them contain the cough suppressant dextromethorphan.

For example, below are the drug labels for 'NyQuil' and 'Delsym 12-hour'. You can see they both contain dextromethorphan.

Taking too much dextromethorphan increases the risk of side effects, which include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Additionally, dextromethorphan is associated with serotonergic effects, especially at high doses.

Excessive dosages have been reported to increase the rare but serious condition known as serotonin syndrome, whose symptoms include:

• Confusion
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Increased heart rate
• Increased body temperature
• Delirium
• Seizers
• Muscle spasm

How Long To Separate Doses

NyQuil products have a duration of action of 4 to 6 hours per dose, whereas Delsym products usually last up to 12 hours per dose (although there are some Delsym products that last 4 hours per dose).

If you need to take both NyQuil and Delsym for your symptoms, it is important to separate the doses by the appropriate amount of time to avoid the risk of double dosing.

So, if you take NyQuil first, you can safely take Delsym after 4 to 6 hours.

If you take a 12-hour version of Delsym first, you should wait at least that amount of time before taking NyQuil.

Final Words

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