DayQuil Vs. DayQuil Severe: What Is The Difference?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses the difference between DayQuil and DayQuil Severe.
What’s the difference between DayQuil and DayQuil severe?
Oct 17, 2022- DayQuil Severe contains guaifenesin, an expectorant that thins and loosens mucus, while regular DayQuil does not have this ingredient.
- Both products contain acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine to treat pain, fever, cough, and congestion.
- Choose DayQuil Severe if you have a cough with a lot of mucus, or regular DayQuil if you don't need the expectorant action.
Answer
DayQuil Cold and Flu and DayQuil Severe Cold and Flu are both medications used to treat the symptoms associated with a cold or flu. The difference is in the ingredients each product contains and what symptoms those ingredients will work on.DayQuil Cold and Flu Relief contains the following drugs:
- Acetaminophen: Pain Reliever and Fever Reducer
- Dextromethorphan: Cough suppressant used to help control a cough
- Phenylephrine: Nasal decongestant used to help with sinus pressure and congestion
DayQuil Severe Cold & Flu Relief contains the following drugs:
- Acetaminophen: Pain Reliever and Fever Reducer
- Dextromethorphan: Cough suppressant used to help control a cough
- Phenylephrine: Nasal decongestant used to help with sinus pressure and congestion
- Guaifenesin: Expectorant used to loosen mucus and make a cough more productive
Difference Explained
As you can see from the ingredient list above, the main difference between the two products is that DayQuil Severe Cold & Flu Relief contains guaifenesin while DayQuil Cold and Flu Relief does not.
Guaifenesin is an expectorant that helps to thin and loosen mucus. It is sometimes referred to as a 'chest expectorant'. It can be useful for coughs that have a lot of mucus associated with them. It can help thin that mucus and make it easier to cough up.
The next section contains some general information on each drug that is contained in these two multi-drug products.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. It does not work on inflammation.
When taking a multi-drug product, it is important to note if the product contains acetaminophen and not exceed the daily recommended maximum. Acetaminophen has been associated with acute liver failure. Doses should not exceed 4 grams daily in adults. Often these multi-drug products will contain a pain reliever.
Dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant used to help control a cough. It is usually a well-tolerated medication. The most common side effects that have been reported are drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset.
Phenylephrine
Phenylephrine is a decongestant that helps relieve nasal and sinus congestion.
Patients with high blood pressure should check with their doctor or other healthcare providers before taking it. It can increase blood pressure and cause heart stimulation including palpitations, fast heartbeat, and arrhythmias. Other possible side effects include insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, headache, and upset stomach.
Guaifenesin
As mentioned, guaifenesin is only in the DayQuil Severe product. It is an expectorant used to loosen mucus and make a cough more productive. The most common side effects are dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
Final Words
It is always a good idea to only take medication that is needed. Pharmacists are excellent resources when there might be confusion about what product is most appropriate for your symptoms.
Thanks for reaching out!
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Acetaminophen
- A medication that relieves pain and reduces fever but does not reduce inflammation.
- Dextromethorphan
- A cough suppressant that helps control and reduce coughing.
- Phenylephrine
- A nasal decongestant that relieves sinus and nasal congestion.
- Guaifenesin
- An expectorant that thins and loosens mucus to make coughs more productive.
- Expectorant
- A type of medication that helps loosen and thin mucus so it can be coughed up more easily.
- Cough suppressant
- A medication that reduces the urge to cough and helps control coughing.
- Palpitations
- An abnormal awareness of your heartbeat, often felt as a rapid or fluttering sensation in the chest.
- Arrhythmias
- Irregular heartbeats where the heart beats too fast, too slow, or in an uneven pattern.
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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