Taking DayQuil With Aleve and Hydrocodone/APAP 7.5/325

In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses the safety of combining Aleve with DayQuil and hydrocodone/APAP.

Question

I took DayQuil earlier today. I have back pain, so I took Aleve, but it hasn't done anything. I have hydrocodone/APAP 7.5/325 mg. Is it safe to take it with everything else I've taken today?

Asked by Trc On Jan 22, 2023

Answered by
Medical Content Reviewed By HelloPharmacist Staff

Published Jan 30, 2023
Last updated Apr 19, 2024

Key points

  • DayQuil is an OTC medication used to relieve cold and flu symptoms such as headache, fever, and runny nose. It contains acetaminophen.
  • Taking Aleve and DayQuil together is considered safe, but taking hydrocodone/APAP 7.5/325 mg with DayQuil increases the risk of acetaminophen overdose and serious liver damage.
  • In most cases, you should separate the dosing of products that contain acetaminophen to avoid taking too much at one time, or during one day.

Answer

Thanks for reaching out!

I discuss the answer in detail below, but here are some quick points:

  • Aleve (naproxen) and DayQuil (which contains acetaminophen) are generally considered safe to take together.
  • Hydrocodone/APAP 7.5/325 mg contains acetaminophen, and taking it with DayQuil could result in exceeding the maximum recommended dose of acetaminophen, which can lead to serious liver damage. They should generally be separated from one another and you need to be sure you keep track of how much acetaminophen you are taking.

DayQuil Contain Acetaminophen

It is important to note that DayQuil is a multi-ingredient product that contains several drugs. 'Original' DayQuil contains:

  • Acetaminophen (analgesic)
  • Phenylephrine (decongestant)
  • Dextromethorphan (cough suppressant)

Since DayQuil contains several ingredients, it is important to stay on top of all the other medications you are taking to make sure you aren't taking too much of any one drug.

This is especially true with acetaminophen, which is the most commonly used analgesic in over-the-counter products that are used to relieve pain and has a well-documented history of being a drug people accidentally overdose on.

DayQuil With Aleve

DayQuil is considered safe to take with Aleve as there are no known interactions between the two.

Even though Aleve is a pain reliever, it contains naproxen, an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), which is not related to Tylenol (acetaminophen). NSAIDs and Tylenol are generally considered safe to take together.

In fact, there is a product on the market that contains an NSAID and acetaminophen in a single pill (Advil Dual Action).

DayQuil With Hydrocodone/APAP

The other drug in your question is where there is some concern.

As mentioned, DayQuil contains acetaminophen. Hydrocodone/APAP 7.5/325 mg also contains acetaminophen (APAP stands for acetaminophen). Therefore, taking both could result in exceeding the maximum recommended dose of acetaminophen. You need to be very careful about combining products that contain acetaminophen.

Now, the amount of acetaminophen in one dose of DayQuil is 650mg. One tablet of hydrocodone/APAP 7.5/325 mg contains 325mg of acetaminophen.

The maximum recommended dose of acetaminophen at one time (for adults) is 1,000mg. The maximum daily dose of acetaminophen is 4,000mg.

So, you need to consider a few things here:

  • Do not take more than 1,000mg of acetaminophen at one time.
  • Every dose of acetaminophen should be separated by at least four to six hours.
  • Do not take more than 4,000mg of acetaminophen per day.

You could take one dose of DayQuil and one tablet of hydrocodone/APAP 7.5/325 mg and still be under the 1,000mg per dose limit of acetaminophen, but again, it is very important to be aware of your overall dosages and total daily dose to be sure you stay within the dosing recommendations to avoid adverse reactions.

Final Words

I hope this was helpful! Thanks for reaching out!

References

  • DayQuil, Vicks.com
  • Acetaminophen Toxicity, NIH
  • Evaluation and treatment of acetaminophen toxicity, PubMed

About the Pharmacist

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD

Dr. Brian has been practicing pharmacy for over 13 years and has wide-ranging experiences in many different areas of the profession. From retail, clinical, program development, and administrative responsibilities, he's your knowledgeable and go-to source for all your pharmacy and medication-related questions! Dr. Brian Staiger also has herbalist training and educational certificates in the field of medical ethnobotany. Feel free to send him an email at [email protected]! You can also connect with Dr. Brian Staiger on LinkedIn.

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