Taking Tylenol With Zarbee's Cough Medicine?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not it is safe to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Zarbee's cough medicine together.
Can my 7-month-old have Tylenol after taking Zarbee's cough syrup medicine?
Jun 11, 2021- Zarbee's cough medicine contains herbal ingredients like elderberry and thyme rather than pharmaceutical drugs, so it doesn't contain acetaminophen.
- There is no evidence of a significant interaction between Zarbee's cough medicine and Tylenol, though herbal products have limited safety data available.
- If giving Zarbee's to a child, make sure they are at least one year old since some formulations contain honey, which poses a botulism risk for infants under one year.
Hi Nevina and thanks for reaching out to us.
Tylenol (or by the generic acetaminophen) is a drug that has been used for decades to help relieve pain and fever. It’s particularly useful in infants as it’s one of the few over-the-counter pain and fever medications that’s safe to use (at correct dosages).
What Does Zarbee's Contain?
Zarbee’s on the other hand is a bit more complicated to talk about in regard to its safety with certain drugs since 'Zarbee's' is a brand name that has over a dozen different formulations available.
Without seeing the bottle or specific direction about what product you are talking about, it is difficult to know which Zarbee’s cough syrup you used or are referencing.
On the bright side, all of Zarbee’s formulations do not contain any “pharmaceutical drugs”. Instead, they usually contain herbal ingredients like elderberry, thyme, ivy leaf, or agave syrup. Therefore, none of Zarbee’s cough syrups contain acetaminophen, the active ingredient of Tylenol.
Is There An Interaction?
In all likelihood, it's safe to use Zarbee's products with Tylenol because we don’t have any evidence to suggest that elderberry, thyme, ivy leaf, or agave syrup have any significant drug interactions with it, but we really don’t know that with 100% certainty as herbal products typically have little data available in this regard.
Nevertheless, there are no studies or data to suggest any interaction here.
Final Words
As a final note, Zarbee’s cough syrups, for ages 1-12, usually contain honey. Please make sure that you are not giving your child any honey until they are at least a year old due to the risk of botulism toxicity.
I hope this helps! Feel free to write us again in the future.
References & sources
- Zarbee’s Naturals Product Information Page — Zarbee's
- How can I protect my baby from infant botulism? — Mayo Clinic
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Acetaminophen
- A common pain reliever and fever reducer medication that is the active ingredient in Tylenol.
- Over-the-counter
- Medications that can be purchased without a prescription from a doctor.
- Dosages
- The measured amounts of medication that should be taken at one time.
- Formulations
- Different versions or mixtures of a product that may contain different ingredients or strengths.
- Herbal ingredients
- Natural substances made from plants that are used for medicinal purposes.
- Drug interactions
- Changes in how medications work when taken together or with other substances.
- Botulism
- A serious type of food poisoning that can be caused by honey in infants and young children.
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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