Day Nurse Liquid: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Day Nurse Liquid is a daytime medicine containing paracetamol, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and pholcodine, used for relief from symptoms of colds, chills and flu. It helps with headaches, fever, sore throat, aches and pains, a blocked nose, and dry or tickly coughs. It is intended for adults and teenagers aged 16 years and over and should not be used for more than 7 days.

What is Day Nurse Liquid

Day Nurse Liquid is a daytime medicine used for relief from symptoms of colds, chills and flu. It contains three active ingredients: paracetamol, pseudoephedrine and pholcodine.

Day Nurse Liquid uses

• Relief from cold and flu symptoms
• Headaches
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Aches and pains
• Blocked nose
• Dry or tickly coughs

Benefits of Day Nurse Liquid

• Helps relieve daytime cold and flu symptoms.
• Paracetamol helps reduce fever, headache, sore throat, and body aches.
• Pseudoephedrine helps relieve a blocked or stuffy nose and sinus congestion.
• The former liquid formulation also contained pholcodine, which helped suppress a dry, irritating cough.
• Helps make breathing through the nose easier during a cold or flu.
• Was designed to provide multi-symptom daytime relief without the sedating antihistamine used in Night Nurse.

How Day Nurse Liquid works

Paracetamol reduces pain and fever. Pseudoephedrine acts as a decongestant that shrinks swollen blood vessels in the nose and sinuses to ease breathing. Pholcodine calms dry, tickly coughs.

Day Nurse Liquid dosage

Always read the instructions on the label and leaflet before use. This medicine is for adults and teenagers aged 16 years and over only. Allow at least 4 hours between doses. Do not take for more than 7 days. Do not use with other paracetamol-containing products or other cold/flu medicines. Not to be used in children under 16 years.

Available forms and strengths

• Liquid

Side effects of Day Nurse Liquid

Common

• Rarely, drowsiness, dizziness, or mild digestive upset
• Difficulty sleeping
• Restlessness
• Shakiness
• Increased heart rate or blood pressure
• Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Sensation of ringing or other noise in the ears (tinnitus)
• Skin rash

Serious

• Infrequent allergic reactions (rash, swelling, difficulty breathing)
• Difficulty passing urine

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take anything else containing paracetamol while taking this medicine.
• Do not take with any other cold, flu or decongestant product.
• Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to paracetamol, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, pholcodine or any other ingredients.
• Do not use if you have high blood pressure or heart disease.
• Do not use if you have difficulty breathing or lung problems.
• Do not use if you are taking appetite suppressants or stimulant drugs called amphetamines.
• Do not use if you have taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) prescribed for depression in the last 2 weeks.
• Do not use if you are under 12 years of age.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you have asthma, a long-term cough, or a cough that produces a lot of phlegm.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you have an overactive thyroid gland, prostate gland enlargement, an irregular heartbeat, glaucoma, diabetes, or phaeochromocytoma.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you are due to have an operation.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking certain prescribed medicines including digoxin, metoclopramide or domperidone, colestyramine, blood pressure medicine, blood thinners like warfarin, or medicines that cause drowsiness or are used for anxiety or sleep.
• If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor before using this medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
• If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before using this medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
• Do not use if you have kidney disease.
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if you have liver problems. Avoid if you have severe liver disease.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.
• Do not drive if this medicine makes you feel dizzy.

Storage

• Store below 25°C (77°F) or as directed on the product label.
• Keep in a cool, dry place away from excessive heat.
• Protect from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
• Keep the bottle tightly closed in its original packaging.
• Do not freeze and avoid storing in hot or humid areas.
• Keep out of reach and sight of children.

When to see a doctor

• Stop using this medicine and get medical advice if your symptoms last longer than 7 days, get worse, or you notice unusual symptoms such as difficulty urinating, rash, swelling, or breathing problems.
• If you experience severe or persistent side effects, stop using the medicine and seek medical advice.

Alternatives

• Benylin Cold & Flu
• Beechams All-in-One
• Lemsip Max Cold & Flu
• Day Nurse Capsules