DayQuil Liquid: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

DayQuil Liquid is an over-the-counter combination medicine containing acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine, used to relieve daytime cold and flu symptoms without causing drowsiness. It helps with fever, sore throat, headaches, congestion, cough, and sinus pressure. It typically starts working within about 30 minutes and provides relief for about 4 hours.

What is DayQuil Liquid

DayQuil is an over-the-counter liquid medicine that treats cold and flu symptoms during the day without making you drowsy. It usually contains a pain reliever (acetaminophen), a cough suppressant (dextromethorphan), and a decongestant (phenylephrine).

DayQuil Liquid uses

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Headaches
• Congestion
• Cough
• Sinus pressure
• Minor body aches
• Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)

Benefits of DayQuil Liquid

• Provides daytime relief for cold and flu symptoms without causing drowsiness
• Starts working in about 30 minutes
• Gives temporary relief for about 4 hours
• Helps you continue your daily activities while sick

How DayQuil Liquid works

DayQuil combines three medicines that each target a different symptom: acetaminophen reduces fever and pain, dextromethorphan calms the brain signals that trigger coughing, and phenylephrine narrows blood vessels in the nose to relieve stuffiness.

DayQuil Liquid dosage

Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor; do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. This medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up. Measure liquid medicine with a special dose measuring spoon or medicine cup, not a regular table spoon.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old; always ask a doctor before giving cough or cold medicine to a child. Do not take for longer than 7 days in a row; stop and call your doctor if fever continues after 3 days, or pain continues after 7 days (5 days for a child), or symptoms get worse.

Taking your dose with food may help reduce nervousness or nausea. Drinking a glass of water before and after your dose may help with nausea or stomach discomfort.

Available forms and strengths

• Liquid
• Hot drink powder

Side effects of DayQuil Liquid

Common

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Feeling nervous, restless, irritable, or anxious
• Nausea and vomiting
• Upset stomach or diarrhea
• Headache
• Dry mouth, nose, or throat
• Tiredness or weakness
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Swelling

Serious

• Liver damage
• Overdose
• Serotonin syndrome
• Allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Severe skin reaction with redness, rash, blistering, and peeling
• Chest pain, fast, slow, or uneven heart rate
• Severe dizziness or feeling like you might pass out
• Mood changes, confusion, hallucinations
• Tremor or seizure
• Fever
• Urinating less than usual or not at all
• Signs of liver problems: nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice
• Dangerously high blood pressure: severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in ears, anxiety, chest pain, uneven heartbeats, seizure

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, as a dangerous drug interaction could occur. Do not take more than the recommended dose. 
• Taking too much acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death. In rare cases, acetaminophen can cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal, even if you've taken it before without problems.
• Children younger than 2 years old should not take DayQuil products because serious side effects can occur in this age group. 
• People with high blood pressure, diabetes, liver or heart disease, or thyroid disorders may have a higher chance of side effects and should talk to a doctor before taking this medicine. 
• Taking this medicine with other drugs that cause sleepiness or slow breathing, such as sleeping pills, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxants, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures, can worsen those effects.
• It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not use it without a doctor's advice if you are pregnant.
• The ingredients may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby, and decongestants may slow milk production. Check with a doctor before using this medicine while breastfeeding.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it's safe for you if you have liver disease or drink alcohol heavily, since combining this medicine with alcohol or other acetaminophen products raises the risk of serious liver damage.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine, as it can increase the risk of liver damage and other effects like stomach issues, drowsiness, dizziness, and increased heart rate.
• This medication may impair your thinking or reactions, so be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Storage

• Store at 20–25°C.
• Keep the bottle tightly closed.
• Protect from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight.
• Keep in a dry place.
• Keep out of reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you notice skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.
• Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have chest pain, an irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, tremor, seizures, fever, reduced urination, or signs of liver problems like nausea, stomach pain, dark urine, or yellowing of skin or eyes.
• If you think you've taken too much of this medicine, seek emergency medical attention right away, as an overdose can be fatal. If you notice signs of liver damage like loss of appetite, dark urine, fatigue, upset stomach, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, stop taking this medicine and contact a healthcare professional right away.

Alternatives

• Robitussin
• Theraflu
• NyQuil