Can I take DayQuil with Tylenol?

What is in DayQuil?

DayQuil Cold & Flu Multi-Symptom Relief liquid lists 3 active ingredients on its Drug Facts label. Per 15 mL, it has:

• Acetaminophen 325 mg - pain reliever and fever reducer. This is the same drug as Tylenol.
• Dextromethorphan HBr 10 mg - cough suppressant.
• Phenylephrine HCl 5 mg - nasal decongestant.

Why can't you add Tylenol to DayQuil?

The adult dose of DayQuil liquid is 30 mL, so each dose already gives you 650 mg of acetaminophen. Adding Tylenol means taking 2 doses of the same drug at once.

The DayQuil label says do not use it with any other drug containing acetaminophen, prescription or nonprescription. The FDA says not to use more than one acetaminophen product at a time, and that taking too much acetaminophen can cause liver failure and death.

Spacing them a few hours apart does not fix this. Both still count toward the same daily total.

What is the daily limit?

Follow the limit on your own package. For DayQuil Cold & Flu liquid, adults and children 12 and over take 30 mL every 4 hours, and no more than 4 doses (120 mL) in 24 hours. That is 2,600 mg of acetaminophen a day from DayQuil alone.

The FDA says adults should not take more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours from all sources. That number is a ceiling, not a target, and it does not mean there is room to add Tylenol on top of DayQuil. Use the lower limit on your label.

The label also warns that severe liver damage can happen if you take more than the daily maximum, take it with other acetaminophen products, or have 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day.

• Check every other medicine you take. MedlinePlus notes that many cough and cold products contain the same active ingredients, which can lead to an overdose.
• Do not add a second product with dextromethorphan or a decongestant either. DayQuil already has both.

What can I take instead for more pain relief?

If DayQuil is not enough for a headache, sore throat, or body aches, ask a pharmacist or doctor whether you can add ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Ibuprofen is a different kind of pain reliever and does not contain acetaminophen. The NHS says adults can take ibuprofen at the same time as paracetamol (acetaminophen) if needed.

That does not make ibuprofen right for everyone. Ask first if you take other medicines or have health conditions. MedlinePlus warns that ibuprofen can raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, and stomach bleeding, and says to tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease. Do not take ibuprofen around or after 20 weeks of pregnancy unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not stack 2 NSAIDs. If you take ibuprofen, do not also take naproxen (Aleve) or aspirin for pain. The NHS says this raises the risk of serious side effects like stomach ulcers.

• Only need pain or fever relief? You could use plain Tylenol instead of DayQuil. Do not take both.
• Took DayQuil and still need ibuprofen? See our page on DayQuil with ibuprofen for the details.

Who should ask before taking DayQuil at all?

The DayQuil label says to ask a doctor before use if you have liver disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate, a cough with a lot of mucus, a long-lasting cough from smoking, asthma, or emphysema, or if you are on a low-sodium diet. Ask a doctor or pharmacist first if you take the blood thinner warfarin.

Do not use DayQuil if you take a prescription MAOI (certain medicines for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions, or Parkinson's disease), or for 2 weeks after stopping one.

What if I already took DayQuil and Tylenol together?

Do not take any more acetaminophen. Add up how much you took from each package and when.

If you may have taken too much, or you are not sure, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 or get medical help right away. The label says quick medical attention is critical even if you do not notice any signs or symptoms. Do not wait for symptoms.