Can you take Sudafed and Dayquil together? (3 common risks) 

In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “Can you take Sudafed and Dayquil together?”. Both Sudafed and Dayquil can be used for the management and treatment of symptoms associated with the common cold and flu. 

However, there are some serious risks when it comes to combining these two together. This blog will cover the concomitant use of Sudafed and Dayquil together. 

Can you take Sudafed and Dayquil together? 

No, you should never take Sudafed and Dayquil together. Both of them act as nasal decongestants and they may end up causing severe side effects when taken together. Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) works as a decongestant. 

It causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. Sudafed can be used to unblock a stuffy nose. It can also help provide some relief in pain or pressure of sinuses, usually caused by the common cold or flu. 

It can also be used in breathing difficulties associated with allergies, bronchitis etc. Dayquil, on the other hand, is the combination of Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, and Phenylephrine. All of these three ingredients have their role to play. 

Acetaminophen is a common painkiller and an antipyretic agent. It helps to control the muscle pain, soreness, and fever that can be caused by the common cold. Dextromethorphan is added to provide relief to your throat. 

It soothes your throat muscles, lubricates them, and helps you recover from persistent cough. Phenylephrine acts as a nasal decongestant. It opens up your sinuses and helps clear your nasal passage so that you can breathe properly. 

This Phenylephrine is responsible for causing an interaction with Pseudoephedrine and this is why they should never be combined together. 

What are the possible risks of taking Sudafed and Dayquil together? 

There are some risks that may cause some disturbing complications when Sudafed is used simultaneously with Dayquil. Some of them include:

• Dangerously high blood pressure 
• Psychological side effects 
• Irregular and disturbing sleep pattern

Dangerously high blood pressure

Dangerously high blood pressure is the most concerning the outcome of using Sudafed and Dayquil together. As stated earlier, Sudafed has pseudoephedrine and Dayquil has Phenylephrine in its composition. Both of these agents can constrict your blood vessels. 

The more your vessels become constricted, the more your blood pressure rises. This is the biggest reason why the concomitant use of Sudafed and Dayquil is contraindicated. 

This high blood pressure can be life-threatening for some people including those who are already living with Hypertension. This interaction can also be deadly for people living with active cardiac disease. 

This is why doctors prescribe not one, but a combination of Hypertensives to such patients because high blood pressure is extremely dangerous for cardiac patients. It can also cause a significant amount of damage if used by the geriatric population. 

Elderly people have disturbed physiological composition because of the normal decline in their health caused by ageing. Such people can not process the combination of Sudafed and Dayquil well and it may lead to hospitalisation. 

This combination is also contraindicated to be used in pregnant women because high blood pressure in such conditions can harm both the mother and the baby. Make sure you steer clear of this combination. Always stick to those medications that your healthcare provider has recommended. 

Psychological side effects 

Both Sudafed and Dayquil are associated with some psychological side effects. These side effects can vary from person to person but they can affect elderly people more severely. The most common side effects include confusion, anxiety, agitation, and forgetfulness. 

These side effects can also be seen in standard doses of each of these meds when they are used individually. This is why it is strictly contraindicated to combine them together. 

When drugs are combined for therapeutic purposes, most healthcare providers adjust the doses and doses lower than standard treatment are used to enhance the efficacy as well as safety of the combination. 

If you start to take these two meds together, you may end up taking more than you’re supposed to. This is why you should always consult your healthcare provider for such matters and should never take any drug that may harm your health.

Irregular and disturbing sleep pattern

Sleep irregularities are also commonly seen with the combination of Sudafed and Dayquil. Sudafed can cause insomnia by increasing the activity of your brain. Several studies have revealed that Pseudoephedrine can make you feel alert, especially when you take it at bedtime. 

This is why most doctors avoid bedtime dose administration and some other time is preferred over it. Dayquil, on the other hand, is known for causing sleepiness or drowsiness. 

When these two are combined together, they can cause irregular sleep behaviour and you can fall asleep earlier but you may experience nighttime wakefulness. Make sure you don’t use these two meds without your doctor’s approval. 

What are the side effects associated with the use of Sudafed and Dayquil? 

Both Sudafed and Dayquil are associated with some side effects of their own. Let’s look at them individually. 

Side effects of Sudafed 

Sudafed is associated with the following side effects:

• Nausea, vomiting and severe gastrointestinal disturbance
• headaches
• Decreased salivation resulting in dry mouth
• Anxiousness
• Restlessness
• Confusion
• Shakiness 
• Insomnia 
• Arrhythmia or strong, hard cardiac muscle contractions don’t go back to normal.
• Sudden high fever
• Redness of skin
• Small blisters filled with pus

Side effects of Dayquil 

Dayquil is associated with the following side effects:

• Sleepiness 
• Dizziness or lightheadedness 
• Nervousness 
• Confusion 
• Inability to concentrate (at higher doses) 
• Liver damage at higher doses 

Both of these meds can cause some severe allergic reactions. Ensuring the proper use of Sudafed and Dayquil is the main key to achieving your desired therapeutic goals. First and the most important thing is to make sure that you are not allergic to these meds. 

If you exhibit any sign of an allergic reaction or any unusual side effect right after taking your first ever dose of either Sudafed or Dayquil, then these meds are not a good choice of medications for you. 

To prevent that from happening, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist about the excipients present in the formulation to make sure it does not contain anything that you know you’re allergic to. 

It is also extremely important to inform your doctor about all the meds you have been taking before you take any of these meds. Medications don’t always go well together. Some meds are highly incompatible with one another. 

Some meds are incompatible in terms of the side effects as they all cause the same kind of side effects that may become too much for you to bear. If we specifically talk about Sudafed and Dayquil, they are not even compatible with one another. 

You should definitely inform your healthcare provider if you are a heavy drinker. The concomitant use of Sudafed, Dayquil, and alcohol can make you suffer terribly. This is because all of these meds can affect your CNS. 

Excessive intake of these meds can induce depression and suicidal behaviour in people. It can also cause side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, impaired senses, impaired motor coordination, confusion, inability to speak, blackouts, coma, and even death. 

This is why you should never pair these two together. If you’re an alcoholic, don’t forget to mention it to your healthcare provider. Your honesty is necessary to save your own life. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed the dangers of the concomitant use of Sudafed and Dayquil. Both of these meds can cause a number of serious side effects when combined together. Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) works as a decongestant. 

It causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. Dayquil, on the other hand, is the combination of Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, and Phenylephrine. 

All of these three ingredients have their role to play. Make sure you never pair these meds together. If you have accidentally consumed these two together, make sure you immediately report to your healthcare provider. 

FAQs: can you take Sudafed and Dayquil

What should you not mix with Sudafed?

There are a lot of medications and common food items that should not be mixed with Sudafed. The intake of coffee should be limited as well because the concomitant use of these two can significantly increase the harmful effects. Make sure you never pair these meds together. If you have accidentally consumed these two together, make sure you immediately report to your healthcare provider. 

Is Sudafed the same as DayQuil?

No, Sudafed is not the same as Dayquil. Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) works as a decongestant. It causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. Sudafed can be used to unblock a stuffy nose. It can also help provide some relief in pain or pressure of sinuses, usually caused by the common cold or flu. It can also be used in breathing difficulties associated with allergies, bronchitis etc. Dayquil, on the other hand, is the combination of Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, and Phenylephrine. All of these three ingredients have their role to play.

What medications should not be taken with DayQuil?

Dayquil should not be taken if you’re on Monoaminoxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). They are a class of antidepressants which can alter the amounts of excitatory neurotransmitters in your brain to help relieve symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and several other mental health conditions. If you have taken Dayquil and you feel your cold and flu getting worse, immediately talk to your healthcare provider. 

How quickly does Sudafed work?

Sudafed can start to work in just 15 to 30 minutes. However, you may need to wait an hour or two for the drug to reach its maximum therapeutic response. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider before taking this medicine. If you already are, make sure you don’t pair this one with anything that might elevate the side effects of the drug. 

What do you do if Sudafed doesn’t work?

There are plenty of other nasal decongestants that can be used if Sudafed doesn’t work that well in your case. Many antihistamines are also used to unclog your nasal cavity and to relieve symptoms associated with a cold and flu-like runny nose, itching and burning in the eyes, itching in the throat, etc. Make sure you ask your healthcare provider before taking any medication for your symptoms. 

What are the dangers of taking Sudafed and Dayquil together? 

Dangerously high blood pressure is the most concerning outcome of using Sudafed and Dayquil together. As stated earlier, Sudafed has pseudoephedrine and Dayquil has Phenylephrine in its composition. Both of these agents can constrict your blood vessels. The more your vessels become constricted, the more your blood pressure rises. This is the biggest reason why the concomitant use of Sudafed and Dayquil is contraindicated. 

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