Is it safe to take common cough medicine with Tamiflu?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Is it safe to take common cough medicine with Tamiflu?
Yes, it is absolutely safe to take Tamiflu with the common cough medicine – Dextromethorphan. Tamiflu is a safe medication when it comes to drug-drug interactions and it interacts with only a few medications, which certainly do not include OTC meds (1,2).
Dextromethorphan is the most commonly used cough suppressant, which is often paired with Guaifenesin – an expectorant (3). The combination of Dextromethorphan and Guaifenesin helps relieve cough and open your airways by loosening up the thick mucus.
None of these two OTC meds interacts with Tamiflu and can be safely taken together. Tamiflu can also be taken with other OTC medications like Tylenol, to manage body aches and fever associated with the viral infection.
However, people are different and can respond differently to medications. It is also worth mentioning that some people could be taking other medications which may interact with either Tamiflu or the cold medication they are taking along with it.
Potential benefits of taking common cough medicines with Tamiflu
The potential benefits of taking common cough medicines with Tamiflu include managing specific cold symptoms like cough and congestion, while Tamiflu helps to treat the flu virus itself. Combining these medications may provide more comprehensive relief for your cold and flu symptoms (1,2).
However, it’s important to be cautious about using multiple medications together, even if they are considered safe individually. Some cough medicines may contain similar active ingredients to each other, which can lead to an unintentional overdose.
Also, certain cough medicines may interact with other medications you are taking or have specific side effects that could be worsened when combined with Tamiflu.
To ensure your safety and get the most effective treatment, it’s essential to talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking any cough medicines with Tamiflu.
Non-pharmacological ways to manage cough
Some non-pharmacological ways to manage cough, which are considered safer than the use of any medication, include (4):
- Honey soothes the throat and reduces irritation with its antimicrobial properties.
- Ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties ease coughing and throat irritation.
- Lemon’s high vitamin C content boosts the immune system to fight cough-causing infections.
- Steam Inhalation helps loosen mucus and clears nasal passages, providing relief from congestion and cough.
- Warm Fluids like herbal teas, broth, or warm water with honey and lemon keep the throat moist and thin out mucus.
- Saltwater Gargle reduces throat inflammation, offering relief from a sore throat and dry cough.
- Eucalyptus Oil, inhaled with hot water steam, alleviates congestion and reduces coughing.
- Thyme Tea, with its antibacterial properties, fights respiratory infections, providing cough relief.
- Marshmallow Root contains mucilage, soothing the throat and alleviating dry cough.
- Propping Up your head while sleeping with extra pillows can reduce nighttime coughing and postnasal drip.
Please remember that natural remedies can be helpful for managing cough, but if symptoms persist or worsen, consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment.
Final words
To sum up, you can take Tamiflu with common cough medications. However, people are different and can respond differently to such combinations. It’s best to reach out to your doctor to determine a safe and effective way of managing your symptoms.
You can also try home remedies for cough that are relatively safer to combine with Tamiflu.
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References
1.-
Sur M, Lopez MJ, Baker MB. Oseltamivir. 2022 Sep 24. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30969731. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539909
2.-
Oh S, Agrawal S, Sabir S, Taylor A. Dextromethorphan. 2023 May 22. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30855804. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538216
3.-
Dicpinigaitis PV, Gayle YE. Effect of guaifenesin on cough reflex sensitivity. Chest. 2003 Dec;124(6):2178-81. doi: 10.1378/chest.124.6.2178. PMID: 14665498. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14665498/
4.-
Ciprandi G, Tosca MA. Non-pharmacological remedies for post-viral acute cough. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2021 Aug 10;92(1). doi: 10.4081/monaldi.2021.1821. PMID: 34461702. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34461702/
