Mucinex Nightshift Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Mucinex Nightshift is a line of combination products that treat cold and flu symptoms. All products contain acetaminophen (a pain reliever and fever reducer), dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant), and triprolidine (an antihistamine that helps promote sleep). Some Mucinex Nightshift products also contain the nasal decongestant phenylephrine.
The recommended Mucinex Nightshift dosage for adults is 2 pills or 20 mL of the liquid medication every 4 hours as needed. You shouldn’t take more than 4 doses (8 pills or 80 mL) in 24 hours.
The Mucinex line also offers nighttime products for children, but they don’t say “Nightshift” on the package. Typically, children 6 to 11 years old can take an age-appropriate dose every 4 hours as needed. The maximum daily dose varies between products.
Mucinex Nightshift products are available over the counter as brand-name and generic medications. If a healthcare professional writes you a prescription for Mucinex Nightshift, GoodRx can help save you money.
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Table of contents
Being sick with a cold or the flu comes with unpleasant symptoms and can make sleeping tricky. But there are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can help. Mucinex is a popular brand of cold and flu medications. And there are several nighttime products in the Mucinex Nightshift line.
Knowing how much Mucinex Nightshift to take can help you get the most out of the medication while reducing the risk of serious side effects. Below, we cover typical Mucinex Nightshift dosages for adults and children — plus, what to do if you take too much.
What’s the typical Mucinex Nightshift dosage for adults?
In general, the recommended Mucinex Nightshift dosage for adults is 2 pills or 20 mL of the liquid medication every 4 hours as needed. The maximum dosage is 4 doses (8 pills or 80 mL) in 24 hours.
Keep in mind that Mucinex Nightshift is a line of combination cold medications. Each product has slightly different active ingredients, so it’s a good idea to carefully read the over-the-counter (OTC) label of your selected product.
If you’re taking a liquid version of Mucinex Nightshift, be sure to use the dose cup provided in the package to measure out your doses. Don’t use household spoons, as you could measure out too much or too little medication. If you lose the dose cup, ask your pharmacist about a replacement solution.
Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu caplets dosage for adults
Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu caplets (capsule-shaped tablets) contain:
325 mg of acetaminophen (a pain reliever and fever reducer)
10 mg of dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant)
1.25 mg of triprolidine (an antihistamine that helps with runny nose and promotes sleep)
The typical Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu dosage for adults is 2 caplets by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 8 caplets in 24 hours.
Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu caplets dosage for adults
Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu caplets contain:
325 mg of acetaminophen
10 mg of dextromethorphan
5 mg of phenylephrine (a nasal decongestant)
1.25 mg of triprolidine
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The typical Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu dosage for adults is 2 caplets by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 8 caplets in 24 hours.
Good to know: Mucinex Nightshift Sinus caplets contain the same active ingredients as Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu caplets. They also have the same instructions for use.
Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu liquid dosage for adults
A 20 mL dose of Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu liquid contains:
650 mg of acetaminophen
20 mg of dextromethorphan
2.5 mg of triprolidine
The typical Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu liquid dosage for adults is 20 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 80 mL in 24 hours.
Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu liquid dosage for adults
A 20 mL dose of Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu liquid contains:
650 mg of acetaminophen
20 mg of dextromethorphan
10 mg of phenylephrine
2.5 mg of triprolidine
The typical Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu liquid dosage for adults is 20 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 80 mL in 24 hours.
Good to know: Mucinex Nightshift Sinus liquid contains the same active ingredients as Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu liquid. It also has the same instructions for use.
What’s the typical Mucinex Nightshift dosage for children?
Adolescents age 12 and older can follow the adult Mucinex Nightshift dosage information described above. Children under 12 shouldn’t take any products in the Mucinex Nightshift line.
There are nighttime Mucinex products that are safe for kids younger than 12. The active ingredients and dosages for these products are detailed below.
Children’s Mucinex Night Time Multi-Symptom Cold liquid dosage
A 10 mL dose of Children’s Mucinex Night Time Multi-Symptom Cold liquid contains:
325 mg of acetaminophen
12.5 mg of diphenhydramine (an antihistamine that helps with runny nose and promotes sleep)
5 mg of phenylephrine
The typical Children’s Mucinex Night Time Multi-Symptom Cold liquid dosage for children ages 6 to 11 years old is 10 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t give your child more than 5 doses (50 mL) in 24 hours. Children under 6 years old shouldn’t take this medication.
Children’s Mucinex FreeFrom Multi-Symptom Cold and Flu Nighttime liquid dosage
Every 10 mL of Children’s Mucinex FreeFrom Multi-Symptom Cold and Flu Nighttime liquid contains:
325 mg of acetaminophen
10 mg of dextromethorphan
5 mg of phenylephrine
1.25 mg of triprolidine
The typical Children’s Mucinex FreeFrom Multi-Symptom Cold and Flu Nighttime liquid dosage for children ages 6 to 11 years old is 10 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t give your child more than 4 doses (40 mL) in 24 hours. Children under 6 years old shouldn’t take this medication.
Children’s Mucinex Night Time Cough Mighty Chews dosage
Each Children’s Mucinex Nighttime Cough Mighty Chew contains:
10 mg of dextromethorphan
6.25 mg of doxylamine (an antihistamine that helps with runny nose and promotes sleep)
Here are the recommended dosages for the chewable tablets by age group:
Adolescents 12 years and older: Chew 2 tablets every 4 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 12 tablets in 24 hours.
Children ages 6-11: Chew 1 tablet every 4 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 6 tablets in 24 hours.
Children under 6: Don’t give this medication to children in this age group.
Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?
Some medications require dosage adjustments for people with certain health conditions, such as kidney disease. While this isn’t the case for Mucinex Nightshift, there are some people who may need to avoid the products completely.
Ask a healthcare professional before taking Mucinex Nightshift if you:
Have heart problems, such as heart disease
Have high blood pressure
Have thyroid problems
Have liver disease
Have diabetes
Are pregnant
Are breastfeeding
Have glaucoma
Have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland
Have a chronic cough caused by smoking, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Take other medications that contain acetaminophen
Take medications that cause drowsiness, such as sleep aids or opioid pain relievers
Have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such as selegiline (Emsam, Zelapar), in the last 2 weeks
Have excessive amounts of mucus with your cough
These aren’t the only reasons why people may need to avoid taking Mucinex Nightshift. So it’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional in advance if you have any health conditions or take any other medications. They can make sure Mucinex NightShift is OK for you to take.
What should you do if you take too much Mucinex Nightshift?
In most cases, taking an extra dose of Mucinex NightShift likely won’t cause serious harm. But you may experience more side effects than usual. Each active ingredient in Mucinex NightShift products can cause unique side effects. But drowsiness and dizziness are common.
Taking an excessive amount of Mucinex Nightshift can be more serious. The acetaminophen can contribute to liver damage at high doses. Too much phenylephrine can cause your blood pressure or heart rate to rise. And too much dextromethorphan or triprolidine can cause severe side effects such as hallucinations, seizures, or even death.
If you think that you took too much Mucinex Nightshift, contact a healthcare professional for guidance or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If you have any life-threatening symptoms, such as trouble breathing or loss of consciousness, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
How to save on Mucinex Nightshift
There are many ways to save on Mucinex Nightshift products, which are available as brand-name and generic medications. If you have a healthcare professional write you a prescription for Mucinex Nightshift, GoodRx may be able to help you save up to 80% off the average retail price.
The price of a 180 mL bottle of Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu at certain pharmacies may be as low as $14.37 with a free GoodRx coupon. And the price for a 180 mL bottle of Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu may be as low as $14.37.
The bottom line
Mucinex Nightshift is a line of over-the-counter (OTC) combination cold medications. The typical adult Mucinex Nightshift dosage is 2 caplets or 20 mL of the liquid medication every 4 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 4 doses (8 caplets or 80 mL) in 24 hours. Adolescents age 12 and older can also follow these instructions.
Children under 12 years old shouldn’t take any Mucinex Nightshift products. But there are nighttime Mucinex products that kids in this age range can take. Generally, children who are 6 to 11 years old can take an age-appropriate dose of these medications every 4 hours. The maximum daily dose varies between products. Children under 6 years old shouldn’t take any nighttime Mucinex products.
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References
Borowy, C. S. (2023). Antihistamine toxicity. StatPearls.
DailyMed. (n.d.). Mucinex Nightshift.
RB Health LLC. (2021). Mucinex Children’s FreeFrom Multi-Symptom Cold and Flu Nighttime - acetaminophen, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, phenylephrine hydrochloride, and triprolidine hydrochloride solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
RB Health LLC. (2022). Mucinex Children’s Night Time Multi-Symptom Cold - acetaminophen, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and phenylephrine hydrochloride solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
RB Health LLC. (2022). Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu - acetaminophen, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, phenylephrine hydrochloride, and triprolidine hydrochloride solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
RB Health LLC. (2023). Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu Maximum Strength - acetaminophen, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, and triprolidine hydrochloride tablet, coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
RB Health LLC. (2023). Mucinex Nightshift Severe Cold and Flu Maximum Strength - acetaminophen, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, phenylephrine hydrochloride, and triprolidine hydrochloride tablet, coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
RB Health LLC. (2023). Mucinex Nightshift Sinus - acetaminophen, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, phenylephrine hydrochloride, and triprolidine hydrochloride solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
RB Health LLC. (2023). Mucinex Nightshift Sinus Maximum Strength - acetaminophen, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, phenylephrine hydrochloride, and triprolidine hydrochloride tablet, coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
RB Health LLC. (2024). Mucinex Children’s Mighty Chews Cough Nighttime - dextromethorphan HBr and doxylamine succinate tablet, chewable [package insert]. DailyMed.
RB Health LLC. (2024). Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu - acetaminophen, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, and triprolidine hydrochloride solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
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