acetaminophen / dextromethorphan / doxylamine / phenylephrine
Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night is a combination medication containing acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and phenylephrine. It's used to treat cold and flu symptoms, like sore throat, fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing, stuffy nose, and minor aches. Since it can make you sleepy, it's meant to be taken at nighttime. Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night is available over the counter.
What is Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night?
What is Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night used for?
Temporarily relieves common cold and flu symptoms, including:
Cough
Sore throat
Headache
Minor aches and pains
Fever
Runny nose
Sneezing
Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
Sinus congestion and pressure
How Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night works
Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night is a combination of four medications.
Acetaminophen is an analgesic. It relieves pain and lowers fever by stopping the production of certain chemicals in the brain that cause both pain and fever.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. It works in the part of your brain that makes you cough, calming it down and telling your body to cough less.
Doxylamine is an antihistamine. It blocks histamine, a natural chemical in your body that causes congestion, sneezing, and wakefulness.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant. It works to clear your stuffy nose and sinuses by tightening your blood vessels, which causes less fluid to leak out.
Drug Facts
What are the side effects of Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night?
Common Side Effects
- Drowsiness
- Excitability in children
Serious Side Effects
- Signs of an overdose: seizures, heart rhythm problems, confusion, trouble urinating, blurred vision, hallucinations, trouble breathing, yellowing of the skin or eyes, stomach pain, loss of consciousness
- Liver damage: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, severe stomach pain, yellowing of skin or eyes
- Serotonin syndrome: fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, high fever, confusion
Source:Â DailyMed
Pros and cons of Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night
Pros
Works within 30 minutes to relieve cold and flu symptoms
Combines four medications for convenience
Available in capsules, tablets, and a liquid
Available over the counter
Cons
Needs to be taken multiple times per day
Can cause drowsiness
Can't be used in children under 12 years old (depending on the product)
Not meant for long-term use
Pharmacist tips for Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night
When taking the tablets or capsules, swallow them whole. Don't crush, chew, or dissolve them. This can cause the medication to not work as well.
If you're using the liquid, store the medication at room temperature (don't refrigerate). Shake the bottle well before using. Be sure to use the medication dose cup, spoon, or syringe that the product comes with to measure out your dose. Using household teaspoons might cause you to take the wrong amount of Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night.
Avoid alcohol or other sedating medications. This can make you more drowsy and less alert when taking with Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night. Be careful driving or doing anything that requires you to be alert until you know how this medication affects you. Alcohol can also raise your risk of liver damage when taking medications containing acetaminophen.
Don't use this medication to make your child sleepy. While Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night usually makes adults sleepy, it's possible for children who use this medication to become overly excited or energetic. If this happens to your child, speak to your child's provider.
Don't use Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night if you're currently using or have used a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the past 14 days. This can raise your risk for a dangerous side effect called serotonin syndrome.
Many over-the-counter and prescription medications contain acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and phenylephrine. Check and make sure you aren't taking more than the recommended amounts of each medication to avoid overdose (hallucinations, breathing problems, yellowing of the skin or eyes, stomach pain, feeling tired, nausea, vomiting). Ask your healthcare provider if you aren't sure if any of these medications are already in medications you're currently taking. If you think you or your child has overdosed, call a Poison Control Center right away at (800) 222-1222.
Stop using Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night and talk to your provider if your sore throat lasts for more than 2 days, or if it occurs with a fever, headache, rash, nausea or vomiting. In additon, if your cough, pain, or stuffy nose lasts longer than 7 days, your cough stops and returns or occurs with a rash or headache that lasts, or your fever gets worse or lasts for more than 3 days, contact your provider. These can all be signs of a more serious condition that Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night won't be able to treat.
If you notice any mood changes, dizziness, trouble sleeping, redness, swelling, new symptoms, or any of your symptoms get worse, stop taking Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night and contact your provider.
Frequently asked questions about Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night
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What are the risks and warnings for Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night?
Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Liver damage
Risk factors: Drinking 3 or more alcoholic beverages a day | Taking with other acetaminophen-containing medications | History of liver disease
Taking too much acetaminophen causes liver damage that can be permanent and life-threatening. Avoid drinking alcohol when taking Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night. Also avoid using Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night if you already have liver problems, since it can cause further damage to your liver. Signs of liver problems can include dark urine, feeling tired, upset stomach or stomach pain, or yellowing of skin or eyes. If you notice any of these symptoms, call your provider right away.
Sleepiness and driving impairment
Risk factors: Taking with alcohol | Taking other medications that make you less alert
Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night can lower your ability to focus, think, and react. Your risk is higher when drinking alcohol or taking other medications that make you drowsy or less alert (e.g., benzodiazepines, opioids). Be careful and avoid activities that require you to be alert, such as driving a car or operating machinery, until you know how this medication affects you.
Dangerous for children under 4 years old
Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night is not safe and shouldn't be used in children under 4 years old. Using this medication for children that young can cause serious problems, including trouble breathing and even death. There are other medications available that are safer for young children. Speak to your child's provider or your pharmacist to discuss alternatives.
Overdose and misuse
Risk factors: Using other medications with similar ingredients
Taking too much Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night can lead to serious problems, including seizures, heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), loss of consciousness, and death. All the ingredients in Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night (acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, doxylamine, and phenylephrine) are found in multiple cough, cold, and allergy products, so it's not recommended to take more than one of these products at a time.
It's especially important to keep track of how much acetaminophen you're taking throughout the day to avoid overdosing, which can lead to liver damage. For adults, the maximum amount of acetaminophen is 3 or 4 grams in a 24-hour period, depending on your provider's instructions. For children, ask your child's provider.
Some people, including adolescents, have been known to purposely misuse dextromethorphan. This can lead to an overdose and is why many retail stores require you to be over 18 years old to purchase products containing dextromethorphan.
It's always a good idea to keep all medications, even over-the-counter products, in a secure place out of the reach of children. If you suspect that you or someone you know have overdosed on Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) right away.
Serotonin syndrome
Risk factors: Taking other medications that can affect the serotonin levels in your brain
Serotonin syndrome is a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition where there's too much serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemicals in your brain responsible for your mood. Your risk goes up if you use Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night with other medications that affect serotonin levels (antidepressants, lithium, certain medications used to treat Parkinson's disease, MAOIs). Tell your provider about all medications and over-the-counter products you take before starting Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night so they can check for any interactions. Symptoms of too much serotonin include a fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, fever, and confusion. Contact your healthcare provider or seek medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms.
Allergic skin reactions
Rarely, Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night can cause serious skin reactions. If you notice a rash, blisters, or your skin turns red after taking this medication, stop using it and get medical attention right away.
Worsening of certain medical conditions
Risk factors: Liver problems | Heart problems | High blood pressure | Thyroid problems | Diabetes | Glaucoma | Sodium-restricted diet | Trouble urinating | Long-term cough | Cough with too much mucus
Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night shouldn't be used in people with certain medical conditions (for example, long-term coughing caused by conditions such as asthma, emphysema, smoking, and chronic bronchitis). If you currently have or have had liver problems, heart problems, high blood pressure, glaucoma, trouble urinating, diabetes, thyroid problems, or if you're on a sodium-restricted diet, speak to your provider first before using this medication. Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night can worsen your condition and might not be right for you.
Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 325mg/10mg/6.25mg/5mg/15ml | 1 bottle | $5.53 | $5.53 |
Typical dosing for Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night
There are several manufacturers of this medication that might have slightly different dosing instructions.
Be sure to check the medication box for specific directions. Below are some examples of dosing instructions.
Each capsule contains 325 mg of acetaminophen, 10 mg of dextromethorphan, 6.25 mg of doxylamine, and 5 mg of phenylephrine.
Adults and children 12 years and older: The typical dose is 2 capsules by mouth with water every 4 hours. Don't take more than 10 capsules in 24 hours.
Children 11 years and younger: Don't use.
Each tablet contains 325 mg of acetaminophen, 10 mg of dextromethorphan, 6.25 mg of doxylamine, and 5 mg of phenylephrine.
Adults and children 12 years or older: The typical dose is 2 tablets by mouth with water every 4 hours. Don't take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.
Children 4 to 11 years old: Ask your child's provider.
Children 3 years and younger: Don't use.
Each 15 mL of medication contains 325 mg of acetaminophen, 10 mg of dextromethorphan, 6.25 mg of doxylamine, and 5 mg of phenylephrine.
Adults and children 12 years or older: The typical dose is 30 mL (2 tablespoons) by mouth every 4 hours. Don't take more than 150 mL (10 tablespoons) in 24 hours.
Children 11 years and younger: Ask your child's provider.
Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night contraindications
Take with any other medication containing acetaminophen (prescription or nonprescription)
Currently take or have taken an MAOI in the last 14 days
What are alternatives to Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night?
Temporarily relieves common cold and flu symptoms, including:
Cough
Sore throat
Headache
Minor aches and pains
Fever
Runny nose
Sneezing
Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
Sinus congestion and pressure
Cough
Sore throat
Headache
Minor aches and pains
Fever
Runny nose
Sneezing
Short-term relief of symptoms from the common cold and flu:
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