NyQuil Dosage Guide: Dosing Guidelines for Adults - GoodRx (2024)

Trying to sleep when you have a cold or the flu sometimes feels impossible. So you might be looking for a nighttime cold medication like NyQuil for some relief. This over-the-counter (OTC) product includes a few medications to help treat several symptoms and help you sleep. But there are many NyQuil products to choose from. And each one may have different ingredients and directions.

To avoid taking too much by accident, it’s important to know what medications are in the product you choose and how to take it. Below, you’ll find information on typical NyQuil dosages for adults and adolescents ages 12 and older. But always check with your pharmacist or healthcare provider if you’re unsure.

Note: This article will focus on NyQuil doses for people ages 12 years and older. Be sure to check out our children’s NyQuil dosage guide for information on giving the medication to kids under 12.

What’s the typical NyQuil dosage for adults?

NyQuil is a brand name for several OTC combination cold medications. Each product contains slightly different ingredients. Be sure to check the OTC medicine label for a list of the active ingredients, as well as what symptoms each ingredient can help with.

NyQuil products typically contain one or more of the following medications:

• Acetaminophen — a pain reliever and fever reducer

• Dextromethorphan — a cough suppressant

• Phenylephrine — a decongestant that helps with a stuffy nose

NyQuil also contains one of the following antihistamines to help with a runny nose and sleep:

• Chlorpheniramine

• Diphenhydramine

• Doxylamine

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If you’re taking liquid NyQuil, make sure to use the dosing cup provided when taking the medication. Using household spoons to measure out doses can lead to doses that are too high or too low. If you’ve lost the dosing cup, talk to your pharmacist for a replacement dosing device.

Good to know: Many liquid forms of NyQuil contain up to 10% alcohol. For reference, that’s about the same amount of alcohol in a serving of wine. You won’t find it listed as part of the active ingredients. But the alcohol content is usually printed somewhere on the front of the label. Ask your pharmacist for help if you can’t find it.

NyQuil Cold & Flu

This NyQuil product is available as oral capsules or a liquid. The brand-name liquid contains 10% alcohol and is available in menthol and cherry flavors. One capsule or 15 mL of liquid contains:

• 325 mg of acetaminophen

• 15 mg of dextromethorphan

• 6.25 mg of doxylamine

The typical adult dosage of NyQuil Cold & Flu is 2 capsules or 30 mL by mouth every 6 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 4 doses (8 capsules or 120 mL) in 24 hours.

NyQuil Severe Maximum Strength

NyQuil’s Severe line of products comes as tablets, capsules, or a liquid. The liquid comes in three flavors: berry, honey, and VapoCOOL (menthol-flavored).

One pill or 15 mL of liquid contains:

• 325 mg of acetaminophen

• 10 mg of dextromethorphan

• 6.25 mg of doxylamine

• 5 mg of phenylephrine

The typical adult dosage of NyQuil Severe is 2 pills or 30 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 4 doses (8 pills or 120 mL) in 24 hours.

It’s important to note that the VapoCOOL version contains 10% alcohol, whereas the other flavors are alcohol free. Keep in mind generic versions of NyQuil Severe may have different amounts of alcohol in them.

NyQuil Alcohol Free

NyQuil Alcohol Free comes as a berry-flavored liquid. As the name suggests, this version doesn’t contain alcohol. Each 15 mL of liquid contains:

• 325 mg of acetaminophen

• 2 mg of chlorpheniramine

• 15 mg of dextromethorphan

The typical adult dosage of NyQuil Alcohol Free is 30 mL by mouth every 6 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 4 doses (120 mL) in 24 hours.

NyQuil Cough DM + Congestion

This version of NyQuil comes as an alcohol-free, berry-flavored liquid. Each 15 mL of liquid contains:

• 10 mg of dextromethorphan

• 6.25 mg of doxylamine

• 5 mg of phenylephrine

The typical adult dosage of NyQuil Cough DM + Congestion is 30 mL by mouth every 4 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 4 doses (120 mL) in 24 hours.

NyQuil High Blood Pressure

NyQuil High Blood Pressure is a liquid that’s alcohol and sugar-free. It also doesn’t contain any decongestants, which should be avoided if you have high blood pressure. Each 15 mL of liquid contains:

• 325 mg of acetaminophen

• 15 mg of dextromethorphan

• 6.25 mg of doxylamine

The recommended dosage of NyQuil High Blood Pressure is 30 mL by mouth every 6 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 4 doses (120 mL) in 24 hours.

NyQuil Hot Remedy

NyQuil Hot Remedy comes as powder packets that you dissolve in hot water to make a honey-lemon flavored drink. Each packet contains:

• 650 mg of acetaminophen

• 25 mg of diphenhydramine

• 10 mg of phenylephrine

Adults should dissolve one NyQuil Hot Remedy packet into 8 ozs of hot water. Mix and drink the mixture within 10 to 15 minutes of preparing it. You can repeat doses every 4 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 6 packets in 24 hours.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

There are some health conditions where you may need to avoid taking certain medications or ingredients found in NyQuil (like alcohol or sugar).

It’s best to talk to a healthcare provider about NyQuil first if you:

• Have liver problems

• Have high blood pressure or heart disease

• Have thyroid problems

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• Have diabetes

• Have glaucoma

• Have an enlarged prostate

• Follow a sodium-restricted diet

• Have breathing problems like asthma or emphysema

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

• Take other medications containing acetaminophen

• Take oral antihistamines, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) or Zyrtec (cetirizine)

• Take or have recently taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for conditions like depression or Parkinson's disease

NyQuil can make you drowsy. So avoid tasks that require focus, such as driving. You also shouldn’t combine it with other medications or substances that cause drowsiness, like alcohol or sedative medications. And keep in mind that NyQuil should never be used just as a sleep aid. There are other OTC options for sleep that don’t contain additional cough and cold medications.

What happens if you miss a dose of NyQuil?

NyQuil products are taken as needed to help with short-term relief of cold and flu symptoms. So, missed doses shouldn’t be a concern. But it’s important to wait the recommended time between doses. And never take more than the maximum amount listed on the package.

What should you do if you take too much NyQuil?

Taking too much NyQuil can raise the risk of dangerous side effects, such as severe drowsiness or liver damage. You should always follow the recommended dosages for the specific product you have.

Before combining NyQuil with other cold medications, ask your pharmacist if this is OK to do. Cough and cold products often contain similar ingredients. Taking more than one at a time can lead to an unintended overdose.

The misuse of OTC cough syrup is a recognized problem, particularly among teenagers. An overdose of NyQuil could cause seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, or loss of consciousness. If you believe that you or someone you know has taken too much NyQuil, contact a healthcare provider or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. For symptoms that seem severe or life threatening, call 911 or seek emergency care.

How to save on NyQuil

There are many ways to save on NyQuil, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. By having your healthcare provider write a prescription for OTC NyQuil, GoodRx can help you save off the average retail price. Generic NyQuil's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $9.30 with a free GoodRx discount.