How Long Does Nyquil Stay In Your System?

This article covers the question of many, how long does Nyquil stay in your system? One of the main reasons because of the side effects that accompany it. Mainly the drowsiness that affects normal daily life. Let us go into detail and find the answer to the question.

Nyquil is a medication that is used to treat symptoms of the common cold and flu. It is a popular over-the-counter medication that can be bought without a prescription.

It contains the active ingredients acetaminophen, dextromethorphan(DXM), and doxylamine. Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. Doxylamine is an antihistamine that causes drowsiness. Nyquil is available in liquid, capsule, and tablet forms. It is typically taken every four to six hours as needed.

How long does Nyquil stay in your system?

Nyquil Capsules for Flu and Cold
Nyquil Capsules

The answer to this question depends on a few factors, including:

  • The amount of Nyquil that was taken
  • The person’s weight and metabolism
  • Whether or not the person eats and drinks alcohol
  • Liver condition
  • Age

Generally, Nyquil can stay in your system for up to eight hours. However, it is important to note that the half-life of Nyquil is only two to three hours. This means that after eight hours, only half of the Nyquil will still be in your system.

When you look at the half-life of each ingredient of Nyquil according to experts are:

  • Acetaminophen: The half-life of acetaminophen is two to four hours of the dose of 650 to 1,000 mg in adults. The ingredient Acetaminophen is metabolized in the liver and excreted in the urine.
  • Dextromethorphan: The half-life of Dextromethorphan is four to three to four hours. The maximum recommended daily dose of DXM is 120 mg.
  • Doxylamine: The half-life of Doxylamine is eight to 12 hours with the standard dose of 25mg.

Factors that affect how long Nyquil stays in your system

There are a few factors that affect how long Nyquil stays in your system. The first is how much you took. If you took the recommended dosage, it will likely stay in your system for around four hours.

Dosage

If you took a small dose, it will likely leave your system quicker than if you took a large dose. If you took more than the recommended dosage, it could stay in your system for up to eight hours.

How many Nyquil pills or liquids to take? Here is the recommended dosage of Nyquil for cold and flu:

Acetaminophen 325mg, doxylamine succinate 6.25mg, dextromethorphan HBr 15mg; per liquiCap.

  • Adult Dosage: 2 caps every 6hrs; max 4 doses/24hrs.
  • Children’s Dosage: Not recommended.
  • Contraindications: During or within 14 days of MAOIs

Acetaminophen 500mg, doxylamine succinate 6.25mg, dextromethorphan HBr 15mg; per 15mL; liquid; contains sodium 18mg (original) or 19mg (cherry) per 15mL; original or cherry flavor.

  • Adult Dosage: 30mL every 6hrs; max 4 doses/24hrs.
  • Children’s Dosage: Not recommended.
  • Contraindications: During or within 14 days of MAOIs.

How long does Nyquil take to kick in? Most people notice a difference within 30 minutes of taking Nyquil for a Cold or Flu. As the symptom relief lasts about 6 hours per dose, you will need to take it every 6 hours.

Metabolism

Another important factor that affects how long Nyquil stays in your system is how fast your metabolism is. If you have a fast metabolism, Nyquil will likely clear out of your system faster than someone with a slower metabolism.

What you ate or drank

Finally, what you ate or drank before taking Nyquil can also affect how long it stays in your system. If you had a large meal before taking Nyquil, it will likely take longer to leave your system than if you had an empty stomach.

Other factors are your age, weight and your liver conditions may affect how long Nyquil last in your body.

How to flush Nyquil out of your system faster?

If you’re looking to get Nyquil out of your system faster, there are a few things you can do. Here are 5 tips:

  1. Drink plenty of fluids. This will help to flush the Nyquil out of your system.
  2. Get some exercise. This will help to speed up your metabolism and help to eliminate Nyquil from your system faster.
  3. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol will only make the Nyquil last longer in your system.
  4. Eat healthy foods. Eating healthy foods will help to boost your metabolism and help your body to eliminate Nyquil faster.
  5. sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep will help to speed up your body’s natural process of eliminating Nyquil from your system.

Side effects of taking Nyquil

Nyquil is generally safe for most people to take. However, there are some potential side effects that you should be aware of. Here are five common side effects of Nyquil that you should know about:

  1. Drowsiness: How long does Nyquil make you sleep? NyQuil typically makes people feel sleepy within 30 minutes, and this feeling usually lasts for around 6 hours. This is one of the most common side effects of Nyquil resulting from doxylamine. The drowsiness caused by doxylamine will make you sleep. If you take Nyquil and find that you are feeling excessively sleepy, it is best to avoid operating heavy machinery or driving.
  2. Dry mouth: Another common side effect of Nyquil is dry mouth. If you experience dry mouth after taking Nyquil, it is best to drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol.
  3. Headache: Headache is a common side effect of many medications, and Nyquil is no exception. If you experience a headache after taking Nyquil, it is best to take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain reliever.
  4. Nausea: Some people may experience nausea after taking Nyquil. If you do experience nausea, it is best to drink plenty of fluids and avoid eating for a few hours.
  5. Dizziness: Dizziness is another common side effect of Nyquil. If you experience dizziness after taking Nyquil, it is best to sit or lie down and avoid moving around too much.

Takeaway

It is important to know how long Nyquil stays in your system. So that you can be sure to take it as directed. Nyquil is a medication that is used to treat symptoms of the common cold and flu.

It is important to take Nyquil as directed by your doctor or the package label. Do not take more or less than the recommended amount. Nyquil should be taken for the shortest amount of time necessary to relieve your symptoms.

Nyquil is metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. The half-life of Nyquil is about 4 hours. This means that it takes about 4 hours for the body to reduce the concentration of Nyquil by half. Nyquil should be out of your system within 24 hours.

If you take Nyquil as directed, there are no serious side effects to worry about. However, some people may experience drowsiness, dizziness, or upset stomach. If you experience any of these side effects, it is important to stop taking Nyquil and contact your doctor.

4 Sources

Noble Home Remedies relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations for accuracy and reliability while avoiding tertiary references. Our editorial policy provides more information about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date.

  1. Acetaminophen Toxicity: What Pharmacists Need to Know by U.S.Phamacist
  2. How Long Does Dextromethorphan Stay in Your System? by Banyan Treatment Center
  3. Doxylamine Succinate Overdose: Case Report and Literature Review Published in Journal Agent
  4. How long does NyQuil stay in your system? by GoodRx Health
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