In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “Does Dayquil make you sleepy?”. Dayquil is a multipurpose medication that is designed for the management of the symptoms associated with the common cold and flu.

However, this medication is associated with some mild side effects and it may disturb the quality of your sleep. This is all we are going to discuss in this blog.

Does Dayquil make you sleepy?

Dayquil may make you sleepy. However, this drug is marketed as a ‘non-sedative’ medicine, but higher doses may make you feel sleepy. This effect can vary from person to person and in some people, it’s not even a side effect.

Some surveys have shown that Dayquil can help relieve your pain, fever, headache, and runny nose which may make you comfortable and feel relaxed. When your muscles are pain-free, it helps feel calm and can induce sleep.

So, in some people, sedation is not actually a side effect, but it occurs as a result of the therapeutic activity of Dayquil. However, it can cause sedation as a side effect in some people, especially those who tend to misuse Dayquil.

This is why you should always stick to the doctor’s recommended doses and should never take more than needed. Taking higher doses can cause even more complications for you that you may avoid by sticking to the lower therapeutic doses.

What is the composition of Dayquil?

Ingredient	Concentration in milligrams	Function
Acetaminophen	325	To relieve pain and fever
Dextromethorphan	10	To suppress cough and throat irritation
Phenylephrine	5	To relieve nasal congestion

This combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can help recover your symptoms associated with common cold and flu, including

Sore throat
Cough
Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Watery eyes
Headache
Muscle pain
Fever with or without chills

Dayquil is available in the form of orange flavoured syrup. The recommended doses are

For adults and children older than 12 years of age: Two tablespoons of the syrup with the interval of four hours. It is not recommended to take more than 6 doses or more than 180 ml in 24 hours

For children older than 6 years of and younger than 12 years of age: One tablespoon of the syrup with the interval of four hours. It is not recommended to take more than 5 doses or more than 75 ml in 24 hours

What are the harmful effects of Dayquil?

Dayquil is considered a relatively safer medication. However, every medication on the planet is associated with some side effects. They can be mild in some people and severe in others.

The amount of the drug taken can make a huge difference as higher doses can cause more serious complications. Some common side effects are:

Sleepiness
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Nervousness
Confusion
Inability to concentrate (at higher doses)

Dayquil can also cause liver damage in high doses as it contains Acetaminophen, which is capable of causing liver toxicity. Make sure you don’t combine this with any other medication that contains Acetaminophen.

It is also not recommended for heavy alcohol drinkers to take Dayquil. This is because alcohol in combination with Dayquil can cause serious liver damage and can give rise to a number of complications. Dayquil should not be taken if you’re on Monoaminoxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

They are a class of antidepressants which can alter the amounts of excitatory neurotransmitters in your brain to help relieve symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and several other mental health conditions.

If you have taken Dayquil and you feel your cold and flu getting worse, immediately talk to your healthcare provider.

If the medication fails to control your symptoms in 5 to 7 days, this indicates that Dayquil is not working for your condition or maybe it’s just not enough and you need something else to control your symptoms.

The same rule applies to children. If they don’t show any progress in about 5 days, consult your healthcare provider.

What to do if Dayquil makes you sleepy?

If your Dayquil makes you sleepy, there are a few things you can try. These include:

Talk to your healthcare provider

If Dayquil makes you sleepy, the first approach to feel better is to talk to your healthcare provider. Although Dayquil is not associated with severe sedation, it may still cause daytime alertness issues in some people, especially those who are generally sensitive to medications.

Another important thing to monitor is the dose at which you are. If you are taking more than your doctor has prescribed, immediately go back to the original dose.

High doses cause side effects more commonly. If you’re taking Dayquil just as directed by your healthcare provider, the medication might not suit you well. In this case, your doctor will ask you to discontinue the drug and may switch you to another one.

Drink some coffee

If Dayquil messes up your mental alertness during the daytime, you can drink a cup of coffee. Caffeine helps increase your mental alertness because it is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant.

It can also help with some of the symptoms associated with the common colds and flu, like headache and sore throat. However, too much caffeine is not recommended.

It may spike your anxiety and agitation. This is why everything should be consumed within a certain limit. Excess to everything can give rise to a number of new complications.

Make sure you have good sleep hygiene

Having good sleep hygiene is another way to increase your energy levels. When you don’t sleep well at night, your brain remains a little tired throughout the day and whatever side effect you’re having, it’ll make it feel double.

This is why you should have a good night’s sleep by maintaining good sleep hygiene. For that purpose, there are some important things to notice:

Make sure you have a comfortable sleeping environment. Your bedroom lighting should be dim to help you feel calm and relaxed. The temperature should also be relaxing.

Do not use any electronic gadgets once you lie in bed to sleep. Laptops and smartphones can significantly decrease the quality of your sleep by activating the melatonin receptors in your eyes.

Do not consume heavy meals before bed. Heavy meals do not let your body enter into relaxation mode because your stomach remains busy digesting the food you just ate. This is why keep your stomach empty before bedtime and consume your last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime.

Do not drink coffee in the evening or before bedtime. Caffeine has a half-life of about 6 hours and it can stay active in your body for as long as 8 hours. This is why it is not recommended to drink coffee in the evening.

Make exercise a part of your routine

Exercising is the best way to increase your energy levels, especially in morning workouts. Experts suggest that going for a walk early in the morning can help start your day in the best of ways.

It can help increase the amount of serotonin in your body naturally which can help elevate your mood and control your anxiety and depression. It also keeps you energetic throughout the day.

Make sure to take breaks

If you work during the daytime, always remember to take a break. If you have a desk job, working for a long time in the same position can make you feel less energetic and sleepy.

Make sure you take breaks in between your job to walk a little or stretch your legs. It helps your muscles breathe and makes you feel more active.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have discussed Dayquil-induced sleepiness. Although Dayquil is not associated with severe sedation, it may still cause daytime alertness issues in some people, especially those who are generally sensitive to medications.

This effect can vary from person to person and in some people, it’s not even a side effect. Some surveys have shown that Dayquil can help relieve your pain, fever, headache, and runny nose which may make you comfortable and feel relaxed.

When your muscles are pain-free, it helps feel calm and can induce sleep. Make sure you ask your healthcare provider before using any medication.

FAQs: does Dayquil make you sleepy

Why does DayQuil still make me sleepy?

Dayquil may make you sleepy. However, this drug is marketed as a ‘non-sedating’ medicine, but high doses may make you feel sleepy. This effect can vary from person to person and in some people, it’s not even a side effect. If Dayquil makes you sleepy, the first approach to feel better is to talk to your healthcare provider.

What exactly does DayQuil do?

Dayquil is a multipurpose medication that is designed for the management of the symptoms associated with the common cold and flu. This combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can help recover your symptoms associated with common cold and flu, including

Sore throat
Cough
Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Watery eyes
Headache
Muscle pain
Fever with or without chills

Can you take DayQuil before going to bed?

Yes, you can take Dayquil before you go to bed. It may help you fall asleep. Dayquil can help relieve your pain, fever, headache, and runny nose which may make you comfortable and feel relaxed. When your muscles are pain-free, it helps feel calm and can induce sleep. So, in some people, sedation is not actually a side effect, but it occurs as a result of the therapeutic activity of Dayquil.

How long does it take for DayQuil to kick in?

Dayquil has a quick onset of action and it starts working in around 30 minutes. It may take 2 to 3 days to show noticeable results. However, if the medication fails to control your symptoms in 5 to 7 days, this indicates that Dayquil is not working for your condition or maybe it’s just not enough and you need something else to control your symptoms. The same rule applies to children. If they don’t show any progress in about 5 days, consult your healthcare provider.

Does Dayquil cause liver damage?

Yes, Dayquil can cause liver damage in high doses as it contains Acetaminophen, which is capable of causing liver toxicity. Make sure you don’t combine this with any other medication that contains Acetaminophen. It is also not recommended for heavy alcohol drinkers to take Dayquil. This is because alcohol in combination with Dayquil can cause serious liver damage and can give rise to a number of complications.

Who should not take DayQuil?

Dayquil should not be taken if you’re on Monoaminoxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). They are a class of antidepressants which can alter the amounts of excitatory neurotransmitters in your brain to help relieve symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and several other mental health conditions. If you have taken Dayquil and you feel your cold and flu getting worse, immediately talk to your healthcare provider.

References

What You Need to Know About DayQuil https://www.verywellhealth.com/before-you-buy-dayquil-cold-and-flu-770587#:~:text=Even%20though%20it%20is%20marketed,nervousness%2C%20dizziness%2C%20or%20sleepiness.
About DayQuil https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/dayquil

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