DayQuil

Product selection

Selecting a product should depend on the specific symptom presentation of the user. Products should be selected with active ingredients limited only to those symptoms, thereby reducing the risk of over treatment with medications that the user is not showing symptoms for. Additionally, careful note should be taken when purchasing multiple over-the-counter cold and flu medicines because many products may contain the same active ingredient. The potential for overdose increases when consumers are unaware of the duplication of active ingredients in these medicines.

Research

There are conflicting studies showing the effectiveness of over-the-counter cold medicine in reducing cold and flu symptoms. A number of studies have found acetaminophen (alone and in combination) to be effective and a safe treatment for common cold symptoms such as sore throat and body aches. In contrast, a systematic review including 26 randomized controlled trials compared the use of over-the-counter cough medicines with no treatment in children and adults exhibiting cough in the ambulatory or outpatient setting. Among the studies, there was conflicting evidence of the effectiveness of cough medicines containing an antitussive, antihistamine or decongestant in providing better cough resolution outcomes versus no treatment.

Social and culture

Recreational use

Abuse and recreational use of dextromethorphan have been reported with over-the-counter preparations and can cause euphoric and dissociative effects at higher than recommended doses.

Warnings

Products containing acetaminophen

There is a risk of severe liver damage with the concurrent use of acetaminophen products and excessive alcohol use (≥3 alcoholic drinks/day depending on body weight). Acetaminophen is an active ingredient of many over-the-counter single ingredient products (e.g. to treat headache), multiple ingredient combination products as well as prescription-only medications written by a physician. Each formulation also varies per dose. When purchasing over-the-counter medications, avoid purchasing multiple products with acetaminophen ingredients. The suggested maximum daily intake of acetaminophen is limited to

Products containing dextromethorphan

Those prescribed monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO-i) should avoid the use of DayQuil products containing dextromethorphan within 2 weeks to avoid risks of Serotonin Syndrome.

References

References

1. [https://archive.today/20130205204308/http://www.vicks.com/dayquil Vicks DayQuil]
2. (November 4, 1974). "Daytime Cold Medicine". [[Statesman Journal]].
3. Yin HS. (2013). "Use of active ingredient information for low socioeconomic status parents' decision-making regarding cough and cold medications: role of health literacy". Academic Pediatrics.
4. Burnett I. (2006). "Onset of analgesia of a paracetamol tablet containing sodium bicarbonate: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in adult patients with acute sore throat". Clinical Therapeutics.
5. Mizoguchi H. (2007). "Efficacy of a single evening dose of syrup containing paracetamol, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, doxylamine succinate and ephedrine sulfate in subjects with multiple common cold symptoms". International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
6. Smith SM. (2012). "Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in ambulatory setting". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
7. Bryner JK. (2006). "Dextromethorphan abuse in adolescence: an increasing trend". Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
8. Schilling A. (2010). "Acetaminophen: Old drug, new warnings". Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine.
9. FDA. "Acetaminophen Overdose and Liver Injury - Background and Options for Reducing Injury".
10. Gillman PK. (2005). "Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, opioid analgesics and serotonin toxicity.". British Journal of Anaesthesia.