Vicks NyQuil is a brand of
over-the-counter
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines sold directly to a consumer without a requirement for a prescription from a healthcare professional, as opposed to prescription drugs, which may be supplied only to consumers possessing a valid pres ...
medication
Medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal product, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to medical diagnosis, diagnose, cure, treat, or preventive medicine, prevent disease. Drug therapy (pharmaco ...
manufactured by
Procter & Gamble
The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is an American multinational consumer goods corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble. It specializes in a wide range of personal health/con ...
intended for the relief of various symptoms of the
common cold
The common cold, or the cold, is a virus, viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the Respiratory epithelium, respiratory mucosa of the human nose, nose, throat, Paranasal sinuses, sinuses, and larynx. ...
. All medications within the NyQuil imprint contain
sedating antihistamine
Antihistamines are drugs which treat allergic rhinitis, common cold, influenza, and other allergies. Typically, people take antihistamines as an inexpensive, generic (not patented) drug that can be bought without a prescription and provides ...
s; they are intended to be taken before sleep. Its daytime counterpart is antihistamine-free
DayQuil, formulated to avoid drowsiness. NyQuil is also used as a
sleep aid. NyQuil was first marketed in the United States in 1966.
Products
NyQuil Cold/Flu Multisymptom Relief
The liquid version of NyQuil Cold/Flu Multi-symptom Relief, available in syrup and LiquidCap form. The recommended adult dose contains:
*
Acetaminophen (650 mg/30 mL) (pain reliever/
fever reducer)
*
Dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan, sold under the brand name Robitussin among others, is a cough suppressant used in many cough and Common cold, cold medicines. In 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the combination dextromethorphan/bupropi ...
(30 mg/30 mL) (cough suppressant)
*
Doxylamine succinate (12.5 mg/30 mL) (antihistamine/hypnotic)
The LiquiCap capsule version has the following active ingredients per pill, half the recommended adult dose:
* Acetaminophen (325 mg/pill) (pain reliever/fever reducer)
* Dextromethorphan (15 mg/pill) (cough suppressant)
* Doxylamine succinate (6.25 mg/pill) (antihistamine/hypnotic)
The liquid version of NyQuil SEVERE Cold/Flu Multi-symptom Relief, available in syrup and LiquidCap form. The recommended adult dose contains:
* Acetaminophen (650 mg/30 mL) (pain reliever/
fever reducer)
* Dextromethorphan (20 mg/30 mL) (cough suppressant)
* Doxylamine succinate (12.5 mg/30 mL) (antihistamine/hypnotic)
*
Phenylephrine
Phenylephrine, sold under the brand names Neosynephrine and Sudafed PE among others, is a medication used as a decongestant for uncomplicated nasal congestion in the form of a nasal spray or oral tablet, to dilate the pupil, to increase bloo ...
(10 mg/30 mL) (nasal decongestant)
The LiquiCap capsule version has the following active ingredients per pill, half the recommended adult dose:
* Acetaminophen (325 mg/pill) (pain reliever/fever reducer)
* Dextromethorphan (15 mg/pill) (cough suppressant)
* Doxylamine succinate (6.25 mg/pill) (antihistamine/hypnotic)
* Phenylephrine (5 mg/pill) (nasal decongestant)
NyQuil D
NyQuil D contains
pseudoephedrine, a decongestant that in some regions (such as the United States) is now placed behind the counters at pharmacy and other retail stores and must be requested by the customer. It contains the following active ingredients (15 mL is one tablespoon, half the recommended adult dose):
*
Acetaminophen (500 mg/15 mL) (pain reliever/fever reducer)
*
Dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan, sold under the brand name Robitussin among others, is a cough suppressant used in many cough and Common cold, cold medicines. In 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the combination dextromethorphan/bupropi ...
(15 mg/15 mL) (cough suppressant)
*
Doxylamine succinate (6.25 mg/15 mL) (antihistamine/hypnotic)
*
Pseudoephedrine (30 mg/15 mL) (nasal decongestant)
NyQuil Cough
Nyquil Cough contains a cough suppressant and antihistamine but no painkiller. Its active ingredients are:
*
Dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan, sold under the brand name Robitussin among others, is a cough suppressant used in many cough and Common cold, cold medicines. In 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the combination dextromethorphan/bupropi ...
(15 mg/15 mL) (cough suppressant)
*
Doxylamine succinate (6.25 mg/15 mL) (antihistamine/hypnotic)
NyQuil Sinus
Nyquil Sinus's active ingredients are:
*
Acetaminophen (pain reliever/fever reducer)
*
Doxylamine succinate (antihistamine/hypnotic)
*
Phenylephrine
Phenylephrine, sold under the brand names Neosynephrine and Sudafed PE among others, is a medication used as a decongestant for uncomplicated nasal congestion in the form of a nasal spray or oral tablet, to dilate the pupil, to increase bloo ...
(nasal decongestant)
Nyquil Sinus is available as LiquiCaps only.
ZzzQuil
ZzzQuil is a sleep aid, and is not a treatment for pain or cold/flu symptoms. Its active ingredient is:
*
Diphenhydramine
Diphenhydramine, sold under the brand name Benadryl among others, is an antihistamine and sedative. Although generally considered sedating, diphenhydramine can cause paradoxical central nervous system stimulation in some individuals, particula ...
50 mg (antihistamine)
Children's NyQuil
Children's NyQuil is artificially flavored for easier consumption by children and contains no alcohol. It is available in the syrup form only. Its active ingredients are:
*
Chlorpheniramine (antihistamine)
Reformulation
Until 2006, NyQuil Cold/Flu Multisymptom Relief and NyQuil Sinus contained
pseudoephedrine (30 mg/15 mL), a nasal decongestant that also formed the active ingredient in
Sudafed. Following the passage of the
Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act in 2006, in the United States all pseudoephedrine-containing medications must be kept behind a pharmacy counter and all purchases must be logged.
Vicks chose to reformulate NyQuil Sinus in 2006, replacing
pseudoephedrine with
phenylephrine
Phenylephrine, sold under the brand names Neosynephrine and Sudafed PE among others, is a medication used as a decongestant for uncomplicated nasal congestion in the form of a nasal spray or oral tablet, to dilate the pupil, to increase bloo ...
. However, studies have shown that phenylephrine is no more effective than a placebo. As of 2012, the only NyQuil variety which contains
pseudoephedrine is Nyquil D.
References
External links
Vicks.com
{{Procter & Gamble
Vicks brands
Products introduced in 1966
H1 receptor antagonists