Avoid Taking Ibuprofen With This Common OTC Cold And Flu Medication

When you're feeling yucky because of a cold, you want your stuffiness, coughing, and sneezing to disappear. And sometimes, even your go-to home remedies don't work. That's when an over-the-counter product like NyQuil can come in handy. However, be careful about taking other cold symptom relief products alongside NyQuil. Mixing medications with NyQuil can lead to unwanted side effects, even if you can buy the medications without a prescription, as is the case with ibuprofen.

What's the harm in doubling down on NyQuil and ibuprofen, particularly if you have a headache or body aches in addition to your other symptoms? Though it may seem reasonable to assume that ibuprofen offers a fast fix, it isn't necessary. According to the National Library of Medicine, NyQuil already contains acetaminophen, which is a painkiller. That means you could wind up overdoing it — and perhaps experiencing unwanted side effects as a result.

This doesn't mean you have to shelve your ibuprofen if you're using NyQuil. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can alternate between taking acetaminophen and ibuprofen. However, you shouldn't take both products at the same time. Rather, you should plan for a window of about four to six hours between doses to avoid complications.

Taking acetaminophen-containing NyQuil and ibuprofen within the same dosing window might cause you to experience uncomfortable (albeit preventable) side effects such as gastrointestinal distress, topical reactions, ringing in the ears, and other unpleasant physical responses.

Plus, when you mix NyQuil and ibuprofen, you're putting yourself at risk of experiencing the most common side effects of each medication. And both medications share plenty of the same potential side effects, including drowsiness, diarrhea, stomach pain, and nausea. In fact, Drugs.com notes that when NyQuil and ibuprofen are taken at the same time, tiredness, confusion, and dizziness symptoms may be exacerbated. 

In other words, using twice as many painkillers doesn't mean you'll feel better twice as fast. On the contrary, you might wind up feeling sicker simply because of your physiological reactions to either or both products. Not exactly what you're hoping for, especially when your goal is to get back to great health. 

Ibuprofen isn't the only medication to be careful about taking when you're treating yourself with NyQuil. WebMD recommends avoiding several other types of drugs, too. These include MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors, opioid medications, and other prescribed and over-the-counter cold and flu medications. Otherwise, you could end up with even more side effects.

Aside from possible interactions with ibuprofen and the other drugs listed above, be careful about which kind of NyQuil forumula you choose. For instance, regular NyQuil may not be appropriate if you have problems associated with elevated blood pressure. According to Vicks, the maker of NyQuil, people who have hypertension may want to avoid taking NyQuil products that contain a decongestant. Consequently, if you take medications to keep your blood pressure in check or have been told to watch your blood pressure, some NyQuil products might not be suited for your condition.

When in doubt about NyQuil and other medicines you're taking (or considering), give your provider a call to get personalized medical advice. And if you're not sure you like NyQuil's possible interactions with other drugs, you may even want to reconsider whether or not it's worth taking at all because recent evidence has put its efficacy into question. In 2023, a panel from the Food and Drug Administration reported that one of NyQuil's primary (and most touted) ingredients, the decongestant phenylephrine, doesn't work. Therefore, you may be better off choosing a different product to ward off your under-the-weather symptoms.