For people with a cold, a combination of Nyquil and Advil feels like the perfect solution. Both drugs offer relief from cold symptoms: The fever-reducing properties of Advil soothe aches and pains, while the sleep-inducing properties of Nyquil help you get some rest.

Many people take these medications together without giving it much thought. After all, they’re both effective remedies for relieving common cold symptoms. Nyquil and Advil are both over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that treat different symptoms of colds and flu. But can you take them at the same time? The short answer is yes—it’s safe to take Advil and Nyquil together if you have a cold or flu. However, there are some precautions you should know about before combining these medications.

What is Advil?

Advil is the common name for ibuprofen, an over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat mild to moderate pain. These medications come in a variety of forms, including pills, liquid, and capsules. Advil is known by many different brand names, including Motrin, Medipren, and Nurofen.

When you have a cold or flu and your body is under stress, your immune system ramps up and releases chemicals that cause inflammation. Advil works by reducing the amount of these inflammatory chemicals in your body. Once inflammation goes down, aches and pains from cold and flu symptoms begin to subside. Advil is also an anti-fever drug that reduces the amount of fever-related chemicals in your body.

What is NyQuil?

NyQuil is the common name for doxylamine succinate, a drug used to induce sleep and relieve the symptoms of colds and influenza. It is also often used as a sleep aid. The active ingredient in NyQuil is dextromethorphan hydrobromide, an over-the-counter cough suppressant.

There are other types of cold and flu medications that also contain dextromethorphan hydrobromide, as it is a common ingredient in many OTC cold and flu remedies. However, some of these drugs also contain ingredients that relieve allergy symptoms, like coughing, or general aches and pains, like the Advil-Nyquil combination.

How do Advil and Nyquil work?

Advil and Nyquil treat different symptoms of colds and flus. They’re both effective remedies for relieving common cold symptoms like a stuffy nose, a runny nose, aches and pains, and coughing.

Advil is an anti-inflammatory drug that treats fever, aches and pains, and general inflammation in the body, while Nyquil is a sleep-inducing drug that eases cough symptoms. Advil reduces the amount of inflammatory chemicals in your body, which reduces aches and pains. It also lowers your body temperature so you don’t feel feverish. Nyquil eases coughing, helps you get some rest, and reduces anxiety that may occur with cold and flu symptoms.

Can you take Advil and Nyquil together?

Taking Advil and Nyquil together is fine. They don’t interact with one another and don’t pose a serious risk of harmful side effects when taken together. However, it’s important to follow the dosing instructions on both medications and take them separately, with a few hours between each dose. Because Advil is an anti-inflammatory drug and Nyquil is a sleep-inducing drug, they work in different ways.

While both drugs are effective against cold and flu symptoms, they don’t share a mechanism of action. This means they don’t have the same effect on your body. They don’t have any adverse effects or interactions with each other.

Side effects of taking Advil and Nyquil together

Although Advil and Nyquil are safe to use together, there are some minor side effects to keep in mind. Taking Advil and Nyquil together may cause some drowsiness, which is why it’s important to use caution when driving or operating heavy machinery.

There’s an increased risk of bleeding when taking Advil and Nyquil together, so avoid injury and contact with sharp objects. You may experience some stomach pain when taking both drugs at once, as they may irritate your stomach. If you use both medications and still experience flu symptoms, you may need to take a stronger course of medication. If your symptoms worsen or last longer than 10 to 14 days, you should see a doctor.

Final Words: Bottom line

When used together, Advil and Nyquil are effective at treating the symptoms of colds and flus, including a fever and general aches and pains. Both medications have low risk of serious side effects, but it’s important to take them separately with plenty of time between doses. Taking Advil and Nyquil together increases your risk of drowsiness, stomach irritation, and a higher risk of bleeding. If you take both medications and still experience flu symptoms, you may need to take a stronger course of medication.