Amah asked
Can you take Nyquil and omeprazole together on the same day?
Answer
There is no reported or listed interaction between Nyquil and omeprazole (brand name Prilosec). They are considered to be safe to take together. Having said that, one of the ingredients in Nyquil may exacerbate symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux.
Nyquil And Acid Reflux
Nyquil contains the following ingredients:
- Acetaminophen (analgesic)
- Dextromethorphan (cough suppressant)
- Doxylamine (sedating antihistamine)
Doxylamine, the sedating antihistamine in Nyquil that causes drowsiness, is associated with worsening symptoms from acid reflux. Doxylamine is similar to Benadryl and is classified as a first generation antihistamine. First generation antihistamines have fairly strong anticholinergic effects, which includes drying of bronchial secretions and mucus.
Acid reflux symptoms can be exacerbated with medications that cause drying of bronchial secretions and mucus. The end result is a potential loosening of the esophageal sphincter, which could cause a worsening of acid reflux. In fact, the use of medication with anticholinergic effects is one of the most common causes of acid reflux symptoms.
Summary
To reiterate, there is no drug-drug interaction between Nyquil and omeprazole and they are considered to be safe to take together. However, it is important to be aware that the antihistamine in Nyquil could potentiality aggravate the symptoms of acid reflux.
