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Key takeaways
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic prescribed for ear, sinus, and lung infections—conditions that might benefit from the symptom relief that DayQuil can provide.
The DayQuil name graces multiple over-the-counter cold medicines that combine different symptom relievers, such as the fever-reducer acetaminophen, cough suppressant dextromethorphan, and decongestant phenylephrine.
Any of the various active ingredients in DayQuil could interact poorly with someone’s other medications or health conditions.
Taking DayQuil concurrently with amoxicillin is reasonable for most people, but only a healthcare provider familiar with your health conditions and other medications you’re taking can determine whether it is safe and beneficial for you.
Stricken with a sinus or ear infection, being treated with the antibiotic amoxicillin, and wondering what can be done for your nasal congestion, cough, and pain while you are waiting for the antibiotic to work? If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Amoxicillin is a commonly called upon drug from the penicillin family, but it takes time for it to clear an infection. DayQuil, a popular over-the-counter (OTC) cold medication, can help treat symptoms of sinus and ear infections. But can you take DayQuil to block the symptoms while amoxicillin tackles the cause? Here’s what you should know.
Can you take DayQuil and amoxicillin together?
Taking DayQuil along with amoxicillin is typically fine. The ingredients of DayQuil do not interact with amoxicillin. If amoxicillin was prescribed for you because your healthcare provider thought it would be safe and effective, the real question is whether taking Dayquil could provide a benefit or pose a risk to you. For that matter, it’s important to ask your healthcare provider who is familiar with any other conditions you have and other medications you may be taking.
Healthcare professionals may consider the ingredients of DayQuil products to be worthwhile for some patients. DayQuil Cold and Flu has multiple active ingredients: the analgesic and antipyretic acetaminophen for relief from pain and fever, the cough suppressant dextromethorphan, and nasal decongestant phenylephrine.
Although less coughing, congestion, and pain would be welcomed by anyone suffering with upper respiratory symptoms, DayQuil may not always deliver on its symptom relief claims. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that phenylephrine was ineffective. The FDA followed this up in 2024 by proposing that products like DayQuil Cold and Flu stop using phenylephrine. While it may be acceptable to take DayQuil with amoxicillin, these FDA reports could make one wonder whether it is worth it.
DayQuil vs. amoxicillin: Key differences
Amoxicillin and DayQuil could be a drug duo that works together for sinus infections, ear infections, or pneumonia. While they might be used concurrently, they are more different than alike.
Drug class
Each comes from a different category of medicine. Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic—more specifically an aminopenicillin that is effective for many bacterial infections. It is produced alone or in tandem with clavulanic acid in Augmentin. In comparison, DayQuil has a number of different products under its umbrella name, but they all have multiple ingredients from different drug classes, with a focus on relieving cough and cold symptoms while avoiding daytime drowsiness.
Dosing
Amoxicillin is available in tablet and liquid form. Usually, it is taken two to three times per day. DayQuil can also be purchased in tablet or liquid version, but its dosing is on an as-needed basis. Depending on which DayQuil product is being used, dosing could be every four to six hours, but you will need to rely on the product’s instructions to be sure.
Cost
The out-of-pocket expense can be very different between these drugs. Generic amoxicillin is typically covered by insurance, but OTC DayQuil is often not covered. Without insurance, their prices are fairly comparable. Amoxicillin retails for about $20 for 21, 500 mg capsules, while the DayQuil and Nyquil Cold and Flu package costs about that much for 48 tablets. DayQuil Cough syrup is priced similarly at $14 for 1, 354 mL bottle.
Restrictions
Restrictions may apply to one drug but not the other. Amoxicillin is generally safe in the setting of heart disease and typically is considered compatible with pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is also used extensively in children of all ages. On the contrary, it might be best for those who are pregnant or have heart disease to avoid DayQuil Cold and Flu. Likewise, safety concerns limit the use of DayQuil in children and lead to complete avoidance in children under 6.
DayQuil vs. amoxicillin: Comparison chart |
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|---|---|---|
| DayQuil | Amoxicillin | |
| Drug class | Combination cold medicine | Antibiotic |
| Standard dosage and forms | Tablets, capsules, or liquids with multiple products having various combinations of ingredients | Tablets, capsules, or liquids with usual adult dosing of 500–1,000 mg every 8–12 hours |
| Risks and restrictions to consider |
|
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| Side effects |
|
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| Average cost without insurance | $14 for 1, 354 mL bottle of 15 mg/15 mL DayQuil Cough | $19 for 21, 500 mg capsules |
| SingleCare cost* | Get coupon | Get coupon |
| Learn more | More DayQuil details | More amoxicillin details |
*Cost at time of publication. Prices fluctuate and vary by pharmacy and location.
Warnings about taking DayQuil with amoxicillin
From a safety standpoint, each of DayQuil’s ingredients must be examined to determine whether it’s safe to take with amoxicillin or any other medication. Although combining multiple medications in one cold medicine is convenient, it could cause adverse effects.
Acetaminophen is a safe pain reliever that avoids many of the downsides of its counterpart ibuprofen, including being able to be used together with blood thinners. Unfortunately, acetaminophen can be toxic to the liver in overdose. While this may not seem applicable at first glance, it is a real cause of concern, because acetaminophen is included in many cold medications and is the active ingredient in the fever-reducer Tylenol. The FDA has even called attention to the hazards of accidental acetaminophen overdose.
Dextromethorphan may be a helpful agent for suppressing cough, but it has drug interactions with a number of common medications based on its serotonin effect. For example, taking dextromethorphan alongside a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a life-threatening drug reaction. Have your healthcare team review all of your prescription drugs, OTC remedies, and supplements before taking DayQuil.
The decongestant phenylephrine has its own set of hazards. Hypertension and heart arrhythmia are listed among its serious side effects, and anxiety and insomnia are common side effects. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, or anxiety already, your healthcare provider may not want you to take phenylephrine.
To reiterate, DayQuil and amoxicillin can be taken together. They do not negate the other’s effectiveness, and they do not escalate one another’s adverse effects. However, the risks of amoxicillin and each ingredient in DayQuil must be carefully examined. Taking them both together could simultaneously add four new drugs to your medication list, putting you in harm’s way of side effects and interactions with your health conditions and other medicines you may be taking. Rely on your healthcare provider to help you determine whether to take DayQuil while being treated with amoxicillin.
Sources
- FDA clarifies results of recent advisory committee meeting on oral phenylephrine, Food and Drug Administration (2023)
- FDA proposes ending use of oral phenylephrine as OTC monograph nasal decongestant active ingredient after extensive review, Food and Drug Administration (2024)
- Amoxicillin, DailyMed (2024)
- DayQuil and Nyquil Cold and Flu, DailyMed (2024)
- Use caution when given cough and cold products to kids, Food and Drug Administration (2018)
- Don’t overuse acetaminophen, Food and Drug Administration (2024)