How Long Does NyQuil Stay in Your System?

To say that substance abuse is a crisis in the U.S. would be a profound understatement. According to a 2021 study published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), roughly 48 million Americans aged 12 or older have a substance use disorder, with the majority struggling with alcohol, opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines, and marijuana. But street-level and prescription drugs are not the only drugs Americans misuse, abuse, and ultimately become addicted to.

Many people also have a problem with over-the-counter medications (OTC), which are readily available in most pharmacies and big-box stores. That is especially true of Vicks NyQuil, an over-the-counter medication produced by Procter & Gamble that temporarily relieves common cold and flu symptoms. Available data shows that the Vicks NyQuil brand sold approximately 18.3 million units in the U.S. in 2021. And not everyone who purchased the medication followed the dosage recommendations outlined by the manufacturer. As a result, many of those individuals developed a NyQuil dependence and eventually a NyQuil addiction.

Why Is NyQuil One of the Most Abused OTC Medications in America?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NyQuil contains acetaminophen, which relieves pain and reduces fever. It also contains dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant, and doxylamine succinate, an antihistamine. These active ingredients do an excellent job of relieving coughing, headaches, stuffy and runny nose, sore throat, fever, and sneezing, all of which are symptoms that go hand in hand with the flu and the common cold.

One of these ingredients, however, is highly addictive and can trigger euphoria and visual and auditory hallucinations when taken in high enough doses. That ingredient is dextromethorphan (DXM). Depending on the formulation, NyQuil contains 10 to 30mg of dextromethorphan. Studies show that the mind-altering effects of dextromethorphan have contributed to many people using NyQuil as a replacement for certain illegal and prescription-based drugs.

What More People Should Know About Dextromethorphan

The dextromethorphan ingredient in NyQuil is an antitussive that blocks pro-coughing signals from reaching the brain and triggering a cough reflex. Dextromethorphan’s medicinal effects typically begin 15 to 30 minutes after it has been consumed and last for 2 to 3 hours. While the Dextromethorphan in Vicks NyQuil does an excellent job of suppressing coughs, it does have some downsides. Even when taken as recommended, this active ingredient in Vicks NyQuil can trigger the following side effects:

• Constipation and difficulty urinating
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness/Sleepiness
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting

The risk of side effects increases when someone is robo-tripping, a slang term that refers to taking higher doses of dextromethorphan than recommended. Taking high doses of dextromethorphan can also lead to an overdose. Symptoms typical of a dextromethorphan overdose include the following:

• Changes in vision
• Difficulty breathing
• Disequilibrium
• Hallucinations
• Rapid heartbeat/High blood pressure
• Seizures
• Temporary loss of consciousness

Dextromethorphan overdose symptoms can also include hyperactivity, lethargy, slurred speech, sweating, hypertension, nausea, vomiting, and involuntary spasmodic eye movements. To lower the chances of experiencing side effects and overdose symptoms, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recommends not exceeding 120 mg of dextromethorphan per day. The government agency also warns against taking medication containing dextromethorphan with alcohol since doing so can increase the risk of overdose and even serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition triggered by excessive serotonergic activity throughout the central nervous system.

How Long Does Dextromethorphan and Other Active Ingredients in NyQuil Stay in Your System?

Whether it’s prescription medications, street-level drugs, alcohol, or over-the-counter medications, they all have a half-life. For those unfamiliar with the terminology, a half-life refers to how long it takes for the concentration of a given drug in the body to decrease by at least half. When it comes to NyQuil’s half-life, each active ingredient in the over-the-counter drug has a different half-life. Anyone taking NyQuil should be mindful of this since having too much of any of the drug’s active ingredients in their system at any given time can be harmful. Bearing that in mind, let’s discuss the dangers of taking high doses of acetaminophen or doxylamine, the two other active ingredients in NyQuil.

Higher-than-normal doses of acetaminophen can lead to an acetaminophen overdose, which can trigger nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, confusion, and jaundice. It can also increase the risk of liver damage. The doxylamine in NyQuil can also cause adverse effects when someone takes more of it than they should. This active ingredient, which blocks histamine, acetylcholine, and other substances that trigger sneezing, watery eyes, and other cold and flu symptoms, can cause sedation, respiratory depression, and coma when someone takes too much of it.

Dextromethorphan has a half-life of 3 to 6 hours, which means it can remain in the body for 6 to 12 hours. Doxylamine has a half-life of 6 to 12 hours, which means it can stay in the body for up to 24 hours. Lastly, acetaminophen has a half-life of around 2 to 3 hours, which means it can remain in the body for approximately 4 to 6 hours.

Depending on age, metabolism, liver function, and dosage, and taking all of the active ingredients into consideration, Nyquil can stay in someone’s system for up to 24 hours after their final dose. The detectability window, meaning how long the medication will show up in drug screenings, for NyQuil’s active ingredients is as follows:

Can Traditional Rehab Facilities Help Individuals Struggling With a NyQuil Addiction?

One of the key benefits of seeking the help of a licensed rehab when it comes to overcoming NyQuil addiction is medication-assisted treatment. When someone has been abusing NyQuil for a long time and abruptly stops taking it, they experience withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms, many of which occur within a few hours of someone taking their last dose, can include the following:

• Anxiety and depression
• Cravings
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Mood swings
• Nausea and vomiting
• Profuse sweating
• Restlessness
• Seizures
• Stomach pain and digestive issues
• Tremors

For individuals in rehab trying to quit NyQuil, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) generally includes the use of FDA-approved medications to help make getting through detox and coping with the associated withdrawal symptoms a little easier. Some of these include benzodiazepines, such as Valium and Ativan, to manage anxiety and agitation and antidepressants to help with depression or anxiety. Other MAT medications include anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin or carbamazepine, to help prevent seizures and antiemetics to treat nausea and vomiting.

Since not everyone experiences the same withdrawal symptoms or the same severity, the medications and associated doses for MAT can vary. Healthcare professionals in rehab facilities will prescribe the appropriate medication and dosage based on the individual’s medical history, the severity of their addiction, and whether they have a co-occurring disorder or not. For reference, a co-occurring disorder refers to a simultaneous struggle with both a substance use disorder and a mental illness.

While individuals are going through detox and are taking MAT medications, they receive round-the-clock monitoring by a physician well-versed in addiction recovery. This monitoring ensures individuals have immediate access to emergency medical care should something go wrong. Following detox, most rehab facilities will recommend some form of psychotherapy with a licensed therapist to address any psychological factors that might impede individuals from ending their relationship with NyQuil. The most popular form of psychotherapy for addiction recovery is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

How CBT Can Help Individuals Overcome Addiction to NyQuil

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy that helps people recognize and eventually change the thoughts and behaviors that drove them to misuse or abuse NyQuil. And it is remarkably effective in both regards. Studies show that CBT boasts a 70% success rate when it comes to helping people successfully overcome addiction. That includes NyQuil addiction. Most people who attend CBT sessions with a licensed therapist report a marked reduction in cravings. The same applies to improving or finding new coping mechanisms. While the exact timeframe can vary depending on the individual’s needs and the severity of their addiction, most CBT sessions are 12 to 20 weeks, with the average session lasting about an hour.

How Addiction Education Can Benefit Someone Trying To Quit NyQuil

Addiction education can go a long way toward helping individuals overcome their addiction to NyQuil. That’s why most U.S. rehabs include it in their MAT programs. During an addiction education course, individuals learn how misusing Nyquil alters their brain chemistry and triggers cravings. They also discover how repeatedly misusing the medication can increase tolerance. They further learn how misusing NyQuil increases the risk of cognitive impairment, respiratory depression, gastrointestinal issues, and other health problems.

Get the Help You Need To Overcome NyQuil Addiction

In summary, because it is so readily available, many people unwittingly or intentionally become addicted to NyQuil. And for some, ending their addiction to the over-the-counter medication can be challenging. Fortunately, many rehab facilities offer comprehensive addiction treatment options designed to help people put their struggles with NyQuil behind them. To learn more or to find out which program is right for you, consider scheduling a consultation with a Long Island Interventions addiction expert today.

Published on: 2025-03-06
Updated on: 2025-03-06