Can You Take Nyquil And Melatonin At The Same Time?

If you are battling common cold or flu and also experiencing sleeplessness, you might be wondering if you can safely take Nyquil and Melatonin at the same time. The pharmacist is here to give a clear answer to this question, so keep reading.

Can You Take Nyquil And Melatonin

It is not advisable to take Nyquil and Melatonin together due to the risk of an increase in the sedative effect, drowsiness, dizziness, and respiratory and Central nervous system depression you might experience.

One of the active ingredients in Nyquil which is doxylamine already has drowsiness, dizziness, and sedation as its side effect. Melatonin is a hormone that controls when you sleep and when you wake up.

It is the chemical that communicates to the brain that it’s time for you to go to sleep. So, naturally, its role in the body is sleep-focused.

As such, combining these two medications of which the side effect of one (Nyquil due to doxylamine) is complementary to the actual effect of the other (melatonin), will lead to the production of an additive effect.

This means that the effects of Nyquil will combine with that of Melationin, thereby making the resultant effect greater than it should be (excessive sedation, dizziness, drowsiness, etc).

What is Nyquil?

Nyquil is an over-the-counter medication commonly used to manage the symptoms of cold and flu. It contains three active ingredients: acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and doxylamine. 

Acetaminophen which you probably know by the brand name Tylenol, is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant, acting on the brain to suppress the cough reflex.   

Doxylamine is an antihistamine. It works by binding to histamine receptors in various locations in the body thereby preventing the actions of histamine. 

Since it binds to receptors in various locations in the body, this drug also crosses into the brain. And this is where its undesirable effects of sedation, drowsiness, dizziness, etc stem from.

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. Its production is in response to darkness, the quantity being high in the dark, and then diminishing under the light. It plays a very crucial role in regulating the circadian rhythm and sleep cycle. 

Melatonin determines when it’s time to go to bed as its level increases after sunset, and when it’s time to wake up as its level decreases during sunrise.

The body’s circadian rhythm and sleep cycle can get disrupted thereby resetting it abnormally. This can happen to people who pull an all-nighter, people working nightshift, and those traveling across different time zones (jet lag). 

In cases like this, melatonin supplements can be used as a sleep aid to help reset the rhythm to its normal pattern. 

Interaction Between Nyquil and Melatonin

Though there is no actual study or research work carried out with the sole aim of ascertaining the interactions between Nyquil and Melatonin. Their comparative physiologic effect and the risk of their additive effects make it unsafe to combine them. 

Combining the dextromethorphan in Nyquil with melatonin may cause an increase in side effects. This usually manifests as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. It will also cause an additive increase in sedation which can manifest as shallow breathing.

This combination can also put you at risk of respiratory and central nervous system depression.

Side Effects of Co-Usage

As earlier discussed, the potential side effects of the co-usage of Nyquil and Melatonin include:

• Additive Sedation: By co-using Nyquil and melatonin, you risk exposing yourself to increased drowsiness and sedation.
• Sleep-Related Disturbances: The combo can disrupt your sleep patterns and negatively affect the quality of your sleep.
• Central Nervous System Depression: The combined effects of both drugs can depress the central nervous system. Thereby slowing down certain bodily functions.
• Respiratory Depression: You could have shallow breathing, which can turn dangerous.
• Dizziness: You may experience a feeling of unsteadiness or lightheadedness.
• Impaired Coordination: Your ability to move and coordinate your actions may be affected.
• Grogginess Upon Waking: You might wake up feeling groggy or overly tired.
• Excessive Sleepiness
• Difficulty Waking Up

Alternative Sleep Aid to Take

I recommend you speak to your doctor to help you come up with the best solution to your co-existing troubles. This is because towing the path of self-medication will only lead you to another Over-the-counter(OTC) sleep aid, as you’ll need a prescription for any other sleep aid. 

The problem here is that most OTC sleep medications such as Piriton, Zzzquil, Unisom, and Benadryl usually contain antihistamines like diphenhydramine, chlorphenamine, etc. The same drug class to which doxylamine, one of the active components of Nyquil belongs. 

So, by taking another sleep aid containing a different histamine, you risk being at the receiving end of increased side effects due to the additive effects of both drugs. 

However, prescription-only sleep aids like Doxepin, Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata may help you fall asleep easier or stay asleep longer. But they are also not without risk and side effects. 

Dietary supplements and herbs like valerian root and chamomile tea have also been found to be used in improving sleep. 

Lifestyle modification can also go a long way to restore your sleep pattern. Take part in exercises, and maintain good bedroom habits such as turning the lights off at night, not watching TV at night, and putting away your phone when it’s close to bedtime.

Final Thoughts

It is not recommended to take both Nyquil and Melatonin together due to the risk of additive sedation, increased dizziness, drowsiness, respiratory and CNS depression. You should talk to your doctor about the best drug to treat your co-existing condition. 

References

1. Zheng, L. et al. (2023). Melatonin alleviates acute respiratory distress syndrome by inhibiting alveolar macrophage NLRP3 inflammasomes through the ROS/H. Lab Invest. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37871834/ 
2. Salari, A. (2020). The Effect of Melatonin on Sedative Consumption, and the Duration of Mechanical Ventilation in Patients with Intracranial Hemorrhage in ICU: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7375205/ 
3. University of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics. (2023). Sedation & Respiratory Depression. Retrieved from https://www.pediatrics.wisc.edu/education/sedation-program/sedation-education/sedation-respiratory-depression/ 
4. Reiter, R. J., Tan, D., & Galano, A. (2017). Melatonin and Respiratory Diseases: A Review. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27558675/