Which Tylenol product is right for your cough, cold, or flu symptoms?
Tylenol products for cough, cold, and flu symptoms are for adults and children as young as 12 years old. They contain a mix of ingredients to treat several symptoms at once.
- Pain reliever and fever reducer (acetaminophen). Seems to work to reduce pain by blocking pain signals. It is thought to help reduce fever by affecting the part of your brain that controls body temperature.
- Antihistamine(chlorpheniramine or doxylamine). Blocks the effect of a substance in your body called histamine to help with runny nose, sneezing, and sleep.
- Cough suppressant(dextromethorphan). Reduces the urge to cough by slowing the activity in certain areas of the brain.
- Decongestant(phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine). Narrows your blood vessels, which may help reduce swelling and congestion in your nose and sinuses to help with sinus congestion and pain, as well as a stuffy nose.
- Expectorant(guaifenesin). Decreases chest congestion by thinning and loosening mucus, making coughs more productive.
Important warnings and precautions
Do not take any other medicine that has acetaminophen in it while taking any Tylenol product for cough, cold, and flu. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Taking too much acetaminophen can be harmful, causing liver damage. Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure if a medicine contains acetaminophen.
Drinking three or more alcoholic drinks per day can increase your risk for liver damage while taking this medicine.
Stop taking the medicine if you develop a rash or hives. Get medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips, or throat.
Tylenol products specifically for nighttime use can make you drowsy. If you feel drowsy after taking any of these products, do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how the product affects you. Drinking alcohol can increase your risk for drowsiness. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Tylenol for nighttime use. Before taking a nighttime Tylenol product, tell your health care provider if you take other medicines that can make you sleepy, such as a sedative or tranquilizer.
Check with a health care provider if any of the following apply to you before taking any Tylenol product for cough, cold, and flu symptoms.
- You have liver problems
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- You drink three or more alcoholic drinks per day
- You take warfarin, which is a blood thinner
- Your cough goes away but comes right back
- You have a chronic or persistent cough from smoking, asthma, or emphysema
- You have too much mucus or phlegm with your cough
Stop taking Tylenol products for cough, cold, and flu and call your health care provider if you have any of the following.
- Your pain, stuffy nose, or cough gets worse instead of better or lasts more than seven days
- Your fever gets worse instead of better or lasts more than three days
- You have redness, swelling, or new symptoms
- Your sore throat is severe or lasts longer than two days
- You have a fever, headache, rash, nausea, or vomiting with your sore throat
- You have a cough that keeps coming back or happens with a fever, rash, or lasting headache
You should not take any Tylenol product for cough, cold, and flu symptoms that contains dextromethorphan or a decongestant (such as phenylephrine) in it if you take or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the past two weeks. An MAOI is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease. Before taking a Tylenol product for cough, cold, and flu symptoms that has dextromethorphan in it, you should ask your health care provider if you take or have taken an MAOI.
Before taking a Tylenol product for cough, cold, and flu symptoms that has a decongestant in it, such as phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine, ask your health care provider if any of the following apply to you.
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Thyroid disease
- Trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland
Stop taking any Tylenol product for cough, cold, and flu symptoms that has a decongestant in it, such as phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine, if any of the following apply to you.
- You feel nervous or anxious
- You are having trouble sleeping
- You feel dizzy
Before taking a Tylenol product for cough, cold, and flu symptoms that has an antihistamine in it, such as chlorpheniramine or doxylamine, ask your health care provider if any of the following apply to you.
- Breathing problems, such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Glaucoma
- Problems peeing due to an enlarged prostate
Tylenol products with an antihistamine in them can cause drowsiness. However, they can cause the opposite effect in some children, leading to excitability. If you have any questions about this, talk to your pharmacist or health care provider.
There may be side effects, additional warnings, and interactions with other medicines that are not listed here. These may vary depending on the combination of ingredients in the specific Tylenol product you are using. Always check the label before taking any over-the-counter medicine. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your health conditions and other medicines to help determine which products are safe for you.
Choosing the right product for your symptoms
The products are grouped below by the main combination of symptoms they treat. All are for ages 12 and older.
Cough and sore throat
These products are generally for flu or cold symptoms, including fever, aches, headache, sore throat, and cough.
| Recommended Products | Active Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Tylenol Extra Strength Severe Cough + Sore Throat Daytime | Acetaminophen Dextromethorphan |
| Tylenol Extra Strength Severe Cough + Sore Throat Night | Acetaminophen Dextromethorphan Chlorpheniramine or Doxylamine |
Sinus pressure and congestion
These products focus on symptoms like sinus pressure, stuffy nose, chest congestion, headache, and aches.
| Recommended Products | Active Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Tylenol Sinus Severe Daytime | Acetaminophen Guaifenesin Phenylephrine |
| Tylenol Cold + Head Congestion Severe | Acetaminophen Guaifenesin Phenylephrine |
| Tylenol Sinus + Headache Non-Drowsy | Acetaminophen Phenylephrine |
Severe/multiaction cold and flu
These products treat a wide range of severe cold and flu symptoms. Products with pseudoephedrine are stored behind the pharmacy counter.
| Recommended Products | Active Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Tylenol Cold + Flu Severe Medicine | Acetaminophen Dextromethorphan Guaifenesin Phenylephrine |
| Tylenol Cold + Flu Severe Night Time | Acetaminophen Chlorpheniramine Dextromethorphan Phenylephrine |
| Tylenol Cold + Flu Severe | Acetaminophen Dextromethorphan Guaifenesin Phenylephrine |
| Tylenol Cold + Flu + Cough Night Time | Acetaminophen Dextromethorphan Doxylamine Phenylephrine |
| Tylenol Extra Strength Cold & Flu Multi-Action | Acetaminophen Dextromethorphan Pseudoephedrine |
| Tylenol Extra Strength Cold & Flu Multi-Action Night Time | Acetaminophen Chlorpheniramine Dextromethorphan Pseudoephedrine |