Exact Answer: Up to 4.8 days
Nyquil is a medication that is commonly sold over the counter to assuage symptoms of influenza and common cold. It is used to help reduce the problems of a sore throat, allergies, and other similar health issues. The drug is manufactured by the Vicks brand and was initially launched in the market in 1996.
The chemical composition of the medicine is based on a unique concoction of alcohol and a variety of antihistamines. Nyquil doses are taken before bedtime as the drug is known to produce some degree of drowsiness. The composition of the drug is specially regulated to counter insomnia in the patients and induce sleep.
How Long Can Nyquil Stay in the System
The duration for a dosage of Nyquil to last in the system of a patient depends on the exact chemical composition of the variety of the medicine administered. The time frame for calculating the traces of a drug that are found in the system of the patient is based on the half-lives of the chemicals used to manufacture it.
Doxylamine Succinate is one of the key ingredients used in all Nyquil formulations. It takes about 2.29 days to eliminate the chemical from the system of the patent. Nyquil doses that contain Doxylamine Succinate create a certain degree of drowsiness in the patient. It is always advisable to take the dosage before bedtime. A dose of Nyquil can last in the system of the patient for up to 3 days.
Alternatively, there is a certain variety of Nyquil sold in the market that has a different chemical component included in its list of ingredients. Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant that was formerly added to all Nyquil formulations.
The half-live of Pseudoephedrine is longer than Doxylamine Succinate. It takes almost 33 hours to eliminate the drug from the patient’s system. Thus, if a patient ingests Nyquil with the Pseudoephedrine component then the drug will take longer to be eliminated from the person’s body. A total of 4.8 days after the last dosage is needed to eliminate Nyquil in such instances.
Several co-contributing factors affect the longevity of the drug. The plasma of older individuals can show traces of Nyquil for up to 3.5 days, while the drug is completely eliminated from the system of a young adult by 2.3 days. Similarly, those suffering from problems of poor metabolism will eliminate the drug within a period of 4 days.
In Summary:
| Kind of Nyquil Ingested | Eliminated In |
| Nyquil Containing Doxylamine Succinate | Up to 3 days |
| Nyquil Containing Pseudoephedrine | Up to 4.8 days |
Why Does Nyquil Stay This Long in the System?
If one consumes Nyquil with Doxylamine Succinate, the chances of eliminating the drug from one’s system are accelerated. However, if the Nyquil formulation ingested is Pseudoephedrine-based, then one can expect traces of the drug to linger for a few more days.
The ability of the bodies of different patients to metabolize various chemical components is as diverse as the personality of those very same individuals. Some patients have a higher metabolic rate. In such cases, Nyquil will be absorbed by the body faster. Traces of the drug will not linger in the plasma or urine of such an individual for a long time.
However, those suffering from metabolic issues can have a difficult time trying to digest the chemical components of the Nyquil drug. In such cases, if the dominant ingredient of the kind of Nyquil administered is Pseudoephedrine, then it takes much longer to eliminate the last molecule of the drug from the person’s plasma.
Similarly, the number and frequency of dosages also affect the time taken to eliminate Nyquil from one’s system. Systemic circulation of the patient will eliminate the infrequent Nyquil doses faster than the regularized ones.
The age and health of an individual also have a bearing on either extending or truncated this average time frame for eliminating the drug from one’s system. However, one must always remember that the drowsiness caused by the drug definitely persists in most cases after its ingestion. The induced sleepiness will be quite predominant on the day following the first dosage.
Conclusion
Nyquil is considered to be a wonder drug that helps combat the woes of a seasonal cough and cold. Nonetheless, the dosage of the drug must always be regulated according to the weight, age, and co-morbidities of the patient. Generally, the drug is eliminated from the patient’s system within 4.8 days
One must also be careful when checking the ingredients used in a particular Nyquil formulation. The drug is known to produce certain unwelcomed side–effects like dry mouth, vomiting, fatigue, etc. If the adverse effects of the drug are too pronounced and prolonged, one must stop using it and consult a physician for assistance.