Night Nurse: Uses, Benefits, and Side Effects Explained
Night Nurse is a cold and flu remedy. It is available over the counter for adults and children aged 16 and above. Paracetamol, promethazine, and dextromethorphan are the three active ingredients in the medication.
Night Nurse can provide night-time relief from a dry tickly cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat, aches, pains, and headache. It also helps you go to sleep. Day Nurse is a day-time version of the product.
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How do I take it?
Night Nurse is available in two formulations: capsules and oral liquid. You can take 20ml liquid or two capsules just before you go to bed. If you are taking Day Nurse during the day, make sure you miss the last dose out.
Do not drink alcohol when taking Night Nurse, and avoid taking any other antihistamines or cough medicines. Consult your doctor before taking the medication for longer than three days.
How does it work?
Paracetamol is a painkiller that can lower fever (antipyretic). The mechanism by which paracetamol acts is not fully understood. Promethazine is a sedating antihistamine. It helps you go to sleep and can dry up a runny nose. Antihistamines block the effects of histamine in the body. Dextromethorphan is a cough medicine that may relieve a dry tickly cough by suppressing brain activity responsible for the normal cough reflex.
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Who should not take the medication?
Do not take Night Nurse if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. Children under 16 should not take Night Nurse.
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Night Nurse if you: are pregnant or breastfeeding, have current or past addiction to alcohol or drugs, or have any medical conditions, as it may not be suitable for you.
Do not take Night Nurse if you have already taken four doses of a paracetamol-containing product in the last 24 hours, and do not take Night Nurse within 4 hours of a daytime paracetamol dose.
Night Nurse can interact with other medications such as antidepressants and sleeping tablets. If you take any prescription, over-the-counter or herbal medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist to check they are safe to take alongside Night Nurse.
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