Recommended Free Tools
Adults can take paracetamol and ibuprofen together if needed, but do not add a separate paracetamol product if your cold and flu medicine already contains paracetamol. Check the active ingredients and directions on the exact packet or leaflet: combination remedies vary, and some already contain one or both painkillers. For children, the advice is different: do not give paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time.
First check the active ingredients
Look at the active ingredients on the packet or patient leaflet, not just the brand name or the words “cold and flu.” If the remedy contains paracetamol, taking another paracetamol product as well can mean taking more than the permitted amount. NHS guidance warns against using other paracetamol-containing medicines alongside a remedy that already contains it: NHS guidance for adults taking paracetamol and NHS flu advice.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Formulas differ. For example, the Boots All-in-one Max Strength Cold & Flu Relief Capsules leaflet lists paracetamol, guaifenesin and phenylephrine; its instructions also warn against other paracetamol-containing products and other cold, flu or decongestant products. The Lemsip Max Cold & Flu Capsules leaflet likewise says it contains paracetamol and forbids other paracetamol-containing products. These are examples, not rules that establish the ingredients or directions for every product. Follow the leaflet for the exact medicine you have: Boots All-in-one Max Strength Cold & Flu Relief Capsules leaflet and Lemsip Max Cold & Flu Capsules leaflet.
Adult guidance: paracetamol and ibuprofen
NHS guidance says adults can take paracetamol and ibuprofen together if needed. That does not make every cold remedy safe to combine with either medicine: check its ingredients and its own restrictions first. If appropriate, try each medicine alone first and follow the directions on each product. Suitability can depend on pregnancy, liver or kidney disease, other medicines and other personal factors; ask a pharmacist or clinician if you are unsure.
#1 Best Overall
- ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Amazon Basic Care Vapor Ice Daytime and Nighttime Severe Cold and Flu help to relieve common cold and flu symptoms, day and night; compare to the active ingredients in Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil Severe VapoCOOL
- EFFECTIVE: Daytime relieves minor aches and pains, fever, nasal congestion, sinus pressure, cough and chest congestion; Nighttime relieves minor aches and pains, fever, nasal congestion, sinus pressure, sneezing, runny nose and cough
- COMBINATION PACK: Amazon Basic Care Vapor Ice Daytime and Nighttime Severe Cold and Flu comes in a combination pack for around-the-clock maximum strength, multi-symptom relief for your worst cold and flu symptoms
- COATED CAPLETS: Contain pain reliever/fever reducer, cough suppressant, nasal decongestant, antihistamine, expectorant (antihistamine in nighttime only, expectorant in daytime only)
- MAXIMUM STRENGTH: Get day and night cold and flu relief with these max strength coated caplets. Relieve sore throat and other cold and flu symptoms with Amazon Basic Care Vapor Ice Daytime and Nighttime Severe Cold and Flu
A product may itself contain both painkillers. The UK Panacombo Dual Action Pain Relief 200 mg/500 mg leaflet says it contains ibuprofen and paracetamol, is for adults over 18, and must not be taken with other paracetamol products or other ibuprofen or NSAID pain relievers. It says to use it only after trying either ingredient individually and not for longer than three days. This is a product-specific example, not a recommendation to combine it with a cold remedy: Panacombo patient leaflet.
Children need different advice
Do not give a child paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time. A health professional may advise alternating them in an individual case; do so only on that advice, and keep a record of doses and times while following the product directions. Age eligibility and dosing differ by product, so check the exact label or leaflet and ask a pharmacist or clinician if uncertain: NHS guidance on paracetamol for children.
Rank #2
- ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Compare to the active ingredients in Vicks DayQuil Cold & Flu and Vicks NyQuil Cold & Flu
- NON-DROWSY DAYTIME COLD AND FLU MEDICINE provides multi-symptom relief of headache, fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, and minor aches and pains
- NIGHTTIME COLD AND FLU MEDICINE provides multi-symptom relief of headache, fever, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, cough, and minor aches and pains
- PAIN RELIEVER AND FEVER REDUCER: Both Daytime and Nighttime cold medicine contain acetaminophen to help relieve aches, fever and sore throat
- COLD AND FLU: Influenza (flu) and the common cold are respiratory illnesses caused by viruses. A cold medicine like Cold & Flu Relief Multi-Symptom Daytime/Nighttime can help
If too much paracetamol may have been taken
If an adult has taken more paracetamol than the packet or leaflet allows, NHS guidance says to contact NHS 111. Do not assume everything is fine because the person feels well: a product leaflet warns that an overdose can cause delayed liver damage. Follow local urgent medical advice if you are outside the UK.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhen flu symptoms need urgent attention
For people in the UK, NHS flu guidance advises urgent help for signs including shortness of breath or symptoms that have not improved after seven days. Seek emergency help for sudden chest pain, severe difficulty breathing or coughing blood. For other countries, use the appropriate local urgent-care service.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- COLD & FLU RELIEF - for temporary relief from cold & flu symptoms: congestion, runny nose, sore throat, cough, sinus discomfort, and fever
- DISSOLVING TABLETS - Quick-dissolving tablets melt in your mouth without the need for water, helping you feel better fast. They contain less than 1 g of sugar, offering a low-sugar option
- NATURAL SYNERGY - Formulated to complement other Sambucol products, including our syrups, gummies and throat lozenges
- FAMILY-FRIENDLY RELIEF - These tablets are ideal for the whole family, providing effective cold and flu relief, without causing drowsiness
- THE ORIGINAL AND #1 ELDERBERRY BRAND - Sambucol is scientifically studied and has decades of experience making high-quality black elderberry supplements you can trust
Rank #4
- 24-count combo pack of Tylenol Cold + Flu Severe Day/Night Caplets for multi-symptom cold and flu symptom relief. Combo pack includes 16 Daytime and 8 Nighttime caplets for relief when you need it
- The Daytime relief caplets are formulated to reduce fever, loosen phlegm and relieve headache, body aches, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and chest congestion
- The Nighttime relief caplets help reduce fever and relieve runny nose, sneezing, headache, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, sinus congestion, and pressure
- Each cold & flu caplet contains 325 mg of acetaminophen, a pain reliever and fever reducer; 5 mg of phenylephrine HCl, a nasal decongestant; and 10 mg of dextromethorphan HBr, a cough suppressant
- The Daytime caplets also contain guaifenesin 200 mg, an expectorant to help loosen phlegm (mucus) to make coughs more productive. The Nighttime caplets also contain 2 mg of chlorpheniramine maleate, an antihistamine
Rank #3
- 24-count of Tylenol Cold + Flu Severe Pain Reliever & Fever Reducer Medicine Caplets provide effective relief of multiple symptoms due to the flu and common cold
- This severe cold & flu medicine helps relieve fever, headache, minor aches and pains, sore throat, nasal congestion, and cough. It also helps loosen phlegm (mucus) and thin bronchial secretions to make coughs more productive.
- Each caplet contains 325 mg of acetaminophen to help reduce fever and relieve minor aches & pains, as well as 10 mg of the cough suppressant dextromethorphan HBr to help quiet coughs
- Each caplet also contains 5 mg of the nasal decongestant phenylephrine HCl to help relieve congestion and 200 mg of the expectorant guaifenesin to help loosen phlegm (mucus) and make coughs more productive
- From the #1 doctor-recommended pain relief brand, this cold & flu medicine is suitable for use by adults and children 12 years and older for powerful multi-symptom relief
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
