Cold and flu symptoms keep people awake. After all, when you’re trying to recover, broken sleep makes everything worse — symptoms feel more pronounced, the immune response is less effective, and the next day feels even harder. So a single bedtime dose that tackles aches, nose, throat, cough, AND helps you sleep is genuinely useful. Night Nurse has held this position in the UK pharmacy market for decades.
The format also matters. Specifically, the liquid suits people who can’t swallow capsules or want something that works quickly. In addition, the warm aniseed flavour can feel soothing for a sore throat. However, those who prefer something more discreet may want Night Nurse Capsules instead — same actives, different format.
Where Night Nurse fits in cold and flu treatment
The UK approach to cold and flu management follows a sensible path:
Step 1: Rest, hydration, warmth, and steam inhalation — the basics of recovery
Step 2: Single-ingredient products for specific symptoms — paracetamol for aches, salt water gargles for sore throat, plain steam for blocked nose
Step 3: Multi-symptom daytime products — Day Nurse, Lemsip, Beechams for handling multiple symptoms while staying alert
Step 4: Multi-symptom nighttime products — Night Nurse for the sleep-disrupting cluster of symptoms
Step 5: Targeted second-line products — Sudafed for stuffy nose, Strepsils for sore throat, Robitussin for cough
Step 6: GP review — if symptoms persist beyond a week or worsen significantly
Step 7: Antibiotics — only if a bacterial complication develops (pneumonia, sinus infection)
Step 8: Hospital assessment — for severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, or complications
Night Nurse sits at Step 4 — alongside other multi-symptom nighttime products. So it’s a thoughtful choice when single ingredients haven’t been enough but the situation hasn’t reached the point of needing GP review.
Night Nurse Liquid vs Night Nurse Capsules
Same actives, different formats:
Night Nurse Liquid (this product): green aniseed-flavoured solution, 20ml bedtime dose
Night Nurse Capsules: same actives in two capsules taken at bedtime
Liquid works faster as it’s already in solution
Capsules avoid the taste of the liquid (some people dislike aniseed)
Capsules are more portable for travel
Liquid may soothe a sore throat as it goes down
Same effectiveness when used correctly
Night Nurse vs Day Nurse
Designed for different times of day:
Night Nurse: paracetamol + promethazine (sedating) + dextromethorphan (cough)
Day Nurse: paracetamol + pseudoephedrine (decongestant) + pholcodine (cough)
Night Nurse causes drowsiness — not for daytime use
Day Nurse unblocks the nose without causing drowsiness
Day & Night Nurse packs contain both for 24-hour coverage
Don’t mix the doses — follow the Day vs Night routine
Night Nurse vs Lemsip products
Different families of cold and flu remedies:
Night Nurse: liquid with sedating antihistamine for nighttime use
Lemsip Max All-in-One: hot drink with paracetamol, phenylephrine (decongestant), guaifenesin (mucus loosener)
Lemsip doesn’t typically cause sedation, so suits daytime
Night Nurse is the better fit for bedtime symptoms
Some people use Lemsip during the day and Night Nurse at night
Don’t take the two together — both contain paracetamol
Night Nurse vs simple paracetamol
Different levels of treatment:
Simple paracetamol: tackles aches, pain, and fever only
Night Nurse: tackles aches/pain/fever PLUS runny nose, cough, and sleep difficulty
Paracetamol is cheaper and suits milder symptoms
Night Nurse fits when multiple symptoms are disrupting sleep
Simple paracetamol alone often isn’t enough for the full nighttime cold symptom cluster
Night Nurse vs Sudafed Mucus Cough Liquid
Different focus:
Night Nurse: full multi-symptom relief including sleep aid
Sudafed Mucus Cough Liquid: targeted cough and mucus action only
Pick Sudafed Mucus Cough if cough is the dominant symptom
Pick Night Nurse if multiple symptoms are keeping you awake
They shouldn’t be combined as Sudafed Mucus Cough may contain similar actives
Who Night Nurse suits well
This product may suit:
Adults and children aged 16+ with cold or flu symptoms disrupting sleep
People with multi-symptom colds (nose, throat, cough, aches all together)
People who’ve taken something during the day but need different overnight cover
People with a tickly non-productive cough disturbing sleep
Anyone wanting a single bedtime dose rather than several products
People who can dedicate the next morning to rest if needed (morning grogginess can happen)
People at home rather than caring for young children overnight
Anyone who doesn’t need to drive or operate machinery the next morning
Who might suit other options better
Other options may suit better for:
Children under 16 — Night Nurse isn’t licensed for this age group
Pregnant women — talk to your GP first about cold remedies
Breastfeeding women — talk to your GP first
People taking MAOIs (a type of antidepressant) — within 2 weeks of stopping or while taking
People with severe respiratory conditions like COPD or active asthma flare
People with severe kidney or liver problems
People with QT prolongation or significant cardiac arrhythmia history
People who need to drive the next morning
Parents needing to be alert for childcare overnight
People with productive (chesty) coughs where bringing up phlegm matters
People already on paracetamol from another product (overdose risk)
People who can’t tolerate sedating antihistamines
People with severe alcoholism, untreated diabetes, or on low-sodium diets
Courier Pharmacy supply
Night Nurse is a UK Pharmacy (P) medicine. So our pharmacist supplies it after a brief check that it suits your situation — no prescription needed. In short, this isn’t a prescriber consultation, just a quick pharmacist confirmation. If our pharmacist decides another approach would suit better — simple paracetamol, single-symptom products, or GP review for severe symptoms — we’ll mention that.
Key features and specs
Active ingredients per 20ml dose: paracetamol 1000mg, promethazine hydrochloride 20mg, dextromethorphan hydrobromide 15mg
Form: green aniseed-flavoured oral solution
Pack sizes: typically 160ml (some 100ml packs also available)
Dose: one 20ml dose at bedtime
Age range: adults and children 16+
Maximum dose: one 20ml dose in 24 hours
Maximum duration: 3 days continuously without medical advice
Contains: small amount of ethanol (alcohol)
Effects start: within 30 minutes typically
Sleep effect lasts: 4-8 hours typically
Pregnancy: not recommended without medical advice
Breastfeeding: not recommended without medical advice
Storage: as labelled, typically room temperature
Legal status: Pharmacy medicine (P)
Maker: Haleon UK Trading Limited
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Night Nurse Liquid — Triple-Action Nighttime Cold and Flu Relief
Night Nurse Oral Solution is the UK’s best-known nighttime cold and flu remedy — designed to relieve cold symptoms AND help you sleep through the night. So it combines three actives in one green aniseed-flavoured liquid: paracetamol for aches, pains and fever; promethazine for runny nose and to help sleep; and dextromethorphan to settle a tickly cough. As a result, one 20ml dose at bedtime tackles the cluster of symptoms that keep people awake when they’re unwell. Important: this is a UK Pharmacy (P) medicine for adults and children aged 16 and over. Made by Haleon.
At Courier Pharmacy, we believe in treatment that fits the person.
This page covers what Night Nurse does, who it suits, how it sits alongside other cold and flu options, and the practical points that matter.
Five key takeaways
Night Nurse is a UK Pharmacy (P) medicine — so it’s supplied through pharmacists rather than prescribers. After all, this means our pharmacist confirms suitability before supply, but no prescription is needed
Triple-action formulation: paracetamol (pain and fever relief), promethazine (sedating antihistamine for sleep and runny nose), and dextromethorphan (cough suppressant). So one dose handles the main symptoms that keep you awake when you have a cold or flu
Designed for nighttime use only. In short, take 20ml about 20 minutes before going to bed — the promethazine causes pronounced drowsiness, so it isn’t suitable for daytime
For adults and children aged 16 and over. So it isn’t licensed for under-16s due to age restrictions on dextromethorphan and promethazine in OTC products
Important practical points: don’t take with other paracetamol products (overdose risk), don’t take with other antihistamines, and don’t drive within several hours of taking. Also avoid alcohol
Why choose Courier Pharmacy for Night Nurse
At Courier Pharmacy, our approach starts with a simple idea: treatment should fit the person, not force the person to fit the system.
Dr Ada Jex-Cori
Our service is shaped by the philosophy of Dr Ada Jex-Cori, our brand pharmacist.
Dr Ada represents the spirit of the pharmacy: evidence-led, community-rooted, and willing to challenge the one-size-fits-all approach to medicine. She is named in honour of three pioneering women in science: Ada Lovelace, the mathematician and visionary; Sophia Jex-Blake, the first female doctor in the UK who fought the medical establishment; and Gerty Cori, the biochemist and Nobel Prize winner.
In our fictional world of Etherwell, Dr Ada fights against pharma’s standardised approach to medicine. In the real world, she represents what we stand for. Her view is straightforward: you are not broken. The system is. And we are here to change that.
Self-care that respects your time
Colds and flu are usually self-limiting. So while you’re waiting them out:
Sleep matters genuinely — the immune system works hardest during sleep
Multi-symptom relief means one dose instead of several
Recognising when something isn’t working matters too
Most colds resolve within a week without medical intervention
Symptom relief is the goal, not a cure
After all, the right product at the right time can make a real difference to recovery. So our pharmacist will be straight about whether Night Nurse fits your symptoms.
Honest framing about when this isn’t the right step
Night Nurse suits a specific window:
Mild to moderate cold and flu symptoms
Symptoms genuinely disrupting sleep
First few nights of an illness
When you can stay home and rest
It doesn’t suit:
Symptoms of more than a week — see your GP
High persistent fever — needs assessment
Severe throat pain or difficulty swallowing — could be tonsillitis or strep
Productive cough with discoloured phlegm — possible chest infection
Breathing difficulty — needs urgent assessment
Symptoms in pregnancy or breastfeeding — talk to GP or midwife
Symptoms in under-16s — different products may suit
In short, we’d rather steer you toward the right help than sell you a product that won’t fit. After all, that’s what genuine pharmacy care looks like.
Pharmacist support before and after purchase
Our pharmacist is here to discuss:
Whether Night Nurse is the right product for your symptoms
How it fits with any other medicines you take
How to use it safely (timing, dosage, driving)
When to stop and see a GP if symptoms persist
Other options if Night Nurse doesn’t suit
This is free and on hand before and after purchase.
Trust earned, not claimed
We are GPhC-regulated, and our content is grounded in the BNF, NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries on cold and flu management, NHS guidance, and the real experience of people managing seasonal infections.
If Night Nurse isn’t the right answer for your situation, we’ll tell you honestly. After all, getting the right treatment matters more than fulfilling a request.
How to buy Night Nurse from Courier Pharmacy
Night Nurse is a UK Pharmacy (P) medicine. So our pharmacist supplies it after a brief check — no prescription needed.
How our service works
Add Night Nurse to your basket on courierpharmacy.co.uk
Complete the brief consultation covering your symptoms, age, current medicines, and relevant medical history
Our pharmacist reviews your answers to confirm suitability
If a different approach would suit better — simpler single-ingredient products, or GP review for severe symptoms — we’ll get in touch
Once approved, your order is dispatched in plain, discreet packaging
Free pharmacist support is on hand before and after your purchase
When other options might suit better
If Night Nurse isn’t right, we’ll explain why. Other options may include:
Day Nurse: non-sedating daytime version with decongestant
Day & Night Nurse capsules: both day and night doses in one pack
Simple paracetamol or ibuprofen: for milder symptoms with just aches and fever
Lemsip Max All-in-One: hot drink with paracetamol and phenylephrine
Sudafed Mucus Cough Liquid: for cough-dominant symptoms
Strepsils or simple throat lozenges: for sore throat alone
Saline nasal sprays: for nasal symptoms alone
Steam inhalation with menthol: drug-free congestion relief
GP referral: for symptoms beyond a week or severe symptoms
Flu vaccination: prevention rather than treatment for next year
Our community service
Our free fortnightly drop-in clinics at Insomnia, Derby run every other week from 10am to 12pm.
Healthcare shouldn’t only happen when you’re paying for it. So we show up, even when it’s free.
We cover cold and flu management, sleep difficulties, allergies, asthma, MCAS, menopause, dermatology, hair loss, men’s and women’s health, digestive health, weight management, and whatever else people bring through the door. No appointment needed, no charge, no pressure.
Active ingredients
Each 20ml dose of Night Nurse contains:
Paracetamol 1000mg: a pain-reliever and fever-reducer
Promethazine hydrochloride 20mg: a sedating antihistamine
Dextromethorphan hydrobromide 15mg: a cough suppressant
Why paracetamol
Paracetamol handles the pain and fever side of cold and flu:
Reduces fever (the raised body temperature that comes with viral infections)
Eases body aches and muscle pain
Helps with headache often linked to fever and sinus pressure
Soothes sore throat
Works on pain and temperature regulation centres in the brain
Generally well-tolerated when used at the right dose
In short, paracetamol addresses the body-wide discomfort of a cold or flu. After all, fever and aches alone can keep someone awake even without the nose and cough symptoms.
Why promethazine
Promethazine is a first-generation sedating antihistamine. So it does several jobs:
Dries up a runny nose by blocking histamine receptors
Reduces sneezing
Provides pronounced drowsiness — helping you fall asleep faster
Has a mild anti-cough effect of its own
Helps reduce postnasal drip (mucus running down the throat)
Lasts long enough to cover most of the night
This is the ingredient that defines Night Nurse as a nighttime product. After all, the drowsiness that would be a problem during the day is exactly what you want when trying to sleep through a cold.
Why dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan tackles the cough side:
Acts on the cough centre in the brain
Suppresses the urge to cough
Especially useful for tickly, dry, non-productive coughs
Not the same class as codeine or other opioid cough suppressants
Doesn't typically cause significant additional drowsiness
In short, dextromethorphan handles the cough that keeps coming back when you're trying to fall asleep. So combined with the other actives, it gives a more complete nighttime symptom solution than any single ingredient.
Why the combination works
Triple-action means tackling cold and flu symptoms together:
Fever and aches reduced (paracetamol)
Runny nose dried up (promethazine)
Cough settled (dextromethorphan)
Sleep induced (promethazine's drowsiness)
One dose covers most of the night
Avoids the need to take several separate products
After all, taking three separate medicines at bedtime is harder than taking one. So Night Nurse's combination approach has been a UK staple since the 1980s for this reason.
Other ingredients
Night Nurse Oral Solution also contains:
Ethanol (alcohol — a small amount as a solvent)
Sodium cyclamate (sweetener)
Aniseed oil (flavouring)
Caramel (colouring — gives the green-tinged appearance)
Sodium hydroxide and citric acid (pH adjusters)
Liquid maltitol
Purified water
The full ingredient list is in the patient information leaflet supplied with the product. So mention any known sensitivities to our pharmacist.
Maker
Night Nurse is made by Haleon UK Trading Limited — the consumer healthcare company that spun off from GSK in July 2022. So Haleon now owns many of the UK's best-known household healthcare brands, including Sensodyne, Voltarol, Otrivine, Panadol, and the Day Nurse / Night Nurse range. The Night Nurse brand has been a UK staple since the 1980s, with the central tagline "the cold remedy to help you sleep through the night."
What is Night Nurse for?
Night Nurse provides symptom relief from colds, chills, and flu at night. So it's designed for the cluster of symptoms that disrupt sleep when you're unwell: blocked or runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, aches and pains, mild fever, and a tickly cough. All in one dose at bedtime. As a result, the central goal is to help you rest properly so your body can recover overnight.
Who is it for?
Night Nurse may suit adults and children aged 16+ who have:
Cold or flu symptoms that are disrupting sleep
A blocked or runny nose with sneezing
Sore throat with mild fever
Aches and pains from a cold or flu
A tickly or non-productive cough that's keeping them awake
Multiple symptoms that would otherwise need several different products
A few nights of broken sleep due to a cold and want to break the cycle
What does it do?
Night Nurse works through three different mechanisms at the same time. First, paracetamol reduces fever and eases aches, pains, and sore throat. Second, promethazine — a sedating antihistamine — dries up a runny nose, reduces sneezing, and causes drowsiness to help you sleep. Third, dextromethorphan suppresses the cough reflex in the brain to settle a tickly cough. So all three actions work together to address the symptoms that typically disrupt sleep during a cold or flu.
What it doesn't do
Night Nurse doesn't cure or shorten a cold or flu. So it manages symptoms while your immune system fights the infection. In addition, it doesn't unblock a stuffy nose (it has no decongestant component — Day Nurse has pseudoephedrine for that), doesn't treat bacterial chest infections, and doesn't act as a true sleep medicine for ongoing insomnia. Finally, Night Nurse isn't designed for productive (chesty) coughs where bringing up phlegm is part of the recovery — suppressing those types of cough can sometimes worsen the infection.
How Night Nurse works
Night Nurse delivers three different mechanisms in one dose. So understanding what each ingredient does helps explain why the combination works.
How paracetamol works
Paracetamol acts on pain and temperature pathways:
Absorbed quickly from the stomach and small intestine
Reaches the brain within 30-60 minutes
Acts on pain-processing centres to reduce pain perception
Acts on the hypothalamus to reset the body's temperature thermostat
Reduces fever back toward normal range
Effect lasts 4-6 hours typically
How promethazine works
Promethazine is a sedating first-generation antihistamine:
Blocks histamine H1 receptors throughout the body
This dries up a runny nose by reducing histamine-driven secretions
Also reduces sneezing and watery eyes
Crosses the blood-brain barrier easily
This causes drowsiness — usually within 30 minutes
Sleep effect lasts 4-8 hours
Has additional mild anti-emetic (anti-nausea) and anti-cough properties
In short, promethazine is what makes Night Nurse a nighttime product. After all, the drowsiness is intentional — not a side effect to avoid.
How dextromethorphan works
Dextromethorphan suppresses the cough reflex:
Acts on the cough centre in the medulla (the brainstem)
Reduces the brain's sensitivity to cough-triggering signals
Especially effective for tickly, dry, non-productive coughs
Doesn't typically cause significant drowsiness on its own
Effect starts within 30 minutes and lasts 4-6 hours
Not the same class as codeine — non-opioid cough suppressant
Why the combination matters at night
Three active ingredients tackling three different symptom clusters:
After all, taking three separate medicines at bedtime is harder to manage than one. So Night Nurse's combination approach simplifies nighttime cold management.
How to use Night Nurse
This summary is for reference only. The definitive guide is the patient information leaflet supplied with the bottle. So if anything isn't clear, contact our pharmacist.
Standard dosing
For adults and children aged 16 and over:
Take one 20ml dose at bedtime
Use the measuring cup or spoon provided with the bottle
Take about 20-30 minutes before going to bed
Don't take more than one 20ml dose in 24 hours
Don't take more than 3 nights continuously without medical advice
Don't drive after taking Night Nurse
Avoid alcohol while using Night Nurse
Using the measuring cup
Accurate dosing matters:
Use the cup or spoon supplied with the bottle
Don't guess the dose with a household teaspoon
Fill to the 20ml line for adults — typically the full cup
Drink in one or two sips
Rinse the measuring cup or spoon after use
When to take it
Timing matters:
Take 20-30 minutes before you plan to go to bed
Don't take during the day if you need to function normally
Don't take Night Nurse if you'll be driving within the next 8 hours
Don't take if you're caring for a baby or young child overnight
Allow time for the morning drowsiness to clear before driving the next day
What to do alongside
Help Night Nurse work better:
Stay hydrated — drink fluids throughout the day
Rest — sleep is when your immune system fights infection
Keep warm — a warm room helps sleep
Steam inhalation — can help loosen nasal congestion
Saline nasal sprays — clear the nose before bed for better sleep
Avoid alcohol — interacts poorly with Night Nurse and worsens dehydration
Don't smoke — slows recovery
If you miss a dose
Don't worry. So:
Skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the usual time
Don't double up to make up for a missed dose
If you're feeling much better, you can simply stop taking it
How long to use Night Nurse
Time-limited use only:
Maximum 3 nights continuously without medical advice
Most colds resolve within a week, so 3 nights of Night Nurse usually fits
If symptoms persist beyond 3 nights, see your GP
Don't use as a regular sleep aid — it isn't designed for that
Driving and the morning after
Plan around the drowsiness:
Don't drive within several hours of taking Night Nurse
Morning drowsiness can persist into the next day
Don't drive the morning after if you feel groggy
Allow extra time before any activity needing alertness
Promethazine can affect reaction times for 12+ hours in some people
Storage
Store at room temperature as labelled
Don't freeze
Replace the cap securely after use
Keep out of sight and reach of children
Don't use after the expiry date
Use within the time stated after opening
Warnings and precautions
Don't use Night Nurse if you
Don't use Night Nurse if you:
Are under 16 years old
Have a known allergy to paracetamol, promethazine, dextromethorphan, or any other ingredient
Have or are at risk of respiratory failure (COPD, pneumonia, asthma attack, severe asthma)
Have taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the last 2 weeks
Are taking other paracetamol-containing products
Are taking other antihistamine-containing products
Are pregnant (unless your doctor advises otherwise)
Are breastfeeding (unless your doctor advises otherwise)
Use with care if you
Talk to our pharmacist before using if you:
Have severe kidney or liver problems
Have a history of QT prolongation or heart rhythm problems
Have significant cardiovascular disease
Have pronounced bradycardia (slow heart rate)
Are taking other medicines that affect heart rhythm
Have diabetes (the liquid contains a small amount of carbohydrate)
Are on a low-sodium diet
Have alcohol dependence
Are known to be a poor metaboliser of CYP2D6 enzymes
Take medicines that inhibit CYP2D6 (some antidepressants, antifungals, antibiotics)
Have epilepsy
Have glaucoma
Have prostate problems
Have severe constipation
Important paracetamol warnings
Paracetamol overdose can cause serious liver damage:
Don't take with other paracetamol-containing products
Check labels of all medicines — paracetamol hides in many cold remedies, painkillers, and combination products
Maximum daily paracetamol: 4g for adults (8 x 500mg tablets equivalent)
Don't double-dose if you miss a dose
In overdose, seek immediate medical advice EVEN IF YOU FEEL WELL
Liver damage can be delayed and may need hospital treatment
Important promethazine warnings
Promethazine is a sedating antihistamine:
Causes pronounced drowsiness
Don't drive or operate machinery within 12 hours of taking
Don't drink alcohol while using Night Nurse
Don't combine with other sedating medicines
Can occasionally cause confusion or memory problems, especially in older adults
Use the lowest dose for the shortest time
Important dextromethorphan warnings
Dextromethorphan has some specific interactions:
Don't combine with MAOI antidepressants
Caution with SSRIs (citalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine) — risk of serotonin syndrome
Caution with other serotonergic medicines
Poor CYP2D6 metabolisers may experience prolonged effects
Stop and seek medical advice if cough doesn't improve after 3 days
Driving and machinery
Night Nurse significantly affects driving ability:
Don't drive after taking Night Nurse
Don't operate heavy machinery
Drowsiness can persist into the next morning
Reaction times can be impaired for 12+ hours
If you must drive the next day, allow plenty of time to feel fully alert
Drug-driving laws apply — promethazine can lead to impairment penalties
Use in older adults
Older adults need extra care:
More likely to experience pronounced drowsiness
Higher risk of confusion or memory problems
Higher fall risk from drowsiness
More likely to have other medicines that interact
Older adults may benefit from simpler single-ingredient products
Our pharmacist may suggest alternatives in some older adults
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Talk to your GP first:
Pregnancy: human data on the full combination is limited
Each ingredient has different safety considerations
Promethazine has been used in pregnancy for nausea, but the dextromethorphan combination needs medical advice
Breastfeeding: promethazine can pass into breast milk
Effects on the breastfed baby can include drowsiness
Talk to your GP or midwife about cold and flu options during pregnancy or breastfeeding
Pregnancy tests warning
Specific practical point:
Promethazine can interfere with urine-based pregnancy tests
May cause false positive or false negative results
If you need to do a pregnancy test, wait several days after your last dose
Blood-based pregnancy tests aren't affected
Side effects
Night Nurse is generally well-tolerated when used as directed. So most users only experience the intended drowsiness. When other side effects happen, they're usually mild.
Very common side effects
Drowsiness (this is the intended effect of promethazine)
Common side effects
Morning grogginess
Dry mouth
Headache
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Difficulty urinating
Constipation
Less common side effects
Nausea or vomiting
Skin rash
Increased sensitivity to sunlight
Confusion (especially in older adults)
Restlessness or paradoxical excitement (rare, more common in children)
Palpitations
Rare but serious side effects
Severe allergic reactions (swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; breathing difficulty) — medical emergency
Serotonin syndrome (combination with serotonergic medicines)
Liver damage (with paracetamol overdose)
Heart rhythm changes (QT prolongation)
Severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis)
Blood disorders (rare with paracetamol)
Significant respiratory depression in those with respiratory disease
Stop and seek urgent medical help if
You develop signs of severe allergic reaction
Severe skin rash, blistering, or peeling develops
Significant breathing difficulty develops
You suspect overdose (even if you feel well)
Severe abdominal pain develops (possible liver problem)
Yellowing of skin or eyes appears
Confusion or significant disorientation develops
Yellow Card reporting
If you notice any side effects, please report them through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/, or talk to our pharmacist.
Drug interactions
Night Nurse contains three active ingredients, so several interactions matter.
Important interactions to know about
Tell our pharmacist if you take:
MAOI antidepressants (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid) — including within 2 weeks of stopping
SSRIs (sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine) — caution due to dextromethorphan
Other antidepressants (mirtazapine, venlafaxine, duloxetine)
Other sedating medicines (benzodiazepines, zopiclone, opioids)
Other antihistamines (including topical creams and eye drops)
Other cold and flu remedies (especially those with paracetamol)
Anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, phenytoin)
Warfarin and other anticoagulants (paracetamol may affect INR)
Metoclopramide or domperidone (affect paracetamol absorption)
Steroid nasal sprays (Avamys, Beconase, Nasacort) help with allergic rhinitis
Don't use Night Nurse for ongoing allergy symptoms
How should I store Night Nurse?
Storage:
Room temperature as labelled
Don't freeze
Keep tightly closed
Keep out of sight and reach of children
Don't share between household members
Don't use after the expiry date
How do I order from Courier Pharmacy?
Add Night Nurse to your basket on courierpharmacy.co.uk and complete the brief pharmacist consultation. Our pharmacist will review your answers and confirm whether Night Nurse fits your situation. Your order goes out in plain, discreet packaging.
More than a prescription: our community
Healthcare shouldn't only happen when you're paying for it.
Every fortnight we run free drop-in talks and clinics at Insomnia, Derby, from 10am to 12pm. So we show up, even when it's free.
Bring a question, bring a friend, bring a stack of bewildering letters from another clinic. We'll sit with you.
We cover cold and flu, sleep difficulties, allergies, asthma, MCAS, menopause, dermatology, hair loss, men's and women's health, digestive health, weight management, and whatever else people bring through the door. No appointment. No cost. No pressure. Just real support and treatment that fits.
This article is for information only and isn't a substitute for personal medical advice. Always speak to a qualified pharmacist or prescriber before starting cold and flu treatment, especially if you take other medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have underlying medical conditions. Symptoms lasting more than a week, severe symptoms, or breathing difficulty need urgent medical assessment.
How this content was created
Written by the Courier Pharmacy editorial team and reviewed by a GPhC-registered pharmacist.
The content is grounded in the Haleon UK Trading Limited Summary of Product Characteristics for Night Nurse Oral Solution, NHS guidance on colds and flu, NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries on common cold and influenza-like illness, and the real experience of pharmacists supporting people through seasonal infections. In addition, it draws on the real questions patients bring to our drop-in clinics in Derby.
