|  | Conditions Treatments | Drug Addiction

Effects of Cough Medicine Abuse

Dextromethorphan (DXM) cough syrup is one of the most widely abused over-the-counter drugs in the U.S., particularly among young people. Cough medicine abuse entails taking much more than the suggested dose to experience the effects of DXM intoxication. This can have a number of harmful effects in both the short and long term.

  1. Dextromethorphan (DXM)

    • Dextromethorphan (DXM) is the active ingredient in over-the-counter cough medicines such as Robitussin or NyQuil. It is an antitussive or cough suppressant, and is used in modern cough syrups due to its relatively low incidence of side effects when taken in the proper dose. It replaced codeine phosphates, an opiate derivative with potential for addiction. DXM was available over-the-counter in the 60's and 70's as Romilar, but was pulled from shelves due to abuse. Eventually DXM became an ingredient in modern cough syrup.

    Effects

    • In its recommended dose, DXM suppresses coughing due to respiratory illness or environmental irritation without causing interference with the central nervous system. However at high "recreational" doses, DXM acts as a dissociative, similar in effect to the animal tranquilizer ketamine. A dissociative blocks signals in the brain, which puts the user in a dream-like "out-of-body" state, and may also cause hallucinations. Dissociative drugs may also depress the central nervous system, causing a potentially fatal reaction with central nervous system depressants (alcohol, anti-anxiety medications, pain medications, sleeping pills).

    Dangers of Abuse

    • Abuse of DXM is dangerous, particularly if the product containing DXM is a multi-symptom drug containing multiple active ingredients. An example is NyQuil, which contains acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Taking enough of such a product to induce the dissociative effects of DXM can cause a potentially fatal overdose of acetaminophen or similar pain relievers. Also, as stated before, the combination of high doses of DXM with alcohol or other depressants can result in a dangerously slowed heart rate, and taking DXM with amphetamines or cocaine can result in a dangerously accelerated heart rate.

    Long Term Effects

    • DXM can be addictive if abused frequently. Long term users have also reported issues ranging from urinary problems to difficulties such as short-term memory loss and mental confusion and difficulty concentrating. Liver damage may also result from long term use.

    Treatment

    • For casual users, immediate discontinuation of any and all DXM use is recommended. If you or someone you know has an addiction to DXM, a rehabilitation program is the best option. Just because DXM is technically a legal drug does not mean that it is not dangerous and potentially addictive. A DXM problem is no different from any other drug problem.

Drug Addiction - Related Articles