Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressant approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that is found in many over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold remedies. It is generally safe when taken at recommended doses. When taken in large amounts, though, DXM can produce hallucinations and a 'high" similar to psychotropic drugs, such a phencyclidine (PCP). Dnagerous side effects may include blurred vision, loss of physical coordination, abdominal pain, an drapid heartbeat. Side effects may be worsened if the ingested product also contains other pharmaceutical ingredients, such as tylenol, pseudoephedrine, antihistamines, or expectorants (such as guanifenisen), which are commonly found in cough and cold medicines?
According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) for 2004:
- An estimated 12,584 emergency department (ED) visits involved pharmaceuticals containing DXM. This was .7 percent of all drug-related ED visits
- The rate of ED visits resulting from nonmedical use of DXM for those aged 12 to 20 was 7.1 visits per 100,000 population compared with 2.6 visits or fewer per 100,000 for other age groups
- ED patients aged 12 to 20 accounted for nearly half (48%) of all the ED visits resulting from nonmedical use of DXM >
- The rate of ED visits resulting from any type of use of DXM among those aged 12 to 20 was 10.3 per 100,000 population compared with 4.3 visits per 100,000 for the population overall >>
- Alcohol was implicated in about a third (36%) of ED visits involving nonmedical use of DXM for those aged 18 to 20 and in 13 percent of visits for those aged 12 to 17.
Sources:
Drug Abuse: How to Break the Habit
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org/
National Institute on Drug Abuse
http://www.nida.nih.gov/
The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
www.health.org
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