What drug is found in cough medicine?

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a common ingredient found in many cough and cold remedies. It helps stop a cough. Used as directed, DXM products are safe and work well. But DXM has become popular among teens who want a cheap, easy high.

Why is cough syrup age restricted?

DXM, as it’s known, is found in certain cough and cold medicines, but can cause hallucinations if taken in high doses and has been increasingly used as an easy-to-find recreational drug. Once the law takes effect, all vendors will have to check the buyer’s identification if they appear under the age of 25.

Is cough syrup bad?

Cough syrup is completely safe (and useful) when used as intended. When you take too much—intentionally or by accident—it causes a high, like some illicit drugs. Some types are riskier than others, especially if you have teens or young children at home.

What are the side effects of dextromethorphan?

Advertisement

• Blurred vision.
• difficulty in urination.
• drowsiness or dizziness.
• nausea or vomiting (severe)
• shakiness and unsteady walk.
• slowed breathing.
• unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability (severe)

Is cough syrup safe?

Do cough syrups help? There is no evidence that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines – both expectorants that promote expulsion of bronchial secretions and suppressants that prevent coughing — suppress or stop coughing better than a placebo.

Who should not take dextromethorphan?

do not take dextromethorphan if you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or if you have stopped taking an MAO inhibitor within the past 2 weeks.

Is dextromethorphan a drug?

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressor found in more than 120 over-the- counter (OTC) cold medications, either alone or in combination with other drugs such as analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen), antihistamines (e.g., chlorpheniramine), decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine), and/ or expectorants (e.g., guaifenesin) …

Does cough syrup have alcohol in it?

Alcohol is often a major component of cough syrup and other medications. To the right is an alphabetical list of many medicines with a high alcohol content. It’s important to be aware of how much alcohol your meds contain. Laws against driving under the influence don’t distinguish between sources of blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

What are the most common cough syrup drugs?

Some of the cough syrups may also contain dextromethorphan, or DXM, a cough suppressant that replaced codeine in over-the-counter cold and flu medicines. This drug is also intoxicating and dangerous, and has become a target of abuse. Another sedating drug often found in cough syrups is promethazine.

Is it safe to buy cough medicine over the counter?

Many of these medicines are bought “over the counter” (OTC), meaning you do not need a prescription to have them. Two commonly misused cough and cold medicines are: Dextromethorphan (DXM) cough syrup, tablets, and gel capsules. These OTC cough medicines are safe for stopping coughs during a cold if you take them as directed.

Why do you need a prescription to buy cough syrup?

Since then, the DEA has rescheduled codeine so it requires a prescription, and both federal and state authorities track these prescriptions, along with the sale of cough syrups in general. These laws were instituted due to meth production in small labs in the US, which used cough and cold medicines.