He observed that coughs then resolved over a matter of days. Some went through an entire bag 20 in one day! Mead went to Dr. David Hahn, a senior scientist at WREN, a group that conducts primary-care research in partnership with primary-care clinicians.
DXM has no serious side effects when used in small doses. When taken in larger amounts, it can distort awareness and alter time perception. It can also cause hallucinations. Cold medicines with DXM also have other ingredients that can be harmful in large amounts. These include acetaminophen or decongestants. Combining high doses of DXM with alcohol is very unsafe, too. It can lead to death.
Cough syrup abuse has been a problem for decades. But the concern in the past had been about the alcohol and codeine in cough and cold products. Because of that, the alcohol has been removed from most OTC cough and cold remedies. State laws also restrict the sale of products that have codeine.
DXM seemed a good substitute to codeine and alcohol. Ultimately, the safest way to manage OTC treatment is to take single-ingredient medications only.
A report in the journal Pediatrics in Review concluded that OTC preparations are no more effective in treating cough and cold symptoms compared to placebo and that the products have yet to be proven to be safe and effective in young children.
Moreover, the U. Food and Drug Administration FDA advises against the use of these medications in children under 2 and asserts that most children will recover from cold and flu on their own without the need for medicine. In other words, a potential risk of overdose in young people is not worth the potential benefit you seek unless otherwise directed by a doctor.
Though you may never anticipate a cold and flu medication overdose, they can easily happen. It's important to recognize the signs of overdose should one occur. Symptoms of a potential overdose of OTC cold and flu medication include:. Call Poison Control at and seek emergency care if you think you've given yourself or your child too much cold and flu medication. In the past, codeine and alcohol contained in many OTC cough syrups were abused by some for the euphoric and calming effects they could deliver.
In response to public health warnings, alcohol has now been removed from most OTC remedies, while codeine has been reclassified as a Schedule II controlled substance when used in products containing more than 90 milligrams mg per dosage unit.
With the removal of these products from market shelves, some younger people have turned to OTC cold, cough, and flu remedies containing dextromethorphan DMX , an opiod, for a cheap and easy high. These products are readily available throughout the United States in syrup, tablet, and powder form. The abuse of DMX is most common among 8th to 12th graders. When swallowed or snorted in excess, DMX can cause hallucinogenic effects similar to the anesthetic drug ketamine or the street drug phencyclidine also known as PCP or "angel dust.
The overuse of DMX is associated with an array of side effects, including:. An overdose of DMX can lead to more serious symptoms, including seizures, cerebral hemorrhage bleeding in the brain , permanent brain damage, and even death.
The regular abuse of DXM at high doses can also cause a condition known as chemical psychosis in which a person loses touch with reality. Referred to by some as "poor man's psychosis," the DMX-induced disorder characterized by paranoia , delusions , hallucinations , and disassociation has been known to lead to impulsive and even violent acts, including assault and self-harm. Since DMX abuse is largely hidden, it is important to recognize the signs of overdose in not only adolescents and teens but some adults as well.
If you suspect that someone has overdosed on DMX, call if there are any of the following symptoms:. To prevent abuse in your family, educate your kids about the dangers of DMX, monitor their activities, keep track of all cold and flu medications in the home, and avoid stockpiling medications containing DMX.
And if you're self-treating a cold, be sure to carefully read and follow product instructions and only treat the symptoms you have. These effects can last as long as 6 hours. DXM also can make users have trouble controlling their limbs and cause blurred vision, slurred speech, dizziness, and impaired judgment.
DXM might seem safe since it's sold over the counter. But large quantities can cause dangerous side effects, including loss of consciousness, seizures, brain damage, and death. One particularly dangerous side effect of DXM is hyperthermia — extremely high fever.
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