Dextromethorphan…dun dun dun

One of the most commonly misused over the counter drugs is, you guessed it, dextromethorphan. It is a cough suppressant that is used in over 140 cough and cold medications. The number is astounding when you think about it. How many times have you had a severe cold and reached for the NyQuil and just drank a few tablespoons because the cold was so irritating you wanted gone right then? I believe many of you are answering yes to that question. In today’s era consumers need to be educated on the severe side effects of misusing over the counter drugs, especially dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan or DXM as it is commonly known as can cause nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, seizures and in severe cases death. Educating the consumers about these adverse effects will be beneficial for the future. Tell your patients to keep track of all medications in their cabinet, watch the medicines their kids are taking, teach them how to read the labels effectively, buy only what is needed, and importantly be responsible!!! Here is a short video I thought was interesting about dextromethorphan.