Author: Alex Thompson

Robitussin: Uses, Dosage & Side Effects

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details about using your product safely.These products do not cure or shorten the length of the common cold. To decrease the risk for side effects, carefully follow all dosage directions. Do not give other cough-and-cold medication that might contain the same or similar ingredients (see also Drug Interactions section). Ask the doctor or pharmacist about other ways to relieve cough and cold symptoms (such as drinking enough fluids, using a humidifier or saline nose drops/spray). Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions.

Side effects from overuse

This is especially a problem for teens who go to dance clubs, where they can be sold DXM which looks like illegal club drugs such as PCP. When you take DXM with other drugs or alcohol, it raises the odds of trouble. Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While this medication may be prescribed for children as young as 2 years old for selected conditions, precautions do apply. Robitussin-DM contains two active ingredients, dextromethorphan and guaifenesin.

There are usually several stages of DXM intoxication, depending on how much you take. Effects can range from a mild “buzz” to an “out-of-body” feeling to hallucinations, paranoia, and aggression. They can last 30 minutes to 6 hours after you take the drug. Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F) unless otherwise directed. Throw away any unused medication after the expiration date.

Doses of Robitussin-DM depend on patient age and other medical conditions the person may have. It is not known whether Robitussin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

Related treatment guides

Guaifenesin is used to treat coughs and congestion caused by the common cold, bronchitis, and other breathing illnesses. (See also Precautions section.)Cough-and-cold products have not been shown to be safe or effective in children younger than 6 years. Do not use this product to treat cold symptoms in children younger than 6 years unless specifically directed by the doctor. Some products (such as long-acting tablets/capsules) are not recommended for use in children younger than 12 years.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Dextromethorphan can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how dextromethorphan affects you. Dextromethorphan should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). Protect dextromethorphan capsules from light, and do not expose them to temperatures above 104 F (40 C).

Symptoms

This will help them determine if dextromethorphan is right for you. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. More than 125 OTC medicines sold to treat the symptoms of cough and colds have DXM. Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines are safe and effective when they’re used as directed.

Dextromethorphan overdose

At doses of 500 to 1,000 mg, dissociative sedation occurs. At high doses, dextromethorphan has similar effects as those of phencyclidine, or PCP, the DEA reports. The health care provider will measure and monitor the person’s vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

More About Drugs and Medications

  1. Take this medication by mouth with or without food, as directed by your doctor, usually every 4 hours.
  2. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take dextromethorphan.
  3. But taking too much of them — on purpose or by accident — can make you feel high.
  4. There may be other drugs that can interact with Robitussin.
  5. Some of these side effects are more common than others, though all of them are rare.

Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. St. Louis Children’s Hospital is consistently ranked among the nation’s best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals.

Check the labels of all your medications to make sure you are not taking more than one product containing guaifenesin. A safe dose of products with DXM is usually 15 to 30 milligrams (mg) over the course of 24 hours. It usually takes more than 10 times that amount to make you high. It can, depending on the product(s) you’re taking.

If you feel that these symptoms are life-threatening, call 911 immediately. Here’s a rundown of some common terms for cough medicine abuse. As with most things regarding your children, you’re the first line of defense.