DEXTROMETHORPHAN

Overview:

A medication used to treat a dry cough.Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant

Classification:

Antitussives

Uses:

Dextromethorphan is commonly used to reduce cough caused by common cold or inhaled allergens or that makes it hard for you to fall asleep.

How It Works:

It reduces the urge to cough by slowing the activity in certain areas of the brain.

Dosage

As prescribed by your doctor.

Precautions:

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to dextromethorphan, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in the product you plan to take. Check the package label for a list of the ingredients.

Tell your doctor if you are taking the following medications or have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).

Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take while taking dextromethorphan. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

Tell your doctor if you smoke, if you have a cough that occurs with a large amount of phlegm (mucus), or if you have or have ever had breathing problems such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking dextromethorphan, call your doctor.

If you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inherited condition in which a special diet must be followed to prevent damage to your brain that can cause severe intellectual disability), you should know that some brands of chewable tablets that contain dextromethorphan may be sweetened with aspartame, a source of phenylalanine.

Side Effects:

Mild side effects include:

Nausea

Stomach discomfort

Dizziness

Drowsiness

Rare but serious dextromethorphan risks include:

Serotonin syndrome

Misuse

Disclaimer:

This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare provider for medical advice and proper dosage.