Robitussin addict?

Alright, im 18 and been drinking robitussin for a month and a half, ive gone through about 16. 4(oz) bottles, and 2 gel bottles through a month and a half. i was wondering how this is effecting my body, even with the only active ingredient (DXM). any comments would be great. Thank you,

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

DXM is not the only active ingredient in that stuff......there are a couple others....my only comment is that you are looking at a losers habit if you explore much further.........it can destroy your health and even your life. You are much too young for that......you still have a future....get real while you still do. And best of luck to you.....

[jess8487]

Robitussin? I didnt know that was addictive? Is it the same as a narcotic? what does it do to you?? I am so awed right now! I had NO idea that over the counter cough meds that i give my children was addictive!! Now i know not to give it to them anymore! Wow that is crazy Sorry i could not help with ur question..

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

you dont need to stop giving your children cough relief......it takes ounces instead of teaspoons to have a bad time with it..........

[jess8487]

well i dont want them to take ANYTHING that would ever mess them up regardless of how much it takes to get there..Robitussin is not the only cough relief out there..So im not gonna STOP giving them cough relief, just gonna be a good mother and prevent anything from happening..I dont want them to have to be controlled by any addiction..Cause I have been there many many times..As for you, i dont think it would be as hard to quit as it is for a narcotic user..I would imagine the withdrawals would be much easier but have never done it so dont know for sure, just my 2 cents

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Much better to remain safe ..... you have a good attitude....

[Cassie415]

I have seen and heard of some kids that like to drink cough syrup, although more so the liquid codeine rather than robitussin. There was one night that I was really sick and woke up at around 3am and took robitussin, only I didn't have my contacts in and ended up giving myself 4x the right dose. I ended up not being able to sleep, my pupils were dilated, when I did shut my eyes I was having some crazy kinds of dreams, and I just felt like i was out of touch with reality. Personally, I did not like it, but I know some kids that drink that stuff sometimes. I've seen one kid who was just talking and not making sense and eventually in the long term I think you just lose touch with the world and what's going on around you. I'd advise you to stop drinking that stuff, I don't know specific facts on what it does to your body but I can't imagine it could be good.

[Rebecca_]

I have tried DXM and found it unpleasant.  I'm not sure if it becomes physically addictive but I do know of course that any mind altering substance is not good for anyone.  Get yourself some help - you need to figure out what you are trying to escape. If you don't know why you do what you do you can't help yourself.  Find out why you need to numb yourself and figure out a better way to cope - this DXM use is VERY BAD for your body and will likely lead to other substances if you don't get yourself some help now.  Go to a therapist or someone you love and open yourself up and share.  I was never good at that and now know that if I was I could've helped myself long ago.  Letting others in can really make a difference.

[ErialC]

DXM clearly is not an unpleasant experience for you and it wasn't for me either.  I loved the stuff and couldn't get enough of it.  I was addicted for 8 years.  I didn't do as much as you are doing.  

I had ups and downs where I would go from using a few times a week to every day for two months.  I knew it was bad for me but I kept doing it.


I quit last year and am still struggling.

These are the side affects that I am still facing even after almost a year of being sober:
Strong cravings for DXM
My speech is slurred when I get flustered
Anxiety
Extreme paranoia
Fatigue
Depression
Chest pains
Horrible memory
I have a difficult time trying to find the words I want to say


I am 24 now and I would hate to see the same thing happen to someone else.  While I can't undo the damage I have done to myself, I can at least try to help others understand how serious this is.
You can see my whole story in my post on long term affects of DXM.

Good luck and be safe :)

[catmagnet]

I guzzled Robitussin in my younger days. It does make you feel high if you drink a couple of bottles and your stomach can take it. I was also "hooked" on alka-seltzer plus cold medicine for years!!The old formula, which was banned. There was something in that formula that was addictive. I don't know why those things had a hold on me. But I was an addict way before these habits, being over-the-counter stuff, I didn't give it much thought...hmmm...legal trade-off drugs...scary.

[keepitstrange]

I also have been taking dxm through robitussin and an otc medicine called coricidin which I believe is even worse for you.  My friend told me about this method of getting high for free (since stealing is so easy) about a year and a half ago and I am still doing it.  Whether it is physically addicting I dont know, but psychologically, Im hooked.  Every time I pass a pharmacy I get high.  

There really isn't a reason why I do it, but it still happens.  And I can tell you that when I look at myself today, I am different than I was.  It affects the way you think, how you talk, how you walk, and your activities outside of this drug are gone. My body just feels worn and torn every time I get up to do something.  My advice is limited since I am still struggling with it, but I would say never ever even think trying it once is a good idea, because once is just opening the door for an addiction.

[TakingAction]

Yea, I too sometimes get on the cold medicine train.  It is certainly addictive, but I never had an issue with severe withdrawl (withdrawal).  I would go for Advil Cold and Sinus.  The active ingredient pseudoephedrine provides a bit of a high.  Though I think they have reformulated most of these cold meds to eliminate these risks.

I would say that you are playing with fire, and this certainly is a surefire gateway into worse substances.  My advice would be to endure whatever withdrawl (withdrawal) you might experience and then try to figure out the reasons you are medicating yourself.  You are young enough to nip this in the bud before it becomes something much more dangerous.

As a side note, cold meds have a particular long term damaging effect on the nerves.  You do not want to get into that.  Nerve pain is no joke and leads to more substance abuse.  No mo tussin'!

matt