Abusing cough Medicine?

[Donna]

I have heard that some kids my son hangs with are abusing cough medicine.  Drinking bottles of it for a high?  What type of cough medicine would this be.  And what kind of signs would my child show if he were doing this?

[Dan]

I am not a doctor but I can tell you that your child or his friends are most likely not getting high off of the alcohol in cough syrup.  They probably are using cough medicine that has the ingredient "Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide".  This is an over-the-counter drug found in many popular cough and cold medicines.  Chances are that they are using a product called "Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough" or generic equivalent.  This product is unique in that it has no other ingredients other than the DM.  Alcohol volume is 1.4% in the 4oz bottle, not nearly enough to cause a person to become alcohol-intoxicated.  Dextromethorphan is essentially a synthetic non narcotic cough suppressant that gives a similar high to codeine, although not as addictive(but it is addictive despite what AH Robins and the FDA may say.)  
As you may have assumed I am speaking from experience.  I am recovering from a 4 year bout with this stuff myself.  

The following is an out take from "The complete guide to prescription and non-prescription drugs" 1993:

Dextromethorphan Overdose Symptoms:

Euphoria, over activity, sense of intoxication, visual and auditory hallucinations, lack of coordination, stagger, stupor, shallow breathing.

A couple other symptoms that I remember:

Large pupils, sticky mouth, wide opened eyes, glazed, glassy eyes, walking funny somewhat like stomping, slurred speech (unlike an alcohol slur, this is mostly a result of numbness in the tongue as I remember it), inability to sleep for at least 8 hours after ingestion (usually), loss of appetite.


Make no mistake, this drug is for real.  It is actually quite popular among teenagers.  My only advise is to talk to a doctor and do what you think is best as a parent.

[stoneheart91]

anybody in here addicted to dmx?

[stoneheart91]

ever sense i stopped useing dmx ....people say i have looked lost and acted very slow

[newmanagment]

i once saw my nephew high on robitussin. it wasnt pretty. as for dmx im unsure, try the medical consult part of this site, they might help. others on here may have experience with it tho. best of luck to ya,,,,

[jafro]

What? and they sell this over the counter? to kids? how irresponsible. Surely kids would have to drink an awful lot (my stomach turns just thinking about it - I hate the taste of cold syrups). I can't imagine them selling something that dangerous. There must be strong warnings I'd hope at least.

[whathefu_k]

A lot of teenagers are doing it now. They call it "robo trippin." I worked with this boy that would talk about doing it. He had to drink A LOT of it- several bottles. He was not the sharpest tool in the shed either. I wondered if it had made him slow.
Talk to your son about the dangers of what he may be doing to himself

[medicineman]

It is not just over the counter cough medicines that you have to worry about. When teens over 16 go to the doctors they are often prescribed a cough medication with either Codeine or Hydrocodone. These are both narcotic Opioid pain medicines that are inserted into the prescription cough medications. In fact Hydrocodone is the same chemical formula as in the pain killer Vicodin. Teens often mix these prescription medications with sprite or other clear sodas and drink this concoction while driving. They call it leaning because of the feeling of leaning back in your seat. Also they may call it sipping on the "sizzurp". This is in fact the most dangerous form of cough syrup abuse. It can lead to opioid addiction not to mention impaired driving and other actions. Please watch your kids, my son started with this and  within 2 years became a heroin addict. I hope this never happens to your teens. Always ask for a non narcotic cough medicines.

[jackie05]

i myself an addicted to cold medican i take 2 boxes of coricendan (thats not spelled right) to get high i do that for 4 days striaght then i stop i know i need help with this but its very hard no one understands it

[jackie05]

as a person who does this please look out for your kids or your friends, i wish i never would of started this i was in jail for 4 mos. for stealing cold med at the store, and when i got out i used again, look at there pupils the will be big and the day after you get high your tired and and wore out

[Anaxis]

I started taking DXM through Corricidin cough-and-cold back in the mid-90s, we called it "fizzing".  At the time, my friends and I thought it was great, harmless fun.  Hell, at the same time, we thought that exstacy was safe. DXM is a powerful disassociative (accounting for the "robo" walk, hallucination, etc).  By itself, DXM isn't well understood (except by the manufacturers probably) as far as addiction and health-risks go because it can effect each user so very differently. The prior information here from others is good, but I have to add a warning about Corricidin C&C.  It also contains an antihistamine, CPM, which is DANGEROUS in overdose.  It can and has killed.  At least Robitussin only has a little alcohol in it.  :rolleyes:  Check out Erowid.org about Corricidin C&C.

[DexMonster]

I'm 17 years old and I am addicted to Dextromethorphan. Its more serious than most of you probably think. I started out taking 300mg (gel capsules) A whole bottle (20 pills 15mg each) I would down the bottle. Then i started upping the dosgae to 600 750 800... My friends described one of my trips with me as a 'walking coma'. I dind't beleive the severity of the situation until they showed me pictures, and i did indeed look like I was in a coma. I don't have much recolection from this day (which was yesterday actually) The pictures scarred me, and it was a slap in the face.. Its hard to admit even on the internet that i am an addict.
Talk to your kids about DXM. This stuff is very serious, and im very disapointed in myself... I don't know what I would do if my Mother found out.

[Jordand93]

I currently abuse triple c's ( coriceden) The feeling of it is like being on clouds. The visuals are insane. Its like the feeling of falling off a cliff blindfolded. It is possible to have a bad trip. I remember i took 16 of those f***ers and time went so slow. I would close my eyes and visualize people dying. The one i realy remember was a little boy playing baseball then a moments later drowning in water. Like a lake. The most horrific part about this ordeal was the next morning i rememberd that i play baseball and have my whole life. And i currently live on a beautifull lake. I just hope i get help. I really need it. And i hope that people stop this. Its sad

[chewypanadol]

I am addicted to dhasedy ( the commerical name) which contains codeine.It is very hard to stop. When I try to stop, my hands start shaking, my body starts trembling, I get irritated easily, and just somehow the body does not feel good, I keep squirming in bed almost as if ants are running up and down the bones in my body, and there's no way to take away that feeling. Even so, when I tolerated it for 4 days, I start to not be able to fuction properly at school, now work. It's hard to explain, but you just don't feel comfortable, like you need to always constantly move every part of the body. I am trying so hard to quit. Like many others, my family does not know about it, and i am working as a staff nurse, so if ever anybody found out, I will get fired. I really wish I never touched that stuff! I thought, take it for a while, and I ended up taking it for 5 years, No joke. No when I type about it I even surprised myself. Oh god, help me!

[epitoky]

wow. Well, I found out my 27 yr old niece is addicted to cold&cough pills. She is a single mother to her 6 yr old daughter and is now on welfare and living in the garage with her daughter of her Mom's house (who is my sister).  We have been wondering for several years now why she seems like she's in a stupor so often, just staring, or asking what was said when no one said anything at all, or staring at us with a blank, dumb look or a weird, distant smile...  I thought she must have a brain injury the way she was acting, but then she broke down and told me what she was doing.  She had seen it on a 20/20 special about the effects of these over-the-counter drugs and so she was feeling down and tried them out and has since become very addicted to them.  I didn't know what to say to her, so I called a good friend for advice who speaks now at Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous and is in recovery himself and has now been a sponsor to many, many people.  He said this:  "when an addict calls you in a breakdown--and there will be a breakdown and a call to someone for help--it is very important to be ready with information for them. Cocaine Anonymous actually serves everyone who is taking any mind-altering drugs and they almost called themselves 'Whatever Anonymous' because they don't care what you're addicted to.  Whoever they're likely to call needs to know their hotline number and where they're located so when the user calls in desperation, probably feeling embarrassed, ashamed and scared, you say to them only:  "OK listen, it's gonna be ok... just hang up and call this number right now and tell them exactly what you just told me".  When you get a call like that, it is a window of opportunity that is very small, since they are calling at a very low spot, which could change in minutes to hours... Nobody asks for help when they're feeling good. "   Another thing my friend said is that if, like me, you already received 'The Call' and didn't know how to help that person but now have that information, then go to them and say "Hey I was remembering that conversation when you were really worried about this, and I was got some information that, y'know, when you're really sick of this thing, please call me first.  I love you, you know, so please just call me if you ever need any help".  He said it's very important to be very vague and just be short and sweet and not give any more of an explanation... you just  can't give much info because they'll fill in the blanks, decide how it will go if they know what number you're giving them and then they'll never want to go.  Finally, he said for people dealing with users, they should find Al-anon or Nar-anon meetings to attend in their area or online help or communities through these groups because it will REALLY help them to feel connected to others working through the same helpless feelings and learn ways to get through this the best way possible.  This is serious.  I am very afraid for my niece and her daughter--it's become a veeeery unhealthy relationship where it looks like Child Protection Services should be called if she doesn't pull herself together, reach out for help and not look back.

[kim715]

I'm sorry for your situation,but glad to see that you have people in your life that have experience and can direct you on where to go for help and how to help your niece.This forum is also a great place for help and support,along with the other things you have mentioned above{AA and NA}.Perhaps you could also suggest to your niece to come here.We can all relate to whats going on in her life and theres no judgement here,only help and support.Theres help and support for you here as well.Thank you for sharing your situation and for all the great advice in helping a loved one who is suffering from addiction.I hope you'll stick around.All the best to you and your family.....Kim

[epitoky]

Thanks so much Kim.   I hadn't honestly thought to repeatedly visit this site or to refer it to her, but that is a terrific suggestion.  I've never been part of an online community before, but this support group really put a fire in me to take action after reading what my niece is dealing with here, and therefore what her entire family is dealing with as well.  I mean, the day after I saw this forum, I found the nearest Al-Anon meeting & went.  In those meetings, there's sharing for whoever would like to share something, but no "crosstalk", basically no discussion or conversation, or suggestions made.  Anything like that that's saved for after the meeting.  And so afterwards, I was greeted by people who really did have empathy for the situation and offered there support & experience through this process for us.  They strongly suggest you go to several in a row, and I can see why.  One night energy of the meeting may be off, or you just don't get anything out of it, but you just keep coming back. Dedicate yourself and it starts to sink in to you slowly and you can find hope & peace of mind there.   So Here's one of the websites I went to to find a meeting for myself & my niece's family, who lives an hour away:  www.al-anon.org
I also looked up Cocaine Anonymous, which, as I said before is a group that actually helps anyone who's addicted to ANY mind-altering substance...here's where I found their information:
http://www.ca-online.org/index_files/ContactInfo.htm
and I called their number to help find support in my area:
International Referral Line     1-800-347-8998
I've got a lot to learn, but one thing I've gotten out of Al-Anon was that families of addicts of any sort are also in recovery themselves, partly because being around an illness makes everyone ill.  unhealthy patterns and dynamics form & so we all have healing and growing to do around it, not just the addict.  And when we as their family & friends grow and learn healthier behaviors, the dynamic begins to change & creates an environment where addiction has a harder time surviving in the person.  So it's not just a commitment to helping the addict, it's a commitment to helping & empowering yourself.  I appreciate this venue to share with each other what we have learned that may help others in some way work through this, one step at a time.

[kim715]

Great post.Very informative.I'm sure a lot here will be able to benefit for the information you forwarded.

I'm so glad that you went to a meeting and that you're taking such an active role in your recovery as well as your neices.It's the addict thats addicted to the drugs but often times the loved ones become addicted to the addict.They become consumed with worry and fear and anger.Just like as addicts the drug is constantly on our minds ,consuming our every thought,and being placed in front of everything else in our lives.Sometimes our loved ones feel and act the same way about us as we do about the drug.

Thanks so much for sharing and I hope you will continue to post...All the best....Kim

[epitoky]

I really appreciate the encouragement...  That was so well said.  It can be an opportunity for all of us to grow in ways we never imagined.  Addicts & their loved ones.  Thank you.  :)

[corricidincoco]

yea its dxm ...thats the feel good drug in the cough and cold ****...I am addicted to this REAL BAD..and it sux ..I have stage 1 hypertension now and I am only 23 years old...its not good stuff I can tell you that much ..robo is better than corricidin but its still not good ...

Yea but signs to look out for are dialated pupils...walkin like a ****** robot ...slurred speach ...talkin more than usual ....

[corricidincoco]

and its DXM not DMX dmx is a rapper man!!

[DannyDuh]

i used very large amounts of DxM for about a month straight everysingle Day i would take a 4oz bottle and when that started to kick in, i would take another 4oz bottle. and i would mix xanax, vicodin, or soma's with this and it was the most unbelievable high you could every imagine. I didnt go home for the entire period i stayed in a 8 by 10 room with two other people and we would just trip all day and listen to music, and i let everything else in my life kindof of just slide along. I was only 17, and i had been through some of the ruffest **** of anybody i know.also during this time i went through about 2 thousand dollars on drugs and liquor.  I dont understand why all of these people in these forums are crying about there addictions, it was your choice. So live with it, drugs are a personal choice that many choose to do, and im tired of all the bull in these kindof forums, if you like drugs you like drugs. Why are you crying to all these random people. I wouldn't take back those times for the world.

[leeisgettingclean]

sorry not being 100% mean but to me you sound a lil slow...like maybe those two years in a shed with your friends killed many brain cells...I am not going to waste my time argueing with a "slow" person.

[leeisgettingclean]

and by tha way kid...your ignorant comment will be deleted in a mater of mins anyways i am sure, so unfurtantly for you, your words of "retardness" will not be shared with tha world

[bmdad]

Why are you even on this forum then reading people's stories? Why don't you go back to that 8x10 foot room and stay there? And for many people taking opiates for pain isn't really a choice but more for quality of life. Addiction will hit before you even saw it coming. And if you think you can just stop using without a support you don't know your @ss from your elbow.