.jpg)
But in someone who drinks heavily (three or more drinks a day), glutathione levels drop, allowing NAPQI to build up to dangerous levels that can damage liver cells. Because of this, chronic drinkers are more at risk for an unintentional acetaminophen overdose, which can result in severe liver damage or even liver failure. Dextromethorphan misuse is dangerous, and it can lead to long-lasting health effects — much like alcohol can. When we consider the complexities of DXM and its interactions, especially with alcohol, we unravel a narrative filled with potential risks and unintended consequences. While DXM can be a valuable medicinal tool, mixing DXM and alcohol opens the door to a wide range of health hazards. By understanding the risks, recognizing the signs of misuse, and taking proactive steps for safe use, we can ensure that DXM serves its intended purpose without compromising our health and safety.
The case was a 27‐year‐old male with alcohol dependence, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia. At the age of 22, because of the COVID‐19 pandemic, he was fired, and the quantity of alcoholic drinks was increased to 128 g of pure alcohol per day. At the age of 23, he worked as a host in a nightclub, and he drank heavily and sometimes took cannabis. After 6 months, he visited a hospital to present tremors in interval periods, and insomnia. However, he could not bear the environment and group living, and was discharged from the hospital without completing the program.
Symptoms of overdose
Misuse typically involves consuming DXM in quantities far exceeding the recommended therapeutic dose for cough suppression, seeking a psychoactive experience. DXM also affects serotonin — a complex neurochemical best known for its role in mood and cognition. DXM acts as a much weaker version of a common class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) by increasing the amount of serotonin in our bodies. At normal doses, this doesn’t have an immediate effect, but in certain combinations with other antidepressants it has been shown to help treat major depressive disorder.
Was this article helpful?
While risks for alcohol use during pregnancy are well known, the effects of DXM use in pregnancy aren’t clear. But large doses of DXM with binge drinking can increase health problems for both the mother and fetus. More than 100 different cough and cold products have it, including some from Robitussin. DXM works by curbing the cough reflex in the brain to reduce coughing.
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
When DXM is abused regularly it can actually cause symptoms that are the opposite of the user’s intent such as insomnia and dysphoria (unease, unhappiness). DXM abuse goes by many slang names including “dexing,” “robodosing,” “robofizzing,” “robotripping,”and “skittling”. Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of dextromethorphan such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating.
Side Effects
They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking dextromethorphan. Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
.jpg)
This will help them determine if dextromethorphan is right for you. Dextromethorphan should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Before taking dextromethorphan, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. Add your drug list to My Med List to view medical information in a simple, easy-to-read, personalized format. Automatically receive FDA alerts, drug interaction warnings, plus data on food, allergy & condition interactions.
Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you. Mucinex (guaifenesin) is used to relieve the symptoms of cough and loosen mucus in the chest … If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken dextromethorphan within the past few days. Find answers to some commonly asked questions about dextromethorphan. The information below is from the instructions on the product labels. Dextromethorphan is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug used to help relieve a dry cough.
- It is not known if dextromethorphan passes into breast milk.
- Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment.
- The liquid medication is taken as one large “loading” dose, followed by 17 smaller doses that are given every four hours.
- DXM abuse goes by many slang names including “dexing,” “robodosing,” “robofizzing,” “robotripping,”and “skittling”.
- Recreational users intentionally exceed recommended doses to experience heightened awareness, altered time perception, and visual hallucinations.
- The most common are nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort, while drowsiness and dizziness can also occur.
Our Products
- Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
- The paramedics have a crucial role in identifying any witnesses or empty pill bottles at the scene.
- For people who suffer from alcohol addiction, it may be safest to avoid medications containing acetaminophen or dextromethorphan.
- Overdosing on these multi-ingredient products increases the risk of liver toxicity and liver failure.
- In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are taking any monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the past 2 weeks, which is a medicine usually used for depression or Parkinson’s disease.
- Depending on the dose taken, the effects may last for 6 hours.
- Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Tolerance means you need more of a substance to feel its effects. DXM is one of the most common over-the-counter (OTC) products adolescents misuse. Read to learn how DXM and alcohol can affect the body and why you should avoid mixing them. This pertains to all the authors of the piece, their spouses or partners.
Alcohol and DXM co-use increase the risk of injury to major organs, like the heart and liver. If you suspect a DXM or alcohol overdose, call 911 immediately. Side effects of DXM and alcohol can last for several days, depending on the person and the drug mix. Moderate social drinking is common and accepted around many parts of the world.
Immediate reactions can include problems with balance, movement, and judgment. If you or someone you know has taken DXM and dextromethorphan with alcohol is experiencing any of the above symptoms, call 911 immediately. Long-term heavy use of DXM can cause toxicity and tolerance to the drug.
Nato a Napoli Francesco Saverio Coppola ha maturato in ambito aziendale, in ambito universitario, in ambito istituzionale, in centri di ricerca e di promozione sociale diverse e molteplici esperienze nel campo dell’economia delle imprese pubbliche e private, della finanza privata e pubblica, dell’economia bancaria. Ha ricoperto incarichi manageriali in diverse attività pubbliche e private, ha coordinato ricerche in diversi settori dell’economia, autore di saggi e di libri. Attualmente, tra le tante altre attività associative in cui è impegnato, è Segretario Generale dell’Associazione internazionale Guido Dorso e condirettore Rivista “Politica “Meridionalista".
