What are the effects of cough medicine abuse?
The effects of the abuse of cough medicines containing dextromethorphan vary with the amount taken. Common effects include confusion, dizziness, double or blurred vision, slurred speech, loss of physical coordination, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, rapid heart beat, drowsiness, numbness of the fingers and toes, and disorientation. Dextromethorphan abusers describe different plateaus ranging from mild distortions of color and sound to visual hallucinations, out-of-body dissociative sensations, and loss of motor control. Side effects can be worsened if the dextromethorphan-containing cough medication being abused also contains other ingredients to treat more than just coughs, such as acetaminophen. Cough medicine also is sometimes abused in combination with other medications, alcohol, and illegal drugs, which can increase the dangerous side effects.
