Delsym how much

If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use. Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Drug Facts. Active ingredient in each 5 mL Dextromethorphan polistirex equivalent to 30 mg dextromethorphan hydrobromide. Purpose Cough suppressant. Uses temporarily relieves cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation as may occur with the common cold or inhaled irritants the impulse to cough to help you get to sleep.

Warnings Do not use if you are now taking a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor MAOI certain drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions, or Parkinson's disease , or for 2 weeks after stopping the MAOI drug. Ask a doctor before use if you have chronic cough that lasts as occurs with smoking, asthma or emphysema cough that occurs with too much phlegm mucus. Delsym stands apart from other dextromethorphan-based formulations in that the active ingredient is surrounded by an edible plastic called polistirex.

When ingested, the plastic molecule is slowly dissolved by stomach acid, releasing the drug in the body over 12 hours. It is the only such over-the-counter cough medication to do so. One teaspoon 5 mL of dextromethorphan polistirex is equivalent to 30 mL of dextromethorphan. Delsym can be used in adults and children over four. It should not be used in children under four unless directed by a healthcare provider. While Delsym is considered safe if used as directed, it can cause side effects in some, most of which are mild and self-limiting.

Do not take Delsym if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs or have taken one in the past two weeks. MAOIs are a class of drug used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

You should stop taking Delsym and call your healthcare provider if your symptoms worsen, last for more than seven days, or are accompanied by a fever lasting for more than three days. For children, the same rules apply if the symptoms last for more than five days.

Dextromethorphan is used recreationally by some and, when taken in excess, can cause a dissociative hallucinogenic state similar to the drugs ketamine and PCP. Symptoms include a distorted "out of body" sensation, euphoria, excitement, and a loss of sense of time. It is easy to overdose on dextromethorphan with as little a three times the recommended dose.

The effects can vary depending on body size and previous exposure to the drug. If you overdose on dextromethorphan, the side effects can be serious and may include:. In extreme cases, temporary loss of sight, excessively rapid heart rate tachycardia , and blackouts can occur, the conditions of which require emergency medical attention. Regular recreational use over a longer period of time can cause withdrawal symptoms, some that can be quite serious.

Death has been known to occur from ingesting high amounts of the formulation too. Looking to avoid getting the flu? Our free guide has everything you need to stay healthy this season. Sign up and get yours today. Revised June Safety profile of cough and cold medication use in pediatrics.

Dextromethorphan in cough syrup: the poor man's psychosis. Psychopharmacol Bull. Deaths due to abuse of dextromethorphan sold over-the-counter in Pakistan. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences.

Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.