What Parents Should Know About Over-the-Counter Medicine Abuse

Primer on Cough/Cold Medicine Abuse

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a common active ingredient in many effective over-the-counter cough and cold remedies. Taken according to label directions, it has an established safety record.

However, when abused by taking many times more than the recommended dose, medications containing DXM can cause a euphoric high and dangerous side effects.