After Taking Too Much Dextromethorphan: How to Care for Your Child

Taking too much dextromethorphan (DXM) can cause serious health problems. The health care team watched your child and checked carefully for problems. They might have given your child a medicine to help remove DXM from the body, either as a drink or through a tube put into the nose. If dehydrated, your child might have gotten IV fluids. Your child is now well enough to go home. It is very important to make sure your child uses all medicines safely.

• Do not give cough or cold medicines to your child unless the doctor says it's OK, especially to kids under 6 years old.

• If your child has been using DXM to get high:

  • Get rid of any medicines in the home that contain DXM. These products have "dextromethorphan," "DM," "cough suppressant," or "tuss" on the label.

  • Explain to your child that DXM can be deadly when taken in large amounts.

  • Watch for cough and cold remedies and unlabeled pills or powders in your child's room.

  • Make a follow-up appointment with a counselor or therapist if recommended by the doctor.

• To help prevent medicine overdose:

  • Keep all medicines in a locked cabinet, out of the reach of children.

  • Keep track of how much medicine is in each bottle or container.

  • Put medicines away after giving a dose or taking one yourself.

  • Make sure the lids to all medicines are tightly closed.

  • Always keep medicines in their original containers.

• You have questions about DXM use or are worried that your child is abusing it (using it to get high).

Your child has signs of DXM abuse or overdose:

• stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting

• drowsiness, dizziness, clumsiness, confusion, irritability, or unusual behavior

• muscle pain or weakness

• high fever and sweating

• dark pee (color of cola or tea) or trouble peeing

• slow or shallow breathing

• feeling of a pounding heartbeat

Call 911 if you think your child is having seizures (body movements that look uncontrolled).

What is dextromethorphan? DXM is a cough suppressant, which means it can help relieve cough symptoms. It is sold over-the-counter as part of many cough and cold medicines — brand names include Delsym®, Mucinex-DM®, PediaCare®, Robitussin-CF®, Robitussin-DM®, Theraflu®, Triaminic®, Tylenol® Cold Multi-Symptom, Tylenol® Cold and Flu, and others.

How can a child get too much DXM? An adult might accidentally give the wrong dose or use different brands of cough or cold medicine at the same time, not realizing they contain the same ingredients. A young child might find the medicine and take it out of curiosity. Because DXM can cause a pleasant feeling, older kids and teens might take too much on purpose, trying to get high. They may take large amounts of cough medicine with DXM or buy pure DXM over the Internet or from a dealer.

What should I do if my child accidentally gets too much medicine again?  Call the poison control center right away for advice (1-800-222-1222). Keep the number posted in your home (for example, on the refrigerator) and add it to your cellphone contacts.