Dry cough is an unpleasant symptom. It often torments for a long period of time and worsens the general condition. Dextromethorphan hydrobromide can help with dry cough. The abbreviation for this substance is DXM (i.e. Dextromethorphan).
How the substance works
Dextromethorphan belongs to the group of antitussive components. The use of drugs with this substance is indicated for diseases accompanied by a dry cough (for example, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, whooping cough, etc.).
Dextromethorphan, after ingestion, spreads to all organs. In the brain, DXM acts on the cough center, inhibiting its excitability. This suppresses a painful cough.
What happens in the body after taking
Dextromethorphan is an ingredient in oral medicines. When it enters the stomach, the substance is rapidly absorbed. AboutAfter 10-30 minutes, DXM begins to have a healing effect. The effect of dextromethorphan on the body lasts for 5-6 hours in adults and for 6-9 hours in children.
Therapeutic doses of DXM do not produce a hypnotic, narcotic, analgesic effect. When taken in large doses, the component begins to have an effect on the human body that is similar to the effects of dissociative and psychedelic substances.
The metabolism of a substance proceeds rapidly and intensively in the liver. This process produces an active metabolite called dextrorphan. The withdrawal of the drug is mainly carried out by the kidneys. Demethylated metabolites and dextromethorphan are excreted unchanged from the human body in the urine.
When DXM can be harmful
Dextromethorphan hydrobromide has been researched. The results showed that the substance in some cases can not be used. Contraindications for use:
- Bronchial asthma. DXM is not used for this condition because it can impair sputum production and increase airway resistance.
- Bronchitis.
- Increased sensitivity to components.
- Period of taking mucolytic drugs.
In no case should you experiment with the use of drugs containing dextromethorphan during pregnancy and lactation. These drugs can harm the fetus or baby. DXM should only be given when absolutely necessary in cases where the expected effect on the mother is higherpotential risk to the fetus or nursing baby.
Also, DXM medications may have additional contraindications. It depends on the composition of the medicines.
What else is important to know
Preparations with dextromethorphan hydrobromide should be used with caution in violation of the liver.
DXM can cause symptoms of an overdose, so you should not take drugs with this component in doses higher than recommended. People who took drugs in large doses experienced dizziness, agitation, impaired consciousness, respiratory depression, lowering blood pressure, and tachycardia. In case of an overdose, the help of specialists is required. Patients with the above symptoms need symptomatic therapy, mechanical ventilation.
Dextromethorphan may cause side effects:
- from the gastrointestinal tract - pain in the stomach, nausea, vomiting;
- from the side of the nervous system - dizziness, craving for sleep.
Another possible side symptom is drug addiction. However, it occurs in rare cases. The reason for the formation of dependence lies in the long-term use of large doses of any drug with DXM.
When treating a cough, it is not uncommon for people to forget to take their prescribed dextromethorphan drug and then decide to take a double dose for better results. Under no circumstances should this be done. A double dose has a negative effect on the body, leads tooverdose.
What drugs contain DXM
The list of medicines containing DXM is quite long. Here is a list of products with dextromethorphan hydrobromide (trade names and dosage forms):
- Glycodin, Coldrex Night, Terasil-D, Tussin plus - syrups.
- "Grippeks", "Caffetin Cold", "Padeviks" - tablets.
- "Toff plus" - capsules.
- "Influblock" - powder for oral solution.
Let's consider some medicines from this list - Coldrex Night and Tussin Plus. But let's start with Alex Plus. This drug is not on the above list, but many people remember such a medication. Previously, it was sold in pharmacies and prescribed by doctors for the treatment of acute and chronic respiratory diseases that occur with a dry, irritating cough.
Alex plus
Several years ago, for the treatment of dry cough, some people took the drug "Alex plus". This remedy had one dosage form - lozenges. The composition included 3 active ingredients - dextromethorphan hydrobromide, terpinhydrate, levomenthol. Thanks to these substances, the drug had antitussive, expectorant and antispasmodic effects.
"Alex plus" was prescribed in the following doses:
- Adults - 2 to 5 lozenges 3 or 4 times a day. The maximum allowable number of lozenges is 20 pcs. (per day).
- Children aged 4-6 years - 1 lozenge 3 or 4 times a day. Maximumdaily amount of lozenges - 4 pcs.
- Children ages 7-12, 1 to 2 lozenges 3 or 4 times daily. The maximum daily dose is 8 lozenges.
The drug was considered quite effective. However, now it is no longer possible to feel its therapeutic effect on yourself. Alex plus cough lozenges are no longer sold in Russian pharmacies. The drug disappeared due to the expiration of the registration certificate.
Coldrex Night
"Coldrex Night" is a combination drug that is available in the form of a syrup. It is designed to combat the symptoms of colds, acute respiratory diseases. A medicine is made on the basis of 3 active substances - dextromethorphan, promethazine hydrochloride and paracetamol. Dextromethorphan suppresses the resulting dry cough. Promethazine relieves nasal congestion. Paracetamol reduces fever. Also, this component has an analgesic effect, relieving pain in the joints, muscles and headaches.
The drug is taken once a day at night, because it reduces symptoms and therefore improves sleep. Single doses are set as follows:
- for adults (including the elderly) - 20 ml;
- for children 6-12 years old - 10 ml;
- for children from 12 years old - 20 ml.
This dry cough medicine is not for children under 6 years of age. Also, the syrup is contraindicated in kidney disease, benign prostatic hypertrophy, blood diseases, epilepsy, deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
This drug can be drunk for 3days. If symptoms persist after such a short course of treatment, stop taking the syrup and consult a doctor.
Tussin plus
"Tussin plus" - cough syrup with cherry flavor. This is also a combination drug that combines antitussive and expectorant substances. The antitussive component in the syrup is dextromethorphan hydrobromide. Expectorant function is performed by guainefesin. It increases the activity of the ciliated epithelium, increases the secretion of the liquid components of bronchial mucus.
Tussin plus syrup is drunk to alleviate the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, flu, colds, occurring with a cough. Take the medicine after meals every 4 hours. Single doses:
- for adults - 2 teaspoons;
- for children 6-12 years old - 1 teaspoon;
- Children aged 12 and over - 2 tsp.
Dry cough medicine is not suitable for children under 6 years of age. Other contraindications are gastric and duodenal ulcers, severe organic diseases of the central nervous system, a history of gastric bleeding, a wet cough, in which sputum is plentiful. It is also forbidden to take other medicines containing dextromethorphan and / or guainefesin during treatment with syrup.
Dextromethorphan interaction
Unwanted effects may occur when DXM is combined with other substances:
- a number of side effects are recorded while taking dextromethorphan and MAO inhibitors - agitation, dizziness, intracranial bleeding, increased blood pressure, coma, etc.;
- serotonin syndrome and death are possible when DXM and tricyclic antidepressants are combined;
- when using amiodarone, fluoxetine, quinidine, the concentration of dextromethorphan in the blood may increase;
- tobacco smoke provokes an increase in the secretion of glands against the background of suppression of the cough reflex;
- quinidine enhances and lengthens the effects of DXM.
For more information on drug interactions, please refer to the labels of products containing dextromethorphan. For example, Coldrex Night cannot be combined with other cold and runny nose remedies containing paracetamol. It is also forbidden to take alcoholic beverages during treatment with this syrup.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that it is undesirable to use drugs to treat an unproductive cough on your own. They should be prescribed by a doctor in combination with additional medications, because it is necessary not only to suppress this symptom, but also to influence the cause of its occurrence, i.e., the existing disease.
