hi alice,
I had a recent near death experience on a cough and cold remedy pill called Coricidin. friends and i used it as a quick trip. i know people that have had their eyeballs bleed out and go into comas from tripping off this pill, as did i about died. i have found stuff on the net about this and its dangers. it's called the "poor man's ecstasy" and it's a dangerous medication to have on the shelves. if they know it's that dangerous, then why do they keep selling it? i am worried about the lives of many young teens like myself that are going to die or end up in a coma.
Dear Reader,
Coricidin is an over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold remedy that contains the following active ingredients in three different combinations: dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant; chlorpheniramine maleate, an antihistamine; and, acetaminophen, a pain reliever/fever reducer. These drugs, taken individually or together, are safe when used as directed. In large amounts exceeding suggested dosage, they can be dangerous. Since dextromethorphan (DXM) has psychoactive properties when taken at high doses, some people use quantities over the suggested dosage of Coricidin to get a buzz. This makes Coricidin a potentially dangerous drug when users choose not to follow dosage instructions.
Because the active ingredients are metabolized by the same enzyme, they essentially compete for the body's ability to "digest" them. The end result is higher amounts of the drugs in the bloodstream, a situation that can lead to serious side effects, including seizure; breathing trouble; bleeding from the skin, eyes, mouth, vagina, and/or rectum; or, even death.
Furthermore, because of genetic variance, some people's bodies are even less efficient than others at breaking down these drugs. For these individuals, Coricidin is an even greater health risk. Unfortunately, recreational DXM users have no way of knowing whether or not they are one of these high-risk individuals, which makes Coricidin a particularly dangerous source of DXM for those seeking a high.
The dangers of Coricidin underscore a more general risk of recreational DXM use. Similar to Coricidin, most products that contain DXM include more than one active ingredient, each of which presents its own risk of dangerous or unpleasant side effects at high doses. Individuals wanting to trip with DXM need to keep this in mind before polishing off that whole container of multi-symptom cold medicine.
- Alice
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