fallyn
04-24-2008, 03:48 AM
Hello All
To make a long story short, for nearly two years I was abusing an over-the-counter cough suppressant, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, which is found in just about any cough remedy on the market. Now, I have since ceased use of this drug, so addiction isn't really my concern.
I started using DXM by taking the Coricidin Cough and Cold remedies back in May of 2006. I had only done this a handful of times (maybe ten or twelve?), and on doses of eight to sixteen pills at a time. No problem. Then in August (?) I stopped using DXM for a while. I began again in March of 2007. This time, I had only used the Coricidin brand once, preferring to use the Robitussin syrup that lists DXM as the only active ingredient.
My abuse of the drug continued until last month. The day I took my last dose of DXM was March 22nd.
I never took products that contained anything other than DXM, except for Coricidin, which I have taken all of a handful of times since I started chronic use last year. The other ingredient in Coricidin is chlorpheniramine maleate.
On March 22nd, I ingested about 1/2 to 2/3 of a bottle of Zicam Cough Max, Which is around 200 to 250 mg of DXM, with no other active ingredients, and since then I have not even touched DXM, let alone dosed.
Throughout this time period, I was also taking Claritin (actually the store brand knock-off of Claritin's active ingredient, Loratadine) daily. Since my last dose of DXM I've been taking some herbal/homeopathic supplements, including melatonin (3 mg, every night), GABA(gamma-amino butyric acid, 750 to 1500 mg, every two to three days, sometimes more than once a day), an adrenal formula (composed of Rhodiola root, 200 mg; Ashwagandha root and leaf, 100 mg; Wild Oats, 100 mg; Holy Basil E.T.O.H., 100 mg; Holy Basil Supercritical Extract, 50 mg; Schizandra Berry, 50 mg; formula taken as necessary to reduce stress), and very excessive amounts of B vitamins.
More recently, I have been experiencing minor abdominal pains and constipation. I had one episode of bloody stool a few days ago, but since then there's been no sign of blood.
Are these symptoms of some sort of damage I may have done to my liver/kidneys/gastrointestinal system from the use of DXM?
I know I really should see a doctor, and I'm making it a point to go on my next day off work, but my worry-wort is getting ready to pop.
To make a long story short, for nearly two years I was abusing an over-the-counter cough suppressant, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, which is found in just about any cough remedy on the market. Now, I have since ceased use of this drug, so addiction isn't really my concern.
I started using DXM by taking the Coricidin Cough and Cold remedies back in May of 2006. I had only done this a handful of times (maybe ten or twelve?), and on doses of eight to sixteen pills at a time. No problem. Then in August (?) I stopped using DXM for a while. I began again in March of 2007. This time, I had only used the Coricidin brand once, preferring to use the Robitussin syrup that lists DXM as the only active ingredient.
My abuse of the drug continued until last month. The day I took my last dose of DXM was March 22nd.
I never took products that contained anything other than DXM, except for Coricidin, which I have taken all of a handful of times since I started chronic use last year. The other ingredient in Coricidin is chlorpheniramine maleate.
On March 22nd, I ingested about 1/2 to 2/3 of a bottle of Zicam Cough Max, Which is around 200 to 250 mg of DXM, with no other active ingredients, and since then I have not even touched DXM, let alone dosed.
Throughout this time period, I was also taking Claritin (actually the store brand knock-off of Claritin's active ingredient, Loratadine) daily. Since my last dose of DXM I've been taking some herbal/homeopathic supplements, including melatonin (3 mg, every night), GABA(gamma-amino butyric acid, 750 to 1500 mg, every two to three days, sometimes more than once a day), an adrenal formula (composed of Rhodiola root, 200 mg; Ashwagandha root and leaf, 100 mg; Wild Oats, 100 mg; Holy Basil E.T.O.H., 100 mg; Holy Basil Supercritical Extract, 50 mg; Schizandra Berry, 50 mg; formula taken as necessary to reduce stress), and very excessive amounts of B vitamins.
More recently, I have been experiencing minor abdominal pains and constipation. I had one episode of bloody stool a few days ago, but since then there's been no sign of blood.
Are these symptoms of some sort of damage I may have done to my liver/kidneys/gastrointestinal system from the use of DXM?
I know I really should see a doctor, and I'm making it a point to go on my next day off work, but my worry-wort is getting ready to pop.