Teenage Over the Counter Drugs

From 1999 to 2004, there was a seven-fold increase in cases of poisoning and overdoses related to the abuse of dextromethorphan (DXM), an ingredient most commonly found in over-the- counter cough and cold medications reported to poison control centers nationwide. Most of these cases were among 15- and 16-year-olds. While the use of illicit drugs has decreased, the use of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications has increased. OTC’s are easily accessible to teens compared to illegal drugs, and teens believe that OTC’s are safer than illegal drugs. However, the effects of over-the-counter drugs can vary greatly, depending on what other drugs they are mixed with, the amount of drugs taken, how quickly they are taken and the individual’s body chemistry. Some over-the-counter drugs can even cause death if used incorrectly.

Drug interactions can occur when one ingredient in a medication interacts with the same or another ingredient in a separate medication. Some of the potentially harmful effects of combining medications include nausea, dizziness, a dangerous drop in blood pressure, an irregular or fast heartbeat, or even a buildup of toxins in the body that can damage the heart or liver. Unfortunately, to get the “high” or “dissociative” state that abusers crave, large quantities of the drug are needed. At high doses, DXM causes effects similar to that of the drugs ketamine or PCP by affecting similar sites in the brain. Ketamine and PCP are considered “dissociative” drugs, which make individuals feel disconnected from their normal selves. These drugs affect memory, feelings, and thoughts.

One of the biggest problems with OTC medications such as cough and cold preparations is that many of them are multi-symptom products, meaning they contain a variety of ingredients intended to treat the range of symptoms that result from having a cold. Unfortunately, many of these products contain similar ingredients, even if the product names sound different. For example, Tylenol PM and Nyquil contain the same active pain ingredient; when used in combination, these drugs may cause liver toxicity. Similarly, DXM can cause unwanted or dangerous side effects when used with other medications containing decongestants like pseudoephedrine or antihistamines like chlorpeniramine, such as impaired judgment and mental functioning; loss of coordination; hot flashes; numbness; hallucinations; seizures and brain damage. Overdoses of acetaminophen, an analgesic painkiller found in DXM-based remedies, reportedly cause more than 56,000 emergency room visits a year.

Teens may exhibit various behavioral changes when abusing over-the-counter drugs including moodiness, staying up late and difficulty getting up in the morning and hanging out with a different crowd. Teens who are abusing OTC’s will often visit Internet drug sites that explain how to obtain and use OTC drugs to get high. Additionally, teens may access the family medicine cabinet to abuse cough medicines and cold preparations.