Side effects of cough syrup that you would not have thought of
A bottle of cough syrup is purchased without hesitation. It is the first line of defense against dry or expectorant cough at home. Cough syrups are generally assumed to be safe, and people of all ages drink them without question. They function by either inhibiting the cough reflex or making mucus removal easier.
Concerns related to the side effects of cough medicine have raised a lot of questions recently. Many people believe cough syrups are ineffective and include harmful substances for you and your child. However, the chances of adverse side effects of cough syrup in adults are low.
Also called over-the-counter medicine, cough syrups are widely available, inexpensive, and, in many situations, beneficial in alleviating upper respiratory infection and flu symptoms. While these are all significant advantages, and self-treating such an illness is undoubtedly not illogical, these drugs, like others, involve the risk of overdosing. This is a serious matter, and it is even more so for children.
Overdosing on over-the-counter cold and flu medicines is generally unintentional—due to misreading product labels or self-determining dosing, for example—but it is nonetheless deadly. Some people will purposefully misuse these drugs. Indeed, public health professionals are becoming concerned as the recreational use of these drugs increases.
To avoid over-dosing and prevent side effects of cough syrup, The Health Fortune has shared a few suggestions on how to consume your medicine.
How to use cough syrup?
If you’re self-treating with an over-the-counter remedy, read the package instructions carefully before using it. If you find any irregular concerns consult your doctor and pharmacist and take it as prescribed by the physician.
Orally, with or without food, take the pill, capsule, or liquid form. If you have stomach discomfort, take this medication with food or milk.
Your dose will be determined by your age, medical condition, and treatment response. Please avoid using the medication more than what is recommended by the doctor and avoid consuming it in higher doses. Consuming drug medicine more than what is prescribed by the physician according to your age group can lead to serious side effects. This product is available in a variety of brands and forms.
Because the dosage of cough suppressant and antihistamine in each medication may vary, read the dose recommendations for each product carefully.
If you’re taking chewable tablets, make sure you chew them thoroughly before swallowing them. If you’re bringing this medication as a liquid, use a special measuring device/cup to make sure you get the correct dose. Try using a measuring spoon to ensure the correct dose instead of a standard household spoon.
If you’re using a product that dissolves in the mouth (such as strips), make sure you dry your hands first. Allow each dose to dissolve thoroughly on the tongue before swallowing it with saliva or water.
Get medical attention right away if your symptoms do not improve after seven days, if they worsen, or return if you get a fever, rash, a persistent headache, or if you doubt you have a significant medical problem.
Side effects of cough syrup
Cold prevention measures totally vary depending upon the age and health condition of a person. Do consider the following points to avoid the side effects of cough syrup.
Mild side effects
It’s possible that you’ll have drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, or a headache. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist right once if any of these effects continue or worsen.
Remember that if your doctor has prescribed this drug, it means that the benefit to you outweighs the risk of adverse effects. Negative side effects are rare among people who consume this.
Serious side effects
If you experience any serious adverse effects, such as fast/irregular/pounding heartbeat, mental/mood changes (such as disorientation, hallucinations, or anxiousness), seizures, shaking (tremors), difficulty in walking steadily, anxiety, or difficulty urinating, stop taking this drug and contact your doctor immediately.
Allergic reactions
This medication seldom causes a severe allergic reaction. If you feel any significant allergic response, such as a rash, itching/swelling (particularly of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, or difficulties breathing, seek medical attention immediately.
Rare side effects
It can erode your teeth
According to research, cavities can be caused by not brushing your teeth after taking cough syrup. Cough syrups are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and sucrose to make them more palatable. After taking cough medicine, many people forget to gargle. The sticky substance coats the teeth, causing bacterial infection and dental caries.
It can lead to addiction and psychosis
Some of the cough syrup’s constituents, such as dextromethorphan, have the potential to become addictive. When taken as indicated, the ingredient in cough syrup is generally safe to ingest. However, young people have been recorded to use dextromethorphan recreationally. If you ingest excessive amounts of cough syrup containing dextromethorphan, you may get hallucinating symptoms. In what is known as cough syrup psychosis, dextromethorphan misuse can cause psychological disorders.
Cough syrup combined with antidepressants might be a bad combination
If you are on antidepressants, you should avoid cough drugs containing dextromethorphan. Dr. Donald Arnold observed the interaction of cough syrups containing DM with Prozac-like antidepressants in an article published in Pediatrics in Review in the December 2002 edition. High body temperature, tremors, dilated pupils, sweating, agitation, enhanced reflexes, and diarrhea were discovered to be symptoms of the combination.
The list of side effects of cough syrup on your body can go on depending upon different factors. There could be side effects depending upon your age and other health conditions that you might have. Also, an overdose of cough syrup or flu medicine can have much severe and addictive side effects. Signs of overdose could have symptoms like extreme drowsiness, disorientation, blueish nails, blueish lips, vomiting, seizures, rapid and slow heartbeats, unconsciousness, and rapid breathing. If you find yourself and anyone close to you having such symptoms, contact your medical health immediately without any delay.
To prevent overdose and side effects of cough syrup, limit the consumption of the medicine and monitor the signs of these effects on your body. If you observe any slight symptoms, consult your physician the very same day to make needful changes in the medication.
From headaches to hallucinations, read about the side effects of cough syrup that might raise your concern.
