adminBefore you have that other sip or gulp of the a�?ngomaa�? consider the information below.
Some over-the-counter and prescription cough and cold medicines contain active ingredients that are psychoactive (mind-altering) at higher-than-recommended dosages and are frequently abused for this purpose. These products may also contain other drugs, such as expectorants and antihistamines, which are dangerous at high doses and compound the dangers of abuse. Two commonly abused cough and cold medicines are
Dextromethorphan (DXM), a cough suppressant and expectorant found in many OTC cold medicines. It may cause euphoria and dissociative effects or even hallucinations when taken in quantities greater than the recommended therapeutic dose.A� Promethazine-codeine cough syrup, a medication that contains codeine, an opioid that acts as a cough suppressant and can also produce relaxation and euphoria when consumed at a higher-than-prescribed dose.
It also contains promethazine HCl, an antihistamine that additionally acts as a sedative. Although only available by prescription, promethazine-codeine cough syrup is sometimes diverted for abuse.
Cough and cold medicines are usually consumed orally in tablet, capsule, or syrup form. They may be mixed with soda for flavour and are often abused in combination with other drugs, such as alcohol or marijuana. Because they are easily purchased in drug stores without a prescription, cough syrups, or pills containing DXM a�� particularly a�?extra strengtha�? forms a�� are frequently abused by young people.
When taken as intended, cough and cold medicines safely treat symptoms of lower and upper respiratory congestion and discomfort caused by colds and flu. But when taken in higher quantities or when such symptoms arena��t present, they may affect the brain in ways very similar to illegal drugs.
Codeine attaches to the same cell receptors targeted by illegal opioids like heroin. Consuming more than the daily recommended therapeutic dose of promethazine-codeine cough syrup can produce euphoria similar to that produced by other opioid drugs.
When abused, promethazine-codeine cough syrup presents a high risk of fatal overdose due to its effect of depressing the central nervous system, which can slow or stop the heart and lungs. Mixing it with alcohol greatly increases this risk.
When abused, both codeine and DXM directly or indirectly cause a pleasurable increase in the amount of dopamine in the braina��s reward pathway. Repeatedly seeking to experience that feeling can lead to addiction a�� a chronic relapsing brain disease characterised by inability to stop using a drug despite damaging consequences to a persona��s life and health.
Abusing DXM can cause impaired motor function, numbness, nausea or vomiting, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and at high doses, extreme agitation, increased body temperature, and a build-up of excess acid in body fluids. High doses of acetaminophen, a pain reliever commonly found with DXM, can cause liver damage.
Mthandazo Ndlovu is a drug prevention and rehabilitation specialist. For help call or whatsapp 00263772399734 or email [email protected]
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Online Reporter
derick.khumalo