How long until delsym kicks in

Delsym can be used by children 4 years of age and older. Robitussin is also an over-the-counter cough suppressant. The active ingredient of Robitussin is also dextromethorphan.

Robitussin Hour Cough Relief comes in three and five ounces in orange and grape flavors and can be used by children 4 years of age and older. Delsym and Robitussin are indicated in the temporary relief of cough. They are especially useful in non-productive coughs such as the common cold and bronchitis. Dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in the brand name products Delsym and Robitussin, is used off-label to treat painful diabetic neuropathy.

Off-label is a term that refers to using a drug for a purpose not officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration FDA. NMDA receptors play an important role in pain perception, especially long-term, throbbing pain. By blocking these receptors, dextromethorphan is thought to help improve pain control. By the same mechanism, dextromethorphan may increase opioid effects on pain relief.

Given that Delsym and Robitussin are both the same concentration of dextromethorphan polistirex, their efficacy is best understood as compared to other cough suppressants. In a clinical study comparing dextromethorphan to codeine, dextromethorphan produced a clinically similar level of cough suppression.

In this study, patients reported a greater decrease in cough intensity with dextromethorphan as compared to codeine. Given that dextromethorphan is not an opiate, and is available without a prescription, products containing dextromethorphan are generally considered a first-line treatment.

The Journal of Family Practice published findings that dextromethorphan produces superior cough relief as compared to other remedies, including antihistamines, decongestants, and expectorants. Expectorants may be indicated in patients with a wet, productive cough to assist in being able to clear the mucus from the airway. Dextromethorphan-containing products, such as Delsym and Robitussin, are widely regarded as a first choice in cough suppression.

If your cough is long-lasting or not relieved by over-the-counter cough medicines, you should seek medical attention, as it could be a sign that there is a more severe process occurring. Delsym and Robitussin are available without a prescription, and therefore are typically not covered by commercial insurance or Medicare programs.

Delsym and Robitussin have a similar side effect profile due to the fact that they are each long-acting formulations of dextromethorphan. Side effects and adverse events are generally limited and very mild. They may include dizziness, fatigue, and drowsiness. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Delsym is a brand of cough syrup made with a time-released formulation of a drug called dextromethorphan.

Dextromethorphan is found in many brand-name cough, cold, and flu remedies, including Robitussin , Dimetapp, and Theraflu. It is used for the temporary relief of a cough caused by minor throat and bronchial irritation as well as inhaled irritants.

Delsym stands apart from other dextromethorphan-based formulations in that the active ingredient is surrounded by an edible plastic called polistirex. When ingested, the plastic molecule is slowly dissolved by stomach acid, releasing the drug in the body over 12 hours. It is the only such over-the-counter cough medication to do so. One teaspoon 5 mL of dextromethorphan polistirex is equivalent to 30 mL of dextromethorphan.

Delsym can be used in adults and children over four. It should not be used in children under four unless directed by a healthcare provider.

While Delsym is considered safe if used as directed, it can cause side effects in some, most of which are mild and self-limiting. Do not take Delsym if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs or have taken one in the past two weeks. MAOIs are a class of drug used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

You should stop taking Delsym and call your healthcare provider if your symptoms worsen, last for more than seven days, or are accompanied by a fever lasting for more than three days. Those who are addicted to DXM may turn to other drugs to seek a more intense high.

If you or a loved one is battling addiction, the inpatient drug treatment offered at several of our drug rehabilitation centers can help. How long does dextromethorphan stay in your system? For instance, the higher the dose, the longer the body will take to metabolize the drug. Additionally, the time it takes for any drug to leave your system heavily depends on its half-life, which is how long it takes for half of it to metabolize.

The dextromethorphan half-life is about 3 to 4 hours, meaning that dextromethorphan can stay in your system for about 6 to 8 hours. Below is a list of DXM half-life according to drug tests:. The maximum recommended daily dose of DXM is mg. Anything above that can result in adverse psychological and physical reactions. It typically takes 1, mg of DXM to overdose, so be cautious whenever taking this drug. Robotripping or DXM abuse increases the likelihood of overdose.

The purpose of this behavior is to take enough of the drug to experience hallucinations or a high, which can be dangerous. If you or a loved one are struggling with drugs or alcohol, call us now! The product you take also matters. DXM products often contain other active ingredients that produce their own effects. The effects start to kick in around 30 to 60 minutes after taking DXM and reach their peak at 2 to 4 hours.

Your dose, other ingredients, and your body mass index BMI can affect how quickly you begin to feel it. Your best bet is to try to sleep it off. In these folks, the substance takes longer to clear from the body, increasing the risk of overdose and death. This can stop your lungs from exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide, which is medically known as respiratory depression. This results in slow and shallow breathing. Left untreated, it could lead to respiratory arrest and death.

High doses of DXM have been linked to dangerous behavior that stems from effects like hallucinations, psychosis, and agitation. According to various reports , DXM misuse has also been linked to assault, suicide, and homicide. Taking it with other CNS depressants can intensify or prolong the effects of both and significantly increase your risk for respiratory arrest, overdose, and death.

Mixing substances is never a good idea, but the following make for a particularly risky combo with DXM:. They include:.

People can develop a substance use disorder, including addiction, around DXM. Users can develop a tolerance as well as a psychological and physical dependence to DXM. Taking more than the directed dose of DXM — or any medication for that matter — comes with risks.

Just be sure to tell them about specific symptoms so they can send the appropriate response.