Dextromethorphan and Dizziness: What Users Say
Brand names: Delsym, Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief, Vicks Dayquil Cough, Dry Cough, Cough Syrup DM, Bisolvon Dry, DexAlone, Dextromethorphan HBr Adult Formula, Robitussin CoughGels Long-Acting, Buckleys Mixture, Calmylin, Buckley's Mixture Cough Suppressant, Benylin DM, Delsym Children's 12-Hour Cough Relief, Vicks Formula 44, Covonia Bronchial Balsam, Robafen Cough Liquidgels, Dexi-Tuss, Sucrets Cough, Creomulsion, 12 Hour Cough Relief, Robitussin 12-Hour Cough Relief, Babee Cof, Silphen DM, Vicks Formula 44 Custom Care Dry Cough Suppressant, Balminil DM, Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief for Children & Adults, Robitussin Cough Long-Acting, Benadryl for the Family Dry Forte, Contac Cough, Bisolvon Dry Junior, Dristan DM, Triaminic Long Acting Cough, Creomulsion Children, Buckley's DM Robitussin Direct Cough Tussin Cough Gels (Long Acting) Vicks Nature Fusion Cough Duract Max Strength Cough Scot-Tussin Diabetes Hold Triaminic Thin Strips Cough Giltuss Honey DM 8hr Cough Giltuss Children's Honey DM 8hr Cough ElixSure Cough Hold DM Robitussin Children's Cough Long-Acting …show all brand names
Reviews for Dextromethorphan
- Sma...
- January 20, 2016
Dextromethorphan for Cough "I wish I had read the reviews before taking this product! Forty-five minutes after taking Delsym, I had lots of belly gurgling, then painful cramps, and then immediate violent diarrhea! I got so dizzy and lightheaded while sitting on the toilet I almost passed out. I will never take this product again and will advise all friends and family to avoid it as well. As far as suppressing my cough, I was too afraid to cough for some time after the diarrhea started!"
- Cha...
- October 25, 2016
Dextromethorphan for Cough "Woke up in the middle of the night with a horrendous cough. I decided to take some cough medicine and went back to sleep. It stopped the cough. Then I woke up in my own excrement (seriously), severe diarrhea. Heart palpitations, extreme dizziness, sweating, and confusion. I almost went to the emergency room. I will never take this again."
Frequently asked questions
- Does Mucinex help with Covid?
- Dextromethorphan - can you give TusQ Dx to a child and what is the dose?
- How do I Treat Cough and Sore Throat if I have COVID-19?
- How do I treat a mild case of COVID-19 at home?
- Tex...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- February 20, 2019
Dextromethorphan for Cough "The medicine works really, really well. I took it at 7:30 am before work and have not coughed, and it's almost noon. HOWEVER, the medicine has made me super dizzy and loopy. I almost feel like I am borderline drunk. My fingers are also numb and cold, but that's going away as time goes on. I love this medicine, and this is the first time I have ever experienced these symptoms."
- Nev...
- December 9, 2017
Dextromethorphan for Cough "The first time I took Delsym (a couple of years ago), I landed in the ER because I thought I was dying: severe nausea, chills, sweats, shakes, dizziness, shortness of breath, and the dreaded diarrhea. I didn't make the connection that it was the Delsym until it happened to me again a couple of days ago. Almost identical symptoms as the first time, but this time instead of just nausea, I was also vomiting profusely. I'm glad it works for others, but please don't 'poo-poo' (pun intended) those whose experience was less-than-pleasant. We're all different, and what works for one won't work for another."
Are you taking this medicine?
Your review helps others make informed decisions.- BBS...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- December 27, 2018
Dextromethorphan for Cough "Took a dose of Delsym at 10:30 pm. Awoke at 3 am with diarrhea and dizziness. At 7:30 am: headache, dizziness, nausea, and pupils were dilated. Now, 18 hours later, still dizzy, headache with dilated pupils."
- Mad...
- January 19, 2019
Dextromethorphan for Cough "I took Delsym for my allergies. It worked really well the first two days. But on the third day, it made me feel like I was drunk or high, not really dizzy. I was disoriented and couldn’t focus, and my mind was all over the place. I thought that maybe I had just not eaten enough that day or something, but after seeing the reviews, I guess other people experienced this too."
More FAQ
- What OTC drugs relieve tripledemic symptoms in kids?
- How to Choose Cold and Flu Medications for Kids
- Emm...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- May 25, 2019
Dextromethorphan for Cough "I have taken Delsym ever since I was young (for colds). I have asthma, so a cold isn’t just a cold for me, but every time I have taken it has resulted in nausea, vomiting, extreme dizziness, fast heartbeat, and shakiness for about 2 days. I later learned that the ingredient called dextromethorphan was causing this. Anytime I take anything with this, it happens. Idk if I’m sensitive to it or allergic."
- eni...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- December 10, 2016
Dextromethorphan for Cough "I read all these reviews and decided to try it, thinking it might work, but I was wrong. Do. Not. Take it. First of all, it barely helped my cough at all, some tea and honey could've done better than this. In fact, I think my cough got even worse. That part that was most upsetting was when I woke up feeling nauseous. I ignored it, and the next day took it again, and I got EXTREMELY lightheaded, just crazy dizzy. And then I got the diarrhea afterward... I just felt confused and out of it. This medicine is absolute trash, and I don't recommend taking it at all. I usually don't even write reviews either, so that should tell you something."
- kyr...
- February 25, 2017
Dextromethorphan for Cough "First off, it tasted awful. Secondly, I thought I was dying on my bathroom floor an hour after taking it. It gave me chills, extreme nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness. Double-checked the expiration date to see if that had something to do with it, nope. My cough is calm, but it's not worth fighting nausea and dizziness four hours later. I will never take this medicine again."
- KKa...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- March 19, 2018
Dextromethorphan for Cough "I had a dry cough and asked a pharmacist what would be the best to take. He suggested this Delsym, so I bought it. Less than an hour later, a wave of dizziness hit me. I was not sure what was going on. Then, I began to feel like I was going to vomit. I threw up from 7 pm until 8 am. I had extreme anxiety, shook, my stomach cramped, and gurgled. At one point, I thought I was having a toxic reaction. This is hour 16, and I am still shaking, my pupils are still dilated, and I'm utterly exhausted. I'm not sure how it's even legal to sell this OTC."
- aaa...
- April 9, 2015
Dextromethorphan for Cough "It definitely helps my cough. But it makes me so dizzy, I feel like my surroundings are going by at 100 mph when I walk. I would NOT drive after taking it. I also feel a little 'out of it,' but that could just be having a sinus infection. I didn't have a problem with diarrhea like some people have mentioned."
- Jbw...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- November 4, 2018
Dextromethorphan for Cough "I have to admit that this is one of the most effective cough suppressants I've ever taken. Unfortunately, I seem to experience side effects from it, thankfully not rampant diarrhea like many people seem to be experiencing, but I still can't take it anymore. Delsym has a commonly reported side effect of dizziness, but what I experience feels more like dizziness meets an acid trip. It's extremely unsettling and didn't happen the first time I took it; more like the 10th. But it happens every time I take it now. Bummer."
- Nev...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- January 15, 2022
Dextromethorphan for Cough "I am currently taking Delsym for a nasty cough and upper respiratory infection. I took the recommended dosage of 10 ml every twelve hours. After the first dose, I became worse. My cough had gotten 10x worse, I had severe chills, bad body aches, and severe dizziness to the point of not being able to sit upright. I would have gone to the hospital but didn't have a ride. I can't sleep because of the cough. I took a half dose compared to the recommended dosage (5 ml) and am having the same symptoms: freezing, worse cough, and dizziness. I do not recommend whatsoever and will likely be going to the hospital this evening due to not being able to breathe."
- mea...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- July 17, 2018
Dextromethorphan for Cough "Took recommended dose at night. Woke up completely disoriented and dizzy, and had extreme waves of anxiety and feeling like I was going to pass out all day. Finally seemed to wear off around 24 hours later, but was the worst experience. This was actually my second time, I tried it again just to make sure that it was the medicine causing it and not some strange panic attack. It's definitely the medicine."
- Bra...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- February 15, 2018
Dextromethorphan for Cough "DO NOT take Delsym with alcohol. Nowhere on the box does it say that! I had wine with dinner and later took the prescribed dosage of Delsym because I had a cough that was preventing me from sleeping. The next thing I knew was waking up on the kitchen floor with ambulance personnel in my house! I hit my head on the floor, which caused a brain bleed. I had to be airlifted to a regional hospital and put in the ICU. Luckily, the bleed stopped and they didn't have to crack my head open to do brain surgery! Recovery was a nightmare with months of headache, dizziness, and zero energy. I still have residual effects a year later. They did a lot of tests in the hospital to figure out what caused me to faint, but all of them showed no problems, so it had to have been the Delsym. I don't know for sure, of course, that the combination of wine with Delsym caused me to pass out. It could have been just the Delsym, but I want to warn people. This stuff is dangerous!!!"
- ang...
- June 20, 2016
For Cough "One of the most horrible drugs I've taken in my life. Mind you, it was very effective at suppressing the cough, but it gave me vertigo like no tomorrow. I had huge dilated pupils, severe dizziness, vertigo (cannot walk unassisted), confusion, and retrograde amnesia. I had to take one day off work plus the whole weekend to lay in bed trying to fight the dizziness. It is now the 4th day since I took the drug (extended-release pill x 3 doses), and I'm still fighting the side effects. It has severely impaired my ability to concentrate at work, and I do not recommend this for anybody."
- ang...
- June 20, 2016
For Cough "One of the most horrible drugs I've taken in my life. Mind you, it was very effective at suppressing the cough, but it gave me vertigo like no tomorrow. I had huge dilated pupils, severe dizziness, vertigo (cannot walk unassisted), confusion, and retrograde amnesia. I had to take one day off work plus the whole weekend to lay in bed trying to fight the dizziness. It is now the 4th day since I took the drug (extended-release pill x 3 doses), and I'm still fighting the side effects. It has severely impaired my ability to concentrate at work, and I do not recommend this for anybody."
- Dha...
- April 2, 2019
Dextromethorphan for Cough "I took this syrup after my dinner and woke up with a heavy head and dizziness, and it only got worse by the afternoon. To an extent that if I close my eyes, everything will start spinning. It's more than 24 hours now, and I am still facing this issue. Will never recommend this to anyone."
- TAa...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- September 12, 2018
Dextromethorphan for Cough "I was taking this medication for about 3 days, and I experienced stomach aches every day. Only stopped my coughing for a few hours. When I took the medication yesterday morning, I felt very dizzy and couldn’t stand up straight."
- Lor...
- October 10, 2018
Dextromethorphan for Cough "My 9-year-old son had a severe cough. The doctor has always recommended this cough medicine. My son was very dizzy and felt horrible after one dose. 24 hours later, his pupils are still enlarged. I will never use this medicine again."
- Sho...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- February 22, 2020
Dextromethorphan for Cough "I took this because my family flew into town and I couldn’t stop coughing. I got a terrible headache and got very dizzy and nauseous. After the nauseousness passed, I was straight tripping. I can’t believe this stuff is legal. Don’t take it unless you have absolutely no other choice whatsoever."
- dgg...
- September 24, 2020
Dextromethorphan "I’m getting over the last symptoms of COVID, and I had a persistent cough, so my parents recommended I take Delsym. Well, it did its job, I didn’t have a cough, but I had way more side effects than I would’ve liked. I felt extremely off balance and like I was floating. I had bad diarrhea, a rapid heart rate, and even after working 5 hours, I had anxiety and couldn’t sleep that night, and that was hours after taking it! Crazy experience, felt like I was on actual drugs. Probably won’t be taking it again."
- Rob...
- February 2, 2016
For Cough "Took my first dose last night before bed since I have been having a nagging cough from allergies. Helped suppress the cough a little (not completely), but I was up on and off all night with anxiety, nausea, night sweats, and of course, coughing. It is now 2 pm the following day, and I have been extremely dizzy all day and have been having very gassy diarrhea and stomach cramps. I have been stuck at home all day feeling bad. Will never use this medication again. I prefer coughing over vertigo and diarrhea."
- Rob...
- February 2, 2016
For Cough "Took my first dose last night before bed since I have been having a nagging cough from allergies. Helped suppress the cough a little (not completely), but I was up on and off all night with anxiety, nausea, night sweats, and of course, coughing. It is now 2 pm the following day, and I have been extremely dizzy all day and have been having very gassy diarrhea and stomach cramps. I have been stuck at home all day feeling bad. Will never use this medication again. I prefer coughing over vertigo and diarrhea."
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Dextromethorphan for Cough "I had a sinus infection and took the antibiotics along with Mucinex D, and it cleared right up. However, I had a lingering dry cough (probably unrelated, but who knows?). I picked up some Delsym for the dry cough, along with Benadryl before bed, and slept like a baby. I took another dose of Delsym before work and didn't cough nearly as much as I had been. It didn't make me drowsy, dizzy, nauseous, 'high', nor did it give me diarrhea or stomach cramps. Everyone reacts to medication differently, and I am not by any means downplaying anyone who had such horrible side effects! I just wanted to share that some good can come for some with this medication."