Cough Suppression Medications

• The most common cough suppressant in over-the-counter cough medications is dextromethorphan (DM). An example is Robitussin DM.
• Do not try to suppress coughs that produce mucus and phlegm. Cough suppression medications are best used in the late stages of a respiratory infection when the cough is dry and hacking.
• Read the package instructions thoroughly on all medications that you take.
• Special notes about dextromethorphan. Some recent research suggests that dextromethorphan is no better than placebo at reducing a cough. However, there is no over-the-counter medicine that works better than DM and generally DM has no side effects. It should also be noted that dextromethorphan has become a drug of abuse. This problem has been seen most commonly in adolescents. Overdose symptoms can range from giggling, euphoria, to hallucinations or coma.