![]() 2 It can cause nervousness and tremor, rapid and irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, and death. To cite an example, bitter orange is a common ingredient that acts much like ephedrine in the body. Although the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned several of the most dangerous stimulants commonly found in OTC diet pills-phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, and ephedra-other ingredients in these OTC products can also be dangerous. But these OTC medicines can be highly addictive1. Abuse of diet pills often starts with trying just a few in order to lose weight. But misuse of diet pills can also signal a serious eating disorder. In large doses, diet pills can create a mild buzz. Not much is known about long-term abuse of dextromethorphan, but cases of bone marrow suppression, nerve cell damage, high blood pressure, heart damage, and permanent brain damage have been reported. Because of the chlorpheniramine, Coricidin abuse has led to numerous deaths and hospitalizations. For example, Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold includes both dextromethorphan to treat a cough and chlorpheniramine to treat a runny nose. When combined with alcohol or other drugs, a large dose can lead to death. Dextromethorphan is also addictive and can cause withdrawal symptoms, including depression and difficulty processing thoughts, when the drug is stopped. 2 Some other dangerous side effects include impaired judgment, vomiting, loss of muscle movement, seizures, blurred vision, drowsiness, shallow breathing, and a fast heart rate. 1 Large doses can cause euphoria, distortions of color and sound, and out-of-body hallucinations that last up to 6 hours. One in every 10 teens has reported abuse of cough medicine to get high. This is an active ingredient in more than 100 OTC cough and cold medicines such as Robitussin and NyQuil. ![]() Teens and young adults who learn about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50% less likely to abuse drugs. ![]() Be sure to share these facts with the teens and young adults in your life. Learn more about the risks of OTC drug abuse by visiting the websites below and those listed with the references associated with each drug of abuse. One of the greatest difficulties with preventing OTC drug abuse is that few teens and adults realize the danger. The list that follows includes the top 10 OTC medicines and herbals that are currently abused in the US by teens and young adults. Young adults have also abused OTC medicines, particularly in combination with other medicines, alcohol, and illegal drugs, which increases the risks of serious side effects. They know they can find a cheap "high" right in their family's or friend's medicine cabinet. ![]() But even OTC medicines-including herbals-can cause serious and potentially fatal side effects when abused.Ībuse of OTC medicines is most common among teens between the ages of 13 and 16. And because a doctor's prescription is not needed, many mistakenly believe that OTC medicines are safer than prescription medicines and illegal street drugs. Easy, legal access to inexpensive over-the- counter (OTC) medicines has contributed to widespread abuse. ![]()
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