Cough Medications Should Stay As Over-The-Counter Drugs

Dextromethorphan-containing cough medications have been used increasingly by teenagers as a cheap way to get high, but they carry a risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), accelerated heart rate and fever. An FDA (Food and Drug Administration) panel of experts has voted 15-9 against the proposal that would require all dextromethorphan-containing cough medications to have a doctor's prescription.

Dextromethorphan is an active ingredient that is added to over 140 OTC (over-the-counter, no prescription required) drugs. Dextromethorphan abuse, sometimes termed robotripping, has become increasingly more common among teenagers.

The Advisory Committee's (the panel of experts) recommendations are not binding; the FDA can ignore them if it so wishes, but it rarely does. The Committee was asked if dextromethorphan should be scheduled - a move aimed at reducing access to medications with potential for abuse.

Apart from the risks mentioned above, abusers of dextromethorphan can also suffer from the side effects of other ingredients present in some cough medications, such as acetaminophen (paracetamol), which can damage the liver.

According to the National Institutes of Health, in 2008 there were approximately 8,000 emergency hospital visits related to dextromethorphan abuse, 70% more than in 2004.

Another public body, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) had asked the FDA to review dextromethorphan-containing medications, suggesting they become prescription-only drugs.