What are the most commonly abused classes of prescription drugs?

• Opioids, such as OxyContin and Vicodin, which are most often presecribed to treat pain.
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as Valium and Xanax, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.
• Stimulants, which are prescribed to treat certain sleep disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and include drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall.

What is cough medicine abuse?

Couch medicine abuse is taking extremely large doses of cough medicine to get high. The “high” is caused by taking a large amount of dextromethorphan, which is often abbreviated DXM, a common active ingredient found in many cough medications. This sort of abuse – whether it’s called cough medicine abuse, or dextromethorphan, or DXM abuse – can be dangerous.

What is dextromethorphan?

Dextromethorphan is a safe and effective active ingredient found in many nonprescription cough medicines, including syrup, tables, and gel caps. When used according to medicine label directions, the ingredient dextromethorphan produces few side effects and has a long history of safety. When abused in large amounts, it can produce a “high” feeling as well as a number of dangerous side effects.

What are the effects of cough medicine abuse?

The effects of the abuse of cough medicines containing dextromethorphan vary with the amount taken. Common effects include: confusion, dizziness, double or blurred vision, slurred speech, loss of physical coordination, abdominal pain, nausea and rapid heart beat, drowsiness, numbness of fingers and toes, and disorientation. DXM abuser describes different “plateaus” ranging from mild distortions of color and sound to visual hallucinations, “out-of-body dissociative sensations, and loss of motor control. Side effects can be worsened if the dextromethorphan-containing cough medicine being abused also contains other ingredients used to treat more than just coughs.