Can Diarrhea Result From Using Too Much Cough Syrup?

Consuming too many cough drops can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. These side effects usually do not require medical attention and may go away during treatment as the body adjusts to the medicine. Your healthcare professional may be able to help you prevent or reduce these side effects.

Robitussin cough syrup, sold over-the-counter, contains two drugs: dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant, and guaifenesin, an exectorant. When taken in large amounts, both drugs can cause gastrointestinal disturbances, such as stomach upset and diarrhea. Guaifenesin is generally well-tolerated in most patients and has no severe or common side effects.

Dextromethorphan is commonly used to reduce cough caused by common colds, influenza, or hay fever. However, some medicines, particularly those containing laxatives or certain medications, can cause diarrhea when taken on an empty stomach. Misuse of DXM can lead to intoxication and overdose. Cough/cold combinations are used mainly to relieve cough due to colds, influenza, or hay fever but are not to be used for chronic cough.

Diarrhea is an early sign of toxicity for some medicines, including lithium (such as Carbolith or Lithane) and digoxin (Lanoxin). If you think a medicine is causing diarrhea, consult your healthcare professional.

Overall, over-the-counter cough and cold medicines contain ingredients used to decrease side effects, warnings, precautions, interactions, overdose/missed dose, and interactions. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before taking any medication for chronic cough.

What is the best cough medicine for a dry cough?

• Best cough suppressant for a dry cough: Antitussives like Robitussin
• Best cough medicine for a wet (productive) cough: Expectorants like Mucinex
• Best cough medicine for cough caused by allergies or post-nasal drip: Antihistamines like Benadryl
• Best cough medicine for a cough that occurs with other symptoms (like fever or chills): Combination medicine like Tylenol Cold + Flu
• Best medicine for a sore throat from coughing: OTC pain relievers like Tylenol

If you have questions or concerns regarding the best treatment for coughing or if you have a chronic medical condition, talk to a healthcare provider before taking OTC cough medications.

OTC cough medicine and children. The FDA does not recommend the use of cough or cold medicines in children under 2, and most drug manufacturers caution against their use in children 4 and under.

Why does syrup give me diarrhea?

Fructose is a sugar found naturally in fruits, fruit juices, some vegetables and honey. Table sugar, called sucrose, also has fructose. High-fructose corn syrup is a sweetener that is in many processed foods and drinks.

When the digestive system doesn’t absorb fructose properly, it can cause stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea and gas. This is known as fructose intolerance.

People who have fructose intolerance should limit high-fructose foods. These include juices, apples, pears, watermelon, asparagus and peas. Some people can tolerate foods with lower fructose levels if they eat them in small amounts with meals. These foods include grapes, blueberries, strawberries, carrots, green beans and lettuce.

Read product labels carefully and avoid foods containing:

Is it possible to overdose on cough drops?

This medicine is safe if you take it as directed. However, many teenagers take very high amounts of this medicine to “feel good” and to have hallucinations. Like other medicines of abuse, this can be dangerous. Over-the-counter cough medicines that contain dextromethorphan often contain other medicines that can also be dangerous in an overdose.

Although most people who abuse dextromethorphan will need no treatment, some people will. Survival is based on how quickly a person receives help at a hospital.

Aronson JK. Dextromethorphan. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler’s Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:899-905.

Barrett W, Iwanicki JL. THC and hallucinogens. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 150.

Why should we not drink water after taking cough syrup?

Dr Pirzada emphasises the importance of not drinking water immediately after taking a demulcent cough syrup. “Drinking water right after taking a demulcent syrup can wash away the preparation, thereby diminishing its desired effect,” she explains. The soothing agents need time to form a protective layer over the throat, and consuming water too soon can disrupt this process, leaving the throat unprotected and the cough unrelieved.

Also read: Expert Answers: When Should You NOT Take Antibiotics For Cough?

Understanding Expectorant Cough Syrups. Unlike demulcent syrups, expectorant cough syrups don’t primarily work on the throat. Instead, they target the bronchial system, working to loosen and thin the mucus in the respiratory tract. Common ingredients in expectorants include guaifenesin, which helps to break down mucus, making it easier to cough up and clear from the lungs.

Is it bad to eat a bunch of cough drops?

It is possible to overdose on cough drops, but it is not very likely to happen. When talking about an “overdose,” it refers to ingesting too much of the menthol they contain. The lethal dose of menthol is one gram per kilogram of body weight and one typical cough drop contains about 3 to 10 milligrams. Mathematically, that means you’d have to eat many cough drops within a limited amount of time to experience menthol poisoning. If your throat is sore and cough drops are relieving the pain, your risk is low. However, that doesn’t mean there is NO risk.

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Can cough medicine give you diarrhea?

Do take Robitussin with food to minimize stomach-related side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.

The brand Robitussin names several different products that treat cough and cold symptoms. Most people can use these products safely and without side effects. Sometimes, though, side effects can happen when you use Robitussin. Here’s what to know.

Robitussin is an over-the-counter cough medicine for adults and children who are older than 12 years. The active ingredient in Robitussin is an expectorant called guaifenesin. Expectorants help thin secretions from your lungs and loosen phlegm or mucus. These effects can lead to a productive cough. In other words, they help you cough the mucus up and out.

Most people tolerate Robitussin when they take it at recommended doses. But in some cases, side effects can happen. Some of these side effects are more common than others, though all of them are rare. They can happen even when you use Robitussin at the recommended dosage. But more often, they happen when you use too much.

What is type 7 diarrhea?

Diarrhea: Type 7. Type 7 describes very loose stools or fully liquid diarrhea. With this type, you may feel an urgent need to have a bowel movement and may not be able to hold it. If the diarrhea persists, you may also become dehydrated or malnourished.

This type of diarrhea is most often caused by a viral or bacterial infection such as norovirus. Parasitic infections such as Giardia lamblia can cause watery diarrhea. Certain medical conditions can cause type 7 stools as well, including celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis.

How the Bristol Stool Chart Is Used. Your healthcare provider may use the Bristol Stool Chart if you have unusual bowel symptoms or notice a change in your bowel habits or the way your stools look.

Can you get diarrhea from too much medicine?

Diarrhea may be a sign of serious reaction to a medicine, such as a toxic reaction. Diarrhea is an early sign of toxicity for some medicines, including lithium (such as Carbolith or Lithane) and digoxin (Lanoxin).

If you think a medicine is causing diarrhea, contact the doctor who prescribed it. The dosage may need to be changed, or the medicine may need to be stopped.

Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Can you get diarrhea from too many cough drops?

Another ingredient in cough drops to consider is sorbitol, a sugar substitute found mainly in sugar-free varieties. Consuming too much sorbitol can have a laxative effect, including:

• Mild to severe diarrhea
• Flatulence
• Abdominal pain
• Unintended weight loss

What happens if you eat too many cough drops?. Some cough drops also contain menthol, which targets nasal congestion; however, too much menthol can worsen your cough, which is the opposite intent of eating cough drops. Other symptoms you might experience from eating too many cough drops include:

• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• Confusion

What drugs cause explosive diarrhea?

A few examples are:Antibiotics. Antidepressants. Antacids. Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid). Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy).

Home Knowledge Center Wellness Library Medicines That Can Cause Diarrhea.

Overview. Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause diarrhea. A few examples are:

• Antibiotics.
• Antidepressants.
• Antacids.
• Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid).
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy).

What happens if you eat too much cough medicine?

Dangerous physical symptoms of dextromethorphan overdose include tachycardia, slow breathing, changes in blood pressure and body temperature, and seizures. It is important to get help for a person suffering from a DXM overdose before these symptoms begin because they are more likely to lead to coma or death.

What to Do During a Dextromethorphan Overdose. If a person is overdosing on DXM, they require emergency medical attention. Call 911 immediately. There are no drugs that counteract a DXM overdose; the only way they can survive the condition is to get help in a hospital immediately.

In the hospital, a dextromethorphan overdose will be treated with several emergency procedures to stabilize the individual. Some of these may include: