Loading...
Dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) medications, can produce hallucinations at high doses. Investigators examined dextromethorphan abuse patterns in California and compared them with national trends.
All 1382 dextromethorphan abuse cases reported to the California Poison Control System from 1999 through 2004 were included. Outcomes were coded as no effect, minor, moderate, or severe, according to pre-established clinical definitions. Data on national trends were obtained from two national drug abuse databases.
During the study period, the frequency of dextromethorphan abuse increased 10-fold in California, from 48 cases in 1999 to 478 in 2004. Data from the two national databases showed a similar trend. In a subgro…