What’s the deal with cough suppressants?

[Cap]

I’ve always been frustrated that cough suppressants don’t seem to work for me. I just recently learned that it’s not just me: there is basically no evidence that OTC cough suppressants are any more effective than placebos.

This stuff is considered so dangerous that stores are required to keep it under lock and key and record the customer’s ID for every sale, yet it has no legitimate use.

If there is no evidence that this stuff actually suppresses coughing, why is it legal to sell it as cough suppressant without the usual FDA disclaimer about the claimed use being unproven?


https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/feat ... ouldnt-you
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying- ... ing-matter
https://www.prevention.com/health/a2043 ... dont-work/
https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing ... ommon-cold
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/heal ... t-fda.html

[Superbone]

Ha ha. Other than Cap's involvement, this thread has all the markings of spam. Title out of nowhere and a bunch of links. I was getting ready to do my usual ban and delete. This is actually an interesting subject. Involuntary coughing is the worst. Wasn't aware of the controversy surrounding suppression remedies.

[Split T]

The meds locked up are the ones with pseudoephedrine in them no? That’s a decongestant but is often combined with a cough suppressant. Are cough suppressants by themselves locked up?

[Cap]

The meds locked up are the ones with pseudoephedrine in them no? That’s a decongestant but is often combined with a cough suppressant. Are cough suppressants by themselves locked up?

Dextromethorphan is also locked up. It’s just a cough suppressant.

That’s in Arizona, not Utah. If you want it broken down by state: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextromet ... risdiction

[Split T]

Interesting…I wonder why it’s locked up?

[Kryptonic]

High abuse…. People would make speed out of it or use it in high doses to get the speed affect.

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/teens-c ... cine-abuse

[Kryptonic]

Ha ha. Other than Cap's involvement, this thread has all the markings of spam. Title out of nowhere and a bunch of links. I was getting ready to do my usual ban and delete. This is actually an interesting subject. Involuntary coughing is the worst. Wasn't aware of the controversy surrounding suppression remedies.

I thought this too…. Though he was hacked or something lol

[Split T]

High abuse…. People would make speed out of it or use it in high doses to get the speed affect.

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/teens-c ... cine-abuse

Hmm, I knew pseudoephedrine could be used to make meth…did not know dextromethorphan could mimick other drugs effects at high doses.

[Nodack]

I even had to sign for loctite.

[Superbone]

I even had to sign for loctite.

At least that makes sense. It's right in the name. Lock tight.

[JeremyG]

I never knew cough suppressants could be such a hot topic. I thought for sure this was a spam thread like you did 'Bone.

I even had to sign for loctite.

At least that makes sense. It's right in the name. Lock tight.

And dextromethorphan sounds like you could make meth out of it. And perhaps even make your kid an orphan.

[Kryptonic]

After watching Seinfeld for 25 years the title of this thread sounds like the beginning of one of his jokes

[AmareIsGod]

I think the placebo was around a decongestant that has been found to provide literally nothing to people that consume these medicines. Cough suppressants, etc., aren't the problem. I could have read incorrectly though.

[Mori Chu]

After watching Seinfeld for 25 years the title of this thread sounds like the beginning of one of his jokes

"This one's fast-acting, that one's long-lasting. When do I want to feel better, now or later?"

"These days everything's extra strength. Now we have maximum strength. MAXIMUM strength. Give me the maximum allowable human dose! Figure out how much will kill a guy, then back it off a tad."