FDA declines to restrict cough medication despite review.
How many teenagers have to get high on over the counter cough medicine before it’s considered a recreational drug worthy of restriction?
In the face of the mounting statistics showing that people are getting hospitalized for misuse and abuse of dextromethorpan (DXM), the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee decided that DXM is still one of the medications that should not fall under the Controlled Substances Act. They reasoned that the health hazards do not offset the benefits and did not warrant restricting.
The review could have restricted this drug to prescription only use.
In high doses cough medicines that contain DXM can cause hallucinations.
The committee review was requested by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
DXM is found in products such as Robitussin DM, NyQuil, and Tylenol Cold Tablets.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20100914/fda-panel-rejects-restrictions-on-cough-medicine
The FDA is and has been an arm of corporate America and has long since ceased to be the watchdog for the American Consumer. When I see now that something is FDA approved, it means absolutely nothing to me as to the safety of that product. Very sad for our citizens. So many still believe in the FDA and are unaware of the the dangers.
I wish we had a 2 tier system like they do in England.You have to get certain products from the pharmacy with explanation and by requesting them. Children under 18 should not be allowed to buy cough medicine with DXM.