Over-the-counter abuse of drugs can be as serious as illicit drug use. OTC medication abuse can lead to health concerns and addiction. According to a study of literature regarding over-the-counter abuse and misuse of medication, around 7% of participants met the definition of dependence on the OTC medication they abused.
Keep reading to learn more about cold medicine abuse, including how you can locate resources in your area for help.
What Is Cold Medicine Abuse?
Cold medication misuse occurs when someone takes over-the-counter cold medicine, including cough medicine, in a way that isn’t in keeping with label instructions.
Over-the-counter abuse of medication often occurs when people attempt to use these substances for non-medicinal purposes, such as to get high. However, people can also abuse OTC medications even when they’re using them for their intended purposes if they take dosages that exceed the amount in the instructions.
Commonly Abused Cold Medications and Their Effects
Some of the most commonly abused cold medication ingredients are:
- Dextromethorphan (DXM), a cough suppressant found in many OTC cold medications
- Pseudoephedrine, a decongestant
- Codeine, a pain reliever that’s found in some cold medications
The effects of abusing these drugs differ depending on the person taking them, what form they’re abused in and how much the person takes. In some cases, abusing cold medication can lead to euphoria and hallucinations.
Risks and Dangers of Misusing Cold Medicine
Any type of substance misuse can lead to short- and long-term physical and mental health risks. Over-the-counter drug abuse can cause a variety of physical issues, including:
- Nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal problems
- Changes to heart rate and blood pressure
- Slowing of breathing to a dangerous level
- Seizures
- Damage to organs
Long-term or excessive short-term use of over-the-counter medications can lead to cognitive issues such as confusion, problems with memory and hallucinations. If you’re abusing regulated cold medications, you might find yourself facing legal consequences. Finally, when cold medications are abused for a period of time, it can lead to physical dependency that makes it difficult to quit.
Seeking Help for Cold Medicine Abuse
If you’re misusing cold medication and find you can’t stop yourself, you may be dealing with a physical dependency. When you’re dependent on certain substances, you may find that you have intense cravings for them or experience unpleasant symptoms when you stop using them. Those symptoms are known as withdrawals; without help, many people find themselves falling back into a cycle of substance abuse when withdrawal symptoms become too much to deal with.
Often, the best way to break the cycle of dependency on any type of substance, including OTC medications, is to get professional help. When you connect with help for cold medication misuse and abuse, you can:
- Find out about treatment resources. Depending on your needs, inpatient, outpatient and other treatment options are available in your area.
- Learn about triggers for substance abuse. Identifying the factors that drove you to abuse cold medications or other substances can help you address the root causes of drug use.
- Develop healthier coping mechanisms. You can work with therapists and other professionals to learn healthier coping mechanisms for dealing with triggers, reducing the chance you might abuse drugs again in the future.
- Plan for a more sober lifestyle. Treatment for substance misuse typically involves planning for the future and beginning to build a foundation of support for a sober lifestyle.
How the National Rehab Hotline Can Help With Over-the-Counter Abuse
If you’re engaging in over-the-counter abuse of medication or any other type of substance abuse and want to stop, reaching out for help in breaking the addiction cycle is a critical first step. One way you can take that step is to call the National Rehab Hotline.
Our specialists are standing by 24-7. They’ll take time to listen to your concerns and provide you with calm, kind assurance that you have options in moving forward. They’ll ask some questions to understand your needs before providing recommendations about local resources that can help you with over-the-counter medication abuse.