Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Sti...
• January 10, 2020

For Cough "Please save your money on this one, folks. I've had all of 2 doses. Had diarrhea after dose #1. Waited the 12 hrs, took dose #2. I had such terrible wheezing for 1 and 1/2 hours following that 2nd dose. Scared me. As I live alone, I wasn't sure I would be able to drive myself to the hospital, so I sat up and prayed, a lot. Very scary trying to catch my breath. Of course, following dose #2 came more diarrhea. This unused portion was immediately delivered to the garbage can. This was even recommended to me by my pharmacist when I picked up my 2 Rx's called in by my PMD. So glad others have written in with their comments/complaints. Wish I would have read them 1st. Now I'm out $10.00 plus change but glad it's out of my house! AND, it did NOTHING FOR MY COUGH!"

• 1Pe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2019

For Cough "I’ve been giving this to my grandson for a few years now. When he got sick, he always seemed to get diarrhea and terrible gastrointestinal issues, and I just equated it to a symptom of whatever bug he had caught. A few days ago, we were on vacation, and he got sick. The coughing started and sinus issues. Then I got it yesterday. I’ve found that as an adult, I have to take the highest dose to quit coughing, so it doesn’t work for more than a couple of hours. On top of constantly coughing, and I can’t take anything else, now we both have gas and constant diarrhea. I am throwing all of it in the garbage in the AM and going to take him to the Dr and get something that will actually work. Bottom line is - the med has big-time side effects, and you only get about 4 hours of relief. I don’t understand why the pharmaceutical companies keep making and selling this. They positively know that it’s causing more issues than relieving."

• LD9...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2018

For Cough "Delsym 12-hour cough medicine should be avoided at all costs. I wish I had never taken it. At first, it seemed to work, but then came the diarrhea, nausea, and dizziness. I had trouble sleeping while taking this product. After 2 doses, it triggered a histamine reaction as well. Before taking this product, my only ailment was a lingering cough from having a cold. After taking Delsym, I'm still dealing with the cough, but now I also have diarrhea, and all the symptoms that come with full-blown allergies. I can't wait until my body completely purges this horrible product from my system."

• Jen...
• April 25, 2017

For Cough "I was sleeping in the recliner and coughing no matter what I tried. This worked very well. I think it might be the best 12 hours of relief I have had from coughing. Slight diarrhea but so worth the cough relief. I would take this again when that sick with a cough."

• Dol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2018

For Cough "Avoid taking. I took the required dosage, and after one hour, I had terrible gas pains and diarrhea. Very embarrassing since I am at my office. My cough did stop, but it is not worth it. Also, made me very dizzy and confused and a little panicky. Don't take it with any kind of green tea or caffeine."

• Sit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2016

For Cough "Best cough medicine on the market. I was having a cough for a week, but after I took a dose, I didn't have any cough the next day. I read a lot of reviews about the medicine. Some guys got diarrhea. Don't take any medicines if you have a weak digestive system. Next time, take lemon tea, your cough will go. This is a good medicine. Don't tell them to reduce the real power of medicine."

• dec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2022

For Cough "I do not recommend the use of Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief. It was recommended to me by a pharmacist to help with a COVID cough. I have high blood pressure, and according to the pharmacist, this would raise BP. At 11:00 pm (bedtime), I took the prescribed dosage. At 1:30 am, I awoke with severe nausea, stomach cramps, dizziness. A few minutes later, diarrhea with numerous trips throughout the night. I sipped on water and tried soda crackers to help with nausea. My blood pressure was 200/100. For 12 hours, I was extremely ill. The next day, I went to urgent care. The diagnosis was side effects from Delsym 12 Hour. I believe this drug should come with warnings of these side effects and be removed as an over-the-counter drug."

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2022

For Cough "The pharmacist recommended this OTC for a cough I have with a cold. It is very effective as a colonoscopy prep, as it gave me diarrhea as a side effect! Couple that with the cough I still have, one dose is enough for me to not take more of this medication. It worked effectively as a laxative, within 4 hours, the cough is still present, and this medication is being returned to CVS for a refund. If I had read the reviews, I would not have purchased this medication."

• Coo...
• January 14, 2017

For Cough "This helped suppress my cough from a cold, but gave me diarrhea. Diarrhea seems to happen with all similar medicines."

• ran...
• January 8, 2015

For Cough "Seemed to be a little slower acting, but it has calmed down my cough, and I have not had any sign of diarrhea."

• Pin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2019

For Cough "This medicine did work for my cough. It made me feel loopy and drunk. It also gave me and my husband diarrhea. Like real, real diarrhea. We will never, ever take this medicine again."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2017

For Cough "Took Delsym 12 hour cough, and after about 2 hours, got terrible stomach pains and diarrhea. It wasn't very good at suppressing my cough either! Be warned, I would never take it again!"