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Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief User Reviews & Ratings

Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief has an average rating of 3.9 out of 10 from a total of 41 reviews on Drugs.com. 28% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 64% reported a negative experience.

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Cough  
3.9
41 reviews for Cough 826 medications
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Reviews for Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief

  • Still...
  • 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 & 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 & 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 + change but glad it's out of my house! AND, it did NOTHING FOR MY COUGH!"

1 / 10
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17 Report
  • delsey
  • December 18, 2019

For Cough "Post nasal drip kept me up coughing so I bought Delsym thinking it would help. I took the regular dose about 8 pm. I couldn't fall asleep until 3 am. I was wide awake The main ingredient must work as a stimulant for me. I did not experience any other bad side effects . It did not help my cough. I will not take it again."

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  • Kjano
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 3, 2021

For Cough "I just took the recommended 10mg dose for a severe cough that I can’t get rid of. I was actually hopeful that it was doing as intended, my cough went away for all of 7-10 minutes. I don’t know what to think about that, it’s a 12 hour medication. Unfortunately I would not recommend this product."

1 / 10
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9 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • 1Pennie
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 6, 2019

For Cough "I’ve been giving this to my 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 what ever 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 affects 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."

1 / 10
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  • Emma
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 25, 2019

For Cough "I have taken Delsym ever since I was young (for colds) I have asthma so a cold isn’t just a cold for me but every time I have taken it has resulted in nausea, vomiting, extreme dizziness, fast heart beat, and shakiness for about 2 days. I later learned that the ingredient called Dextromethophran was causing this. Anytime I take anything with this it happens. Idk if I’m sensitive to it or allergic."

2 / 10
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Are you taking this medicine?

  • Chris...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 4, 2019

For Cough "The first dose I took early this afternoon worked ok (I only took 1/2 dose), but I took the full dose about 30 minutes ago and cannot stop coughing. It’s actually worse than it was before I took the second dose. Praying this works so I can get a good night’s sleep!"

3 / 10
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8 Report
  • AKElias
  • December 4, 2015

For Cough "I had a very dry cough & onset of dry, wheezing chest congestion. I took a capful and the cough stopped within minutes, the congestion loosened in the nose & lungs over the next 2-3 hrs. I was able to sleep and am no longer constipated. 9/10 Stars"

9 / 10
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More FAQ

  • GGano
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 29, 2018

For Cough "I get bronchitis at least once or twice a year, and this is the only medicine to help my cough. My coughing keeps me up at night, my ribs hurt, and this medicine gives me some relief. I get 0 gas, nausea, or poops from it!!! Most medicines do cause those above symptoms listed, and with this, I have none."

10 / 10
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  • Nana
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 3, 2019

For Cough "I started taking this medicine a week ago for a sinus infection related cough. I noticed more anxiety and doing a lot of running to the bathroom. I thought it was from just being sick and taking an antibiotic. Tonight I took a dose and within 30 minutes I experienced extreme nausea. I found this site and it all makes sense now! No more Delsym for me!"

1 / 10
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5 Report
  • Dolci...
  • 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."

2 / 10
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5 Report
  • Situ
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 13, 2016

For Cough "Best cough medicine in the market I was having cough from a week but after l took I dose I dint had any cough next day I read lot of reviews about the medicine some guys got diahhrea don't take any medicines lf you have so 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"

10 / 10
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  • Starr...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 27, 2019

For Cough "I have been referred to this medication by two separate pharmacists at 2 different times, but my experience has not been positive. I caught a cough from my husband. I didn’t take anything for it at first, but couldn’t sleep, so explained my issue to pharmacist who recommended it. I took prescribed dose and within minutes, I was coughing so hard that I had difficulty getting my breathe. It was scary. This violent coughing went on for about 20-25 min. and then stopped. I was able to sleep about 5-6 hours and when I woke up, I had a headache. I could feel the headache through my sinuses and at the back of my head. I put a warm washcloth over my forehead for a while which helped a little, but the headache did not go away over 3 hours from waking; so I’ll have take an Aleve when I finish this review. One thing I noticed is that my cough, which was a dry cough, has now gone to my chest."

2 / 10
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  • Fecki...
  • March 7, 2017

For Cough "Did absolutely nothing to alleviate my cough. And now I am feeling slightly nauseated. I actually think my cough was better before taking it, as at least the hacking was removing phlegm. Now it's a useless dry cough that is just as painful to my poor abused ribs. Thankfully haven't noticed any warning signs of diarrhea. Hopefully, it'll stay that way. Overall this product was and unsatisfying waste of my money and time."

1 / 10
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  • JenBu
  • 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."

10 / 10
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  • 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."

1 / 10
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  • Meowz...
  • July 11, 2021

For Cough "I bought this in desperation hoping it would help my cough. I took an adult amount and first off I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. It actually tastes good and it worked great, I only coughed a couple of times after taking it. I highly recommended Delsym."

9 / 10
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  • Ckjhg
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 19, 2022

For Cough "Definitely not a 12 hour product. I have to take a full dose every couple of hours. It is apparently the only OTC cough suppressant on the market for dry coughs. Its making me gassy, interfering with my sleep (when I do finally fall asleep, crazy nightmares). A pretty terrible product, but apparently my only option."

1 / 10
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  • Get...
  • September 14, 2015

For Cough "I have a chronic cough for 2 months from allergies that turned to a bronchitis/asthma thing. On other inhalers and allergy medicines and took Delsym, because the cough wouldn't stop. Soothed the cough a little so I could get some phlegm out. Thinking next dose would do the trick, but 8 hours after the first dose I had bad gassy poops! Don't think I will take the second dose"

2 / 10
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  • Lil...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 20, 2020

For Cough "I just took 10ml Delsym for my chest & dry cough adult strength. And 10-15 after taking it my heart started racing and it scared me. I called the pharmacist about the heart pounding & she stated that was a side effect. Here I am feeling like I ran a mile & back laying in my bed. I so am not happy with this even though I'm not coughing. I would caution anyone who takes this med to be careful. I don't know how long it will be before it wears off but I'm ready to feel relaxed again. Ugh December 20, 2020"

5 / 10
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  • Acronix
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 7, 2018

For Cough "I took it for nasal congestion because for some reason that’s what I thought it was for, and it was the orange syrup version. It cleared up my sinuses pretty much 100% so I’m really impressed with it. I must be lucky because I ended up taking half the bottle (over a long period of time) and didn’t experience any nausea where as a lot of people say they were vomiting with only one dose (by the way the amount I drank is safe because it was pure dxm HBr)."

10 / 10
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  • Melissa
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 3, 2022

For Cough "I bought this medicine because it was recommended by a Dr. In a CVS pharmacy. Well this medicine hasn’t helped me whatsoever. My cough is still very bad and worse at nights. Didn’t work for me and I will never buy it again ."

1 / 10
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  • 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."

1 / 10
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  • Feeli...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 29, 2018

For Cough "Supposedly this stuff takes away your cough so you can "enjoy" life....NOT my experience!!! First two times I took it, constantly coughed at least three out of the eight hours I tried to sleep. Third time I took it, I took just a little more than the recommended dose and propped myself up in bed to try to get some sleep with only minimal success. Seriously, DON'T waste your money on this junk!!"

1 / 10
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  • S Dunn
  • February 3, 2017

For Cough "The label with dosage information is not clear. Under the last bottle I bought, the label was very clear: 10 ml not to exceed 6 doses per day. The new bottle dosage says: 20 ml every 12 hours. So which is it? 10 as needed, or 20 every 12 hours. Plus the direction information is under one of those "peel corner..." tabs. It is very difficult to peel the corner off without destroying the dosage information and directions. I had to call a pharmacist to get an answer as to how much I should take. First pharmacist said 2 Tbls = 10 ml. Then another said 2 tsp = 10 ml. Very confusing label."

1 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 27, 2024

For Cough "I have no side effects. The cough syrup works somewhat. I can tell my coughing is less than without it. Not completely gone but at least reduced. I went to see the doctor and found out I have post-infectious cough. The coughing occurs after you finish your infection like common cold. Cough can last a few weeks after being sick. I would recommend this product. I got the grape flavor and it tastes good. It also comes in orange. The syrup is thick so make sure you rinse the dosing cup with water to get all of it out."

8 / 10
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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.