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Delsym and Anxiety: What Users Say

Anxiety: mentioned by 12 users (5.0%)

Based on user experiences from 240 Delsym reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

diarrhea 41.3%
nausea 16.7%
dizziness 15.0%
upset stomach 7.5%
vomiting 6.3%
anxiety 5.0%
cough 4.6%
drowsiness 4.6%
cramps 4.2%
headaches 4.2%

Reviews for Delsym

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • wom...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 12, 2020

For Cough "I took Delsym last evening and began to feel strange. Then I felt anxious, nauseous, had a full-on panic attack with screaming. I rehearsed calling 911 in case. I had visionary hallucinations... I can't believe this med is on the market. I rode it out, and it was a bad trip! DO NOT TAKE!"

1 / 10
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29 Report
  • KKa...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 19, 2018

For Cough "I had a dry cough and asked a pharmacist what would be the best to take. He suggested this Delsym, so I bought it. Less than an hour later, a wave of dizziness hit me. I was not sure what was going on. Then, I began to feel like I was going to vomit. I threw up from 7 pm until 8 am. I had extreme anxiety, shook, my stomach cramped, and gurgled. At one point, I thought I was having a toxic reaction. This is hour 16, and I am still shaking, my pupils are still dilated, and I'm utterly exhausted. I'm not sure how it's even legal to sell this OTC."

1 / 10
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10 Report
  • wee...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 27, 2013

For Cough "Works really well, like Tussinex without the codeine. Tastes better than other cough medicines too. Non-drowsy, but also didn't make me jittery, so I could take it and sleep. Closest thing to Tussinex over the counter."

8 / 10
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15 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Nan...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 23, 2018

For Cough "I was already drowsy from cold medicine and decided to take a dose of Delsym before bed to help me and my husband sleep better. I immediately felt anxious, wide awake, and restless. Three hours later, bad diarrhea. The effect it had on reducing my cough was minimal."

1 / 10
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7 Report
  • Mik...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 26, 2020

For Cough "Do not take this!!! I started taking this during the tail end of my flu because my symptoms were mainly just coughing with phlegm. It gave me nausea, which I thought was attributed to the flu, but after taking it a couple more times, I noticed I was extremely nervous with anxiety. I stopped taking it for 2 days, then took it again to see if it really was Delsym causing me severe anxiety. I became super anxious right after 1 hour of taking it, and it took about a day and a half to wear off, and I only took the regular Delsym and not the 12-hour one. Please be aware!!! It did suppress my cough and thinned my mucus, but I'd rather deal with the coughing and mucus than the severe nervousness I dealt with."

3 / 10
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7 Report

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  • Mik...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 26, 2020

For Cough "Do not take this!!! I started taking this during the tail end of my flu because my symptoms were mainly just coughing with phlegm. It gave me nausea, which I thought was attributed to the flu, but after taking it a couple more times, I noticed I was extremely nervous with anxiety. I stopped taking it for 2 days, then took it again to see if it really was Delsym causing me severe anxiety. I became super anxious right after 1 hour of taking it, and it took about a day and a half to wear off, and I only took the regular Delsym and not the 12-hour one. Please be aware!!! It did suppress my cough and thinned my mucus, but I'd rather deal with the coughing and mucus than the severe nervousness I dealt with."

3 / 10
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7 Report
  • mea...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 17, 2018

For Cough "Took recommended dose at night. Woke up completely disoriented and dizzy, and had extreme waves of anxiety and feeling like I was going to pass out all day. Finally seemed to wear off around 24 hours later, but was the worst experience. This was actually my second time, I tried it again just to make sure that it was the medicine causing it and not some strange panic attack. It's definitely the medicine."

1 / 10
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7 Report

More FAQ

  • Can...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 20, 2018

For Cough "I took a dose of Delsym at 9 pm and felt my cough calm down before bed. Woke up at 3 am filled with anxiety, and two hours later, I'm still awake. After reading all the negative reviews and the reaction I have, I don't think I'll take this medicine again. Hoping my stomach stays strong. Picking up some elderberry syrup once the sun comes up."

3 / 10
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6 Report
  • dgg...
  • September 24, 2020

"I’m getting over the last symptoms of COVID, and I had a persistent cough, so my parents recommended I take Delsym. Well, it did its job, I didn’t have a cough, but I had way more side effects than I would’ve liked. I felt extremely off balance and like I was floating. I had bad diarrhea, a rapid heart rate, and even after working 5 hours, I had anxiety and couldn’t sleep that night, and that was hours after taking it! Crazy experience, felt like I was on actual drugs. Probably won’t be taking it again."

3 / 10
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4 Report
  • Car...
  • January 8, 2022

For Cough "Have COVID and could not sleep due to excessive coughing, and this worked like a charm. Was able to sleep wonderfully the next night. Later on in the morning, after I took the daytime dose, I started having anxiety throughout the day. I was having small bouts of panic attacks, did not know where that was coming from. I know my body was stressed and under a lot of pressure, but this was different. I took only half the recommended dose that following evening and woke up two hours later with a panic attack, sleeping? I decided not to take it today. I have not had one since. Also, yes, with the stomach, diarrhea did happen to me also."

5 / 10
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1 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 20, 2012

For Cough "Kept me up all night, felt nervous, anxious... upset my stomach, and I was still coughing."

1 / 10
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45 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 20, 2012

For Cough "Kept me up all night, felt nervous, anxious... upset my stomach, and I was still coughing."

1 / 10
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45 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.