Skip to main content

Delsym and Cramps: What Users Say

Cramps: mentioned by 10 users (4.2%)

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
  • Sma...
  • January 20, 2016

For Cough "I wish I had read the reviews before taking this product! Forty-five minutes after taking Delsym, I had lots of belly gurgling, then painful cramps, and then immediate violent diarrhea! I got so dizzy and lightheaded while sitting on the toilet I almost passed out. I will never take this product again and will advise all friends and family to avoid it as well. As far as suppressing my cough, I was too afraid to cough for some time after the diarrhea started!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
37 Report
  • JJa...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 15, 2019

For Cough "Horrendous. Delsym did not stop my cough. I woke up at 4 AM (I had taken it the afternoon before at 4:30 pm) with serious diarrhea and vomiting. The cramps that followed are unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, absolutely horrific. This medicine needs to be taken off the market. It’s been over three hours, and the cramping has worsened - I didn’t think it was possible - and I’m basically writhing on my floor. DO NOT RISK THIS!!!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
7 Report
  • Man...
  • April 22, 2017

For Cough "I found this page, and everything clicked just two days too late. While my cough went away, the first night I woke up with severe cramping and the worst diarrhea of my life and was unable to hold food down for 12 hours. Then I took the medicine the next night and woke up to constant severe cramping to the point of skipping all my meals and popping Pepto until the 12-hour mark when I was able to hold down a bagel. Thank God I searched this tonight because I was about to take it again! It is not expired, but rather a painful fast track to a cleanse. Never touching it again."

2 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
5 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Cou...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 24, 2016

For Cough "Developed a cold that just wouldn't go away and that turned into a cough. Took Vicks, Mucinex, NyQuil, but nothing controlled the cough well. Decided to try Delsym, and while it did control the cough much better than the others, I woke up in the early hours of the morning with extreme diarrhea, awful, awful cramping, and sweating to death. I literally sat on the toilet for an hour dry heaving because the pain was so bad. It was terrible. For the next 24 hours, my stomach just hurt trying to recover. I only thought I had gotten minor food poisoning, but this morning when I had just liquid bowel movements again, I decided to search reviews since that's the only thing that has changed. I am definitely going to stop taking."

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report
  • Rev...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 18, 2022

For Cough "Took a dose at 10:30, and before midnight, I was running to the bathroom with horrible cramping and diarrhea. I will never take this medicine again. I’d rather deal with a cough than stomach pain and diarrhea!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
1 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
  • Anonymous
  • March 28, 2017

For Cough "I took this medicine around midnight last night after being tired of trying to hold back a cough, and it worked pretty quickly. I also had hot water with lemon and honey, so that probably helped too. However, around 5:00 am, I woke up with severe cramping and diarrhea. I spent two hours running back and forth to the bathroom. I also experienced nausea and dizziness. But hey, it got rid of my cough... not worth it."

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
2 Report
  • Gab...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 9, 2015

For Cough "Gave this to my kids, and they were up with diarrhea all night. Lots of gas in the stomach, with cramping as well."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
11 Report

More FAQ

  • Pud...
  • March 16, 2016

For Cough "Cramps, nausea, diarrhea, 24 hours of hell, explosive watery discharge. Do not take."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • Anonymous
  • January 13, 2019

For Cough "It does stop the coughing, but the severe cramping, diarrhea, and dizziness are not worth it! I was 2 days in before I realized that those symptoms weren't part of my flu. It was the Delsym! Beware!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
8 Report
  • God...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 8, 2017

For Cough "IBS? DO NOT TAKE should be the warning on this label. 6 hours after you take it. Cramps... diarrhea... nausea. Not worth it!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
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.