Delsym and Upset Stomach: What Users Say

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2021

For Cough "I had a sinus infection and took the antibiotics along with Mucinex D, and it cleared right up. However, I had a lingering dry cough (probably unrelated, but who knows?). I picked up some Delsym for the dry cough, along with Benadryl before bed, and slept like a baby. I took another dose of Delsym before work and didn't cough nearly as much as I had been. It didn't make me drowsy, dizzy, nauseous, 'high', nor did it give me diarrhea or stomach cramps. Everyone reacts to medication differently, and I am not by any means downplaying anyone who had such horrible side effects! I just wanted to share that some good can come for some with this medication."

• Nev...
• December 29, 2016

For Cough "Do NOT use this product! I have given this to my children when they were younger but have never taken it myself. Had a cough, decided to try it. (Only had a yogurt early in the morning) took Delsym at noonish. Made a sandwich around 1:30 or so. Mid-sandwich.....I literally pooped my pants!!! I had to run to the bathroom where I suffered with raging diarrhea!! I hadn't had a stomach ache or any symptoms prior. For the rest of the day, I haven't eaten or really drank. It's now 6:10, and I'm sipping on water and at times feel like I could vomit. Stomach still gurgling. Something made me look up if Delsym could cause this, and I see so many other similar reviews. I will never take it again."

• Nev...
• December 29, 2016

For Cough "Do NOT use this product! I have given this to my children when they were younger but have never taken it myself. Had a cough, decided to try it. (Only had a yogurt early in the morning) took Delsym at noonish. Made a sandwich around 1:30 or so. Mid-sandwich.....I literally pooped my pants!!! I had to run to the bathroom where I suffered with raging diarrhea!! I hadn't had a stomach ache or any symptoms prior. For the rest of the day, I haven't eaten or really drank. It's now 6:10, and I'm sipping on water and at times feel like I could vomit. Stomach still gurgling. Something made me look up if Delsym could cause this, and I see so many other similar reviews. I will never take it again."

• Cel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2018

For Cough "I’ve taken Delsym and Delsym Max Strength, and after a day or two, it does start to loosen up the tight congestion in my lungs. The only problem with it is it causes me extreme stomach distress. It doesn’t matter if I take it on an empty stomach or not, but about 15 minutes after taking a dose, I experience extreme nausea. About 30-60 minutes later, I will have to run to the bathroom; I’m not going to go into detail, but to say the least, I don’t go in there and puke. I’m not sure if I have a sensitivity to something in it or if it’s normal to experience this. I don’t take cough medicine often, but I don’t remember having this severe of side effects from other brands, but I digress. If you chose Delsym, especially Max Strength, be prepared to possibly trade your cough for bathroom troubles."

• 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."

• Mom...
• December 30, 2019

For Cough "My 8 yr old was having a dry, hacking cough after the flu. Used Robitussin, it helped a little. Bought Delsym children's and gave her 5 ml. She was complaining of a headache and stomach ache within an hr! She couldn't eat dinner, says she feels like throwing up. I'm rubbing her belly now and reading reviews now. Don't use this medication!"

• Rac...
• March 3, 2017

For Cough "Took 5 hours ago. Still coughing. Now I am pooping as well. Came to read reviews because I don't think I could have eaten anything else to cause diarrhea. I'm hoping I don't have 8 hours of stomach issues, but it's not looking good. Maybe it doesn't happen to everyone, but user beware!"

• TAa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2018

For Cough "I was taking this medication for about 3 days, and I experienced stomach aches every day. Only stopped my coughing for a few hours. When I took the medication yesterday morning, I felt very dizzy and couldn’t stand up straight."

• ver...
• October 6, 2016

For Cough "Took this for cough last night and made my stomach hurt almost instantly, then woke up to horrible loose stools and stomach cramps. It has been 24 hours, and I am still in pain. It may have helped the cough slightly, but this is way worse!"

• ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2017

For Cough "Have a little bit of a lingering cough from a cold. Not giving me much trouble except keeps me up at night. I heard this was good, so I took it so I could get some sleep. Helped tremendously with the cough, but then I was having bad stomach cramps and diarrhea. I hadn't eaten anything that should have upset my stomach, and it didn't really feel like a 'bug,' so I looked up side effects for Delsym. Now I wish I had done that first because I probably wouldn't have taken it. So, while it worked for my cough, I still didn't get any sleep due to the stomach issues."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2022

For Cough "I'm sick right now. I got tested and came back positive for COVID and the flu. All is good since I'm young and healthy. I feel better by day 3, day 4 (today) I have a cough and take 10 mL (dose for anyone above 12) of Delsym in the morning when I wake up. Within 2 hours, the feeling nobody wants to have of a churning stomach of pure liquid. My rear lower orifice is raw from wiping liquid. I thought I had gotten better after 8 or so trips to the toilet and went on a cruise with a buddy (separate cars), and within 9 minutes I had to stop and come back home. I sat on the toilet and proceeded to micturate from the wrong hole. It is pure liquid, there were chunks of fecal matter the first three times, but now there is nothing but a burning liquid to wipe religiously for minutes after every ordeal. I'm starting to believe that this is a side effect to stop abuse for the DXM that is in this product. On the plus side, no cough."

• Anonymous
• February 20, 2012

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

• soo...
• February 18, 2016

For Cough "Like several other reviewers, I also got the stomach gurgles, then watery diarrhea after taking Delsym."

• Jef...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 1, 2020

For Cough "The nighttime product works great. It helps keep my sinuses clear, and I rest much better than with NyQuil. No diarrhea. No stomach aches. No hangover."

• Gen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2017

For Cough "It definitely helped my cough, but I did have some minor stomach problems with it, and I did feel kind of light-headed at times. Not like I was going to be dizzy or pass out, but just kind of odd."

• Ann...
• October 2, 2016

For Cough "This is the only cough medicine that is worth your $$. It really works. I especially like the lozenges when I am working. I've never had any stomach upset either, and I have a pretty sensitive one."

• Syd...
• January 14, 2018

For Cough "Got rid of my cough fairly quickly, gave me an extremely upset stomach to the point of vomiting, and gave me diarrhea. Also experienced dizziness."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2022

For Cough "OMG, I didn't know what it was at first, but it's the Delsym!!!! I notice every time I take the medication, my stomach gurgles, and 30 to 40 mins later, I have diarrhea!!"