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Dextromethorphan and Cramps: What Users Say

Brand names: Delsym, Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief, Vicks Dayquil Cough, Dry Cough, Cough Syrup DM, Bisolvon Dry, DexAlone, Dextromethorphan HBr Adult Formula, Robitussin CoughGels Long-Acting, Buckleys Mixture, Calmylin, Buckley's Mixture Cough Suppressant, Benylin DM, Delsym Children's 12-Hour Cough Relief, Vicks Formula 44, Covonia Bronchial Balsam, Robafen Cough Liquidgels, Dexi-Tuss, Sucrets Cough, Creomulsion, 12 Hour Cough Relief, Robitussin 12-Hour Cough Relief, Babee Cof, Silphen DM, Vicks Formula 44 Custom Care Dry Cough Suppressant, Balminil DM, Delsym 12 Hour Cough Relief for Children & Adults, Robitussin Cough Long-Acting, Benadryl for the Family Dry Forte, Contac Cough, Bisolvon Dry Junior, Dristan DM, Triaminic Long Acting Cough, Creomulsion Children, Buckley's DM Robitussin Direct Cough Tussin Cough Gels (Long Acting) Vicks Nature Fusion Cough Duract Max Strength Cough Scot-Tussin Diabetes Hold Triaminic Thin Strips Cough Giltuss Honey DM 8hr Cough Giltuss Children's Honey DM 8hr Cough ElixSure Cough Hold DM Robitussin Children's Cough Long-Acting …show all brand names

Cramps: mentioned by 13 users (3.4%)

Based on user experiences from 386 Dextromethorphan 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 40.9%
nausea 15.0%
dizziness 13.0%
upset stomach 7.8%
anxiety 5.2%
vomiting 4.9%
cough 4.4%
panic attacks 3.6%
stomach pain 3.6%
cramps 3.4%

Reviews for Dextromethorphan

Showing 13 reviews tagged with "cramps". Clear filters to view all 386 reviews.
Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Sma...
  • January 20, 2016

Dextromethorphan 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
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  • JJa...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 15, 2019

Dextromethorphan 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
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7 Report
  • Man...
  • April 22, 2017

Dextromethorphan 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
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Frequently asked questions

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

Dextromethorphan 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
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6 Report
  • Rev...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 18, 2022

Dextromethorphan 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
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1 Report

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  • Iza...
  • April 7, 2016

For Cough "After taking the cough syrup, in less than an hour I had such intense cramping in my stomach that I had a hard time walking straight. It was pure torture! Then I had nightmares all night and didn't sleep good at all, missed work because of it the next day...the worst part, it made my throat tickle even more than before I took it."

1 / 10
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  • Col...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 24, 2019

For Cough "Took 2 doses of this today, per the instructions. The first time I was a bit nauseous, but figured it was because I hadn't eaten much. Now I took it about 3 hours ago and have such intense nausea, cramping, and explosive diarrhea. Plus, my mouth feels like I ate cotton balls for dinner, and I can't stop shaking. Never use, no matter how bad your cough is. Absolute worst product ever and doesn't even contain a list of potential side effects like every other drug out there. If any of these side effects had been listed anywhere on the box or label, I never would have taken it, even if I were paid to do so. I used the maximum strength Robitussin CF. Not even my prescription ondansetron for nausea (which is used to treat nausea in chemo patients) will touch this."

1 / 10
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More FAQ

  • Reb...
  • August 12, 2017

For Cough "Took this med for a spasm-y cough that just wouldn't stop. Definitely helped the cough. A couple of hours after the first dose, I experienced abdominal cramps and diarrhea. I checked the bottle for side effects, didn't see gastrointestinal issues listed, and assumed I'd eaten something that didn't agree with me. I took the second dose about 1-1/2 hours before bed. An hour later, another round of bathroom jaunts began. It did what it should for the cough, but the gastrointestinal side effects aren't worth it."

7 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • March 28, 2017

Dextromethorphan 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
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2 Report
  • Gab...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 9, 2015

Dextromethorphan 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
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11 Report
  • Pud...
  • March 16, 2016

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

1 / 10
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9 Report
  • Anonymous
  • January 13, 2019

Dextromethorphan 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
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8 Report
  • God...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 8, 2017

Dextromethorphan 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
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6 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.