Dextromethorphan and Drowsiness: What Users Say

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

Dextromethorphan 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."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2019

Dextromethorphan for Cough "Took this tonight as I've been sick for three days with a cold/cough. I expected it to make me drowsy, but it made me restless and completely unable to sleep. I came here looking to see if anyone else had that reaction. I don't think it helped me cough at all either. Now I will probably feel worse tomorrow, seeing as how I didn't really get any sleep tonight."

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

Dextromethorphan 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."

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2019

Dextromethorphan for Cough "Recommended by pharmacist for persistent dry cough. Took about 1 hour to notice any difference. Then it seemed to virtually stop the cough. I stuck to the twice-a-day measuring cup instructions and was very pleased with the result. It did not completely stop the cough but stopped it from being a constant problem. Would recommend for dry coughs. None of the drowsiness that some other cough medicines induce."

• Tin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2019

Dextromethorphan for Cough "First time trying this cough medicine. Had a persistent cough for more than 2 weeks, so I decided to try it as I hadn’t been sleeping well due to my persistent coughing. The medicine works great on getting rid of the cough, however, it comes with the side effect of feeling drunk yet high at the same time. I am very lethargic initially an hour after taking it. However, then I have this mental clarity phase where I become very focused and productive about 5 to 6 hours after taking the medicine. I will continue to use it for my cough as it works and because I don’t mind the side effects."

• cou...
• June 30, 2016

For Cough "I am currently trying to get over a very nasty cold. I couldn't handle the coughing anymore, so I bought Delsym. I took it before, years ago, with no problems. It made the cough worse before it started to help. It made me drowsy. I napped and was cough-free during that time. Maybe 3 hours. Then I woke up not feeling 'right.' I started to feel hot and had some stomach cramping. I got up to go pee, and all of a sudden, it's like I lost all control of my body. I started sweating uncontrollably and started falling and passing out repeatedly. My muscles tensed up, and I couldn't move. I finally came to long enough to stand up and immediately got horrible diarrhea. I still feel totally out of it. Make sure you have someone to monitor you if you take it."

• Cla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2017

Dextromethorphan for Cough "I took it for a constant, deep barking cough. I worked quickly and well, calming my cough and allowing me to get sleep. However, it makes me incredibly drowsy - way worse than Unisom. There was also a bit of dizziness. I did not have any gastrointestinal side effects. I will use it again but only at night since it knocks me out."

• Deb...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 27, 2019

Dextromethorphan for Cough "Dextromethorphan helps suppress my awful cough associated with a bad cold. I like it because it isn’t in a mix with other drugs. Guaifenesin is the drug that is in many cough medicines, and it is an expectorant that thins the mucus but makes me cough so much that my ribs hurt. So my go-to drugs for a bad cold are dextromethorphan for a cough, pseudoephedrine (have to sign for this) for nasal congestion, and Advil for pain. I use Afrin spray at night instead of pseudoephedrine so I can breathe and sleep. I don’t like the nighttime formulas because they make me too drowsy. I average one or two colds a year. I hope my formula helps!"

• fat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2016

Dextromethorphan for Cough "I took Delsym for a severe cough. It stopped the cough and made me drowsy. I took a nap, and when I woke up, I could not move! My body was paralyzed. My cognition was impaired. After an undetermined period of time, I was able to move and call for help. Very lucky to have been taken to a local VA hospital, where my blood tests indicated my immune system was compromised, and my platelet count was 50,000, which they told me if I was in a serious accident, I would bleed out. I was told that Delsym was a bad OTC cough syrup and would produce serious interactions with other prescribed medications. This near-death experience can be documented."

• COV...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2021

Dextromethorphan for Cough "I took the children’s dose, and I’m thankful I did. About 15 min into this, I got drowsy and felt like I took a Vicodin. Not what I wanted, and then I began having an irregular heart rhythm that lasted about 30 minutes. It took care of my cough, but I won’t be taking it again. Scary stuff. Give me old-fashioned Robitussin and cough drops."

• Cou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2017

Dextromethorphan for Cough "I went to my pharmacy, and I asked the pharmacist what she can recommend for a dry cough. She said it's Delsym. I tell you, you will be drowsy.... So I didn't mind at all because it's a good thing for me, I can sleep. When I took it, I was waiting to see if it was effective - to my surprise, I kept coughing the whole night as if I didn't take any medications.... So if a cough product doesn't work for an adult, you shouldn't recommend it..... waste of money!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 10, 2025

For Cough "Amazing stuff, kicks the cough but definitely kicks your butt and takes you down with it. If you can handle the sedative effects, it's great, but if you can't, it's not right for you. I took about 100 mg and it shut down the cough so I could sleep, but I definitely was seeing the fairies. I typically use 10 ml Delsym & 2 Pseudofed every 12 hrs and am over within 3 days."

• Anonymous
• November 25, 2011

Dextromethorphan for Cough "I took this before bed and was kept up all night with anxiety/panic attacks. I felt drowsy and depressed the following day."

• Jaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2019

Dextromethorphan for Cough "I took this Delsym for my cough, and it did work, but I ended up falling asleep, and it made me have like lucid dreams or something, IDK, but it was weird. I did sleep like a baby, though, honestly."