Q. Once there was only one Robitussin cough medicine. Now there are lots. The one with DM almost killed me. I had such a hard time breathing I thought I was going to die.
I reported this to my pharmacist and was told that I might be allergic to the “DM” in Robitussin. He warned me to read all labels on cough medicines from now on. People need to be warned, especially parents who might give this to their children.
A. Dextromethorphan (DM) is the leading ingredient in most OTC cough medicines. Its effectiveness has been controversial, particularly in children. Parents have been warned to avoid cough and cold medicines for kids four and under.
Reviewers for the Cochrane Collaboration (an international organization that evaluates medical treatments) concluded: “There is no good evidence for or against the effectiveness of OTC medicines in acute cough.”
Although allergic reactions to DM seem quite uncommon, there are reports in the medical literature of serious breathing difficulties triggered by this cough medicine (Allergy, Aug. 2004). Follow your pharmacist’s advice to read labels carefully!
