The kids these days have taken to getting high--and OD'ing and dying--by guzzling cough syrup with dextromethorphan [DXM]. In some states like Utah, misuse got so bad a few years ago that pharmacies were ordered to put Robitussin and Coricidin behind the counter and limit purchases to one bottle per overage person. Blame the MTV, I'm sure.
Well, last night our kid got around the "No-ID, No Robo" rule and scored a double hit of hallucinogenic cough medicine with alarming ease.
As my wife went to bed, she said, "[The kid] can't have her next dose before 1AM." [She's been keeping herself awake nights with coughing and sniffling.] And since it was my night to get up, when the kid's cries cut through my own Nyquil haze at 3AM, I dutifully filled a syringe with Robitussin Cough & Cold Drops, dosed her up, and stumbled back to bed. "What's up?" "I just gave her her medicine. Go back to sleep." "WHAT?? But I gave her her medicine at 1! I told you, and you said, 'OK.'" Must have been the Nyquil talking.
A nervous mid-night call to poison control later, we were reassured that, at worst, the double dose might make the kid "restless and irritable," which is exactly what happened 29 minutes later. Needless to say, it was my turn to sit up with her.
Anyway, we belatedly figured we need to do something to make sure we can keep track of medicines we give her, something that works even in the dark. My 3:30AM suggestion of stamping the kid's forehead with a glow-in-the-dark "X" was withdrawn at approximately 3:30:02.
That said, Ask Dr Sears has a symptom-by-symptom, side-by-side analysis of every major childrens medicine brand out there. Consult your pediatrician before using.
Cough and Cold Medication Guide [askdrsears.com]
Related: Read stupid DXM overdose stories and learn about DXM culture. [TheThird-Plateau.org, remember: "DXM has a place among psychedelics, but do understand that it is not a replacement for LSD, mushrooms, 2CB, or even ketamine."]
Hang a mini whiteboard on the inside of the medicine cabinet. Write down the dosage time as you give it. Works for us.