Delsym is an American brand of over-the-counter cough medicine. It is different from most brands of cough medicine as the active ingredient is "time released". The time release allows for the drug to suppress coughing for a longer period of time without taking more. The idea for this method is similar to Tussionex (also known as Yellow Syrup, Hycodan, among others), a Schedule-III narcotic cough syrup, containing Hydrocodone Polistirex and either Chlorpheniramine or Atropine as aids/deterrants.

The active ingredient per teaspoon (5 ml) is dextromethorphan polistirex, equivalent to Dextromethorphan HBr 30mg.

[edit] Method of Action

The active ingredient, dextromethorphan (converts to Dextrorphan), is surrounded by an edible plastic called polistirex. When the Delsym arrives in the stomach, an amount of dextromethorphan is directly released into the blood stream while the rest is surrounded by a plastic that is slowly dissolved by stomach acid. After the polistirex is dissolved sufficiently, more dextromethorphan is released.

[edit] Recreational Use

Intentionally consuming more than the recommended dosage of Delsym may lead to effects of euphoria, lack of coordination, empathy, even dissociation of mind from body. This is due to dextromethorphan as well as its much stronger parent metabolite Dextrorphan, both dissociative drugs, which work as NMDA receptor antagonists the same way nitrous oxide(N2O), ketamine(Special K.), and phencyclidine(PCP) do. Because of the abuse potential many pharmacies and larger stores have begun taking precautions such as restricting sales to those over age 18, and limiting the number of sales of dextromethorphan containing products per customer.

[edit] External links

• Delsym