Re: why no Robitussin DM? (was: Mom)

February 5, 2011

Dorothy -

I'm sure your post will be helpful to many, especially newcomers. Why are you

avoiding Robitussin DM? DM can be helpful as a cough suppressant.

Robin

>

> Hi Tony,

>

> I have written a rather long reply and I hope you find it helpful, even if a

> little.

> ...I also have Claritin on hand for

> allergy symptoms - Claritin is also considered safe for allergies. Avoid

Benedryl and others. Also some plain Robitussin for coughs - but avoid any

other kind especially Robitussin DM. ...

> Dorothy

>

February 6, 2011

Hi Robin and Dorothy (and everyone else),

Regular Robitussin has 10 mg of dextromethorphan, and Robitussin DM has 15 mg.

I wanted something without any DM at all, and after reading labels for about 20

minutes in my local CVS, I found something called 'Chestal.' It's homeopathic,

and has good things in it, like honey, which is recommended by many doctors for

a cough.

When the nurse practitioner came to see my Mom, she liked my choice of cough

medicine. Oddly enough, we also see an improvement in her cognition... my aunt

continues to give it to her once a day, or every other day.

The sun is FINALLY out in NY, and it's above 32 degrees!

Halellujah!

Helene

>

> Robin,

>

> When my mil had the severe bronchitis or whooping cough last spring she was

> coughing so badly I had to find something for her so she could rest. I've

> read about Robitussin DM can have serious side effects for LBD patinets and

> about people using it to get high. I called and asked the clinical

> pharmacist at UCSF Memory and Aging center what would be a safe otc cough

> syrup and he advised, " Regular, plain Robitussin, not Robitussin DM, use the

> regular formula without the dextromethorphan. " He explained

> dextromethorphan is known to cause problems with hallucinations, delusions,

> anxiety, agitation and rarely cns depression in patients with LBD. He said

> a better decongestant to see about using Mucinex (Robitussin and Mucinex are

> both guaiphenesin) as it will thin the mucus so it can be easily coughed

> out.

>

> There are some articles from the journals of neurology and of

> neuropsychiatry but I cannot access them from here.

>

> Dorothy

>

> http://knittingdoc.wordpress.com/2008/11/30/taking-namenda-should-i-take-rob

> itussin-or-robitussin-dm/

>

> http://www.lbda.org/category/4127/tips-for-daily-living-with-lewy.htm

>

> (look under " mucus " )

>

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextromethorphan

>

> From: LBDcaregivers [mailto:LBDcaregivers ]

> On Behalf Of rriddle_travel

> Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 5:09 PM

> To: LBDcaregivers

> Subject: Re: why no Robitussin DM? (was: Mom)

>

> Dorothy -

> I'm sure your post will be helpful to many, especially newcomers. Why are

> you avoiding Robitussin DM? DM can be helpful as a cough suppressant.

> Robin

>

February 6, 2011

Perhaps " Robitussin DM having serious side effects for LBD patients " is one MD's

view. The LBDA (or the LBDA's SAC) doesn't warn against it. In the lbda.org

link provided below, it simply says regular Robitussin loosens mucus. (DM acts

upon cough.)