Dextromethorphan - Are There Any Medical Reasons for Taking This Substance?
Are There Any Medical Reasons for Taking This Substance?
Dextromethorphan is recommended for quieting coughs. It does not work on the nose or the throat, but rather on the brain and the central nervous system, to lessen the body's chemical signals to cough.
According to a 1997 report in the journal Pediatrics, dextromethorphan may not be safe for use in children even though it can be found in pediatric products. First, parents may administer too much medicine to a child, leading to negative side effects. Second, very young children also have immature livers that cannot properly metabolizeThe process by which food is converted to energy that the body uses to function. dextromethorphan and other cold remedies.
Most important, for children and adults, coughs serve a practical purpose. They clear the airways of fluids, allowing for better breathing. Some illnesses, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, allergies, and pneumonia, can actually be made worse by the use of dextromethorphan. The drug is only recommended for brief episodes of coughing, such as those accompanying colds and flu. Patients with chronic, or long-term coughing, should be seen by a doctor.
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