Dextromethorphan relieves cough by acting directly on the cough center in the brain. If you are taking this medicine without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Most medicines contain more than their active ingredient, and many liquid medicines contain alcohol.
Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant. It is not known whether dextromethorphan passes into breast milk. However, dextromethorphan has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies. Although there is no specific information comparing use of dextromethorphan in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people.