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ABSTRACT
Dextromethorphan abuse is increasing in United States. Intentional misuse or abuse ingestions of dextromethorphan-containing products reported to Texas poison centers during 2000–2009 were identified and the distribution of ingestions by selected factors was determined. There were 3,421 total cases; Coricidin® (Schering-Plough Health Care Products, Inc., Memphis, TN) products were involved in 53.6% of cases. The number of cases increased during 2000–2002 and then declined during 2003–2005 before increasing again in 2006 and remaining relatively constant afterward. The majority of patients were male (60.4%) and between 13 and 19 years of age (69.0%). A potentially serious outcome was assigned in 46.2% of the cases and 83.1% were managed at a health care facility.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this research was provided by a contract with the Commission on State Emergency Communications in Texas. The author thanks the staff of the six poison control centers of the Texas Poison Center Network who collected the data (Central Texas Poison Center, North Texas Poison Center, Texas Panhandle Poison Center, South Texas Poison Center, Southeast Texas Poison Center, and West Texas Regional Poison Center).
