What Are Triple Cs? How These Over-The-Counter Drugs Can Cause Dangerous Side Effects

Teen drug abuse can cause lasting harm to the adolescent brain, but you can protect your child from the dangers of triple C in several ways. According to law enforcement, triple C is primarily misused by adolescents. This has caused many retail stores to place it behind counters rather than on open shelves. Repeatedly taking high doses of dextromethorphan can cause toxic psychosis, a mental condition in which a person loses contact with reality.

Effects of the Triple C’s

There are several Coricidin products that contain Dextromethorphan, including Delsym, Robitussin, 12-Hour Cough Relief, Vicks DayQuil Cough, Mucinex, Tylenol, Sudafed, and Theraflu. Discover everything about synthetic opioids, how they work, common examples, dangers, and treatment for opioid use disorder. The lack of federal regulation on DXM-containing products means the issue of Triple C misuse remains largely unchecked.

Because the medicine continues to be present in the body for a further 24 hours after then, this could be harmful. To attain deadly levels, which start at 50mg per kg of body weight, the person would have to take another dose the next night. Many Coricidin products, including Delsym, Robitussin, 12-Hour Cough Relief, Vicks DayQuil Cough, Mucinex, triple cs drug Tylenol, Sudafed, and Theraflu, contain dextromethorphan as an active component.

The substance is safe when taken as instructed, but abusing Coricidin products can result in coma or death. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse issues, help is available. Most essential, however, is that such health issues won’t always manifest immediately; rather, they’ll probably worsen throughout the person’s life. Depending on the dose and length of the effects, triple Cs produce a variety of highs. However, the drug can also cause dangerous side effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, anxiety, and paranoia. Join 40,000+ People Who Receive Our Newsletter Get valuable resources on addiction, recovery, wellness, and our treatments delivered directly to your inbox.

The widely available medicines is intended to temporarily relieve cold and cough symptoms in individuals with high blood pressure (HBP). Understanding the addictive potential of Triple Cs marks the beginning of your journey towards recovery. At Iris Wellness Group in Chattanooga, TN, we acknowledge the courage it takes to seek help, and we’re here to guide you through your path to wellness. When abused, otherwise benign drugs, like acetaminophen can also contribute to health problems. Most importantly, those health problems may not arise right away, but will likely continue to worsen throughout the individual’s life. Most dextromethorphan pills have an active effect of 4-12+ hours or an average of 6.

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Typical drug screenings are not designed to detect Triple C directly but are calibrated to identify illicit drugs and specific prescription meds within hair, urine, sweat, or blood samples. Triple C’s, colloquially known as skittles, red devil, or dex, refers to Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold, an easily accessible over-the-counter medication. This product is formulated with dextromethorphan (DXM), a common ingredient in many cough and cold treatments. Triple C can cause overdose in very large doses, however, this is unlikely.

Spending Addiction

At Northridge Addiction Treatment Center, our compassionate team of nurses and therapists are here to help. There are many pathways to freedom from addiction, and the first step begins with reaching out for support. So far, about 15 states have banned the use and sale of dextromethorphan in 2020. After these outbursts, someone high on triple C may not remember their actions, further impacting their life. We believe trust, meaningful connections, and kindness are the essentials to beginning a journey in recovery.

Powdered forms of dextromethorphan, which are available over the internet, can be ingested, injected or snorted. However, it is not known whether the powder is extracted from Coricidin products or other DXM medications. Users may develop a tolerance to DXM, requiring larger doses to achieve the desired effects. The cycle can lead to a dangerous pattern of escalating abuse and withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit. DXM’s dissociative properties can cause hallucinations, altered perceptions, and a sense of detachment from reality. These effects might appeal to some seeking altered states of consciousness, but they can also result in severe confusion, paranoia, and emotional instability.

1. In high doses, DXM can produce hallucinogenic effects and feelings of dissociation.
2. Long-term, Triple C abuse can also contribute to kidney stones, permanent brain damage, and liver or kidney failure.
3. Detoxification is the first step in treatment, and it involves removing the toxins from the body.
4. Below is detailed information about Triple Cs, including how they look, how long they stay in the body, side effects, risk of overdose, and treatment.

Dextromethorphan (DXM), one of the main ingredients, comes with serious health risks when taken in high doses. First Step Behavioral Health offers various addiction treatment programs that can help individuals overcome Triple C abuse. With residential and outpatient options available, there is a program that is right for everyone.