Unsafe OTC products - Australian region

This thread aims to produce a list of over the counter (OTC) products that are not suitable for recreational use, for any reason (usually due to another active ingredient). It is for the Australian region only. Please feel free to contribute and add in any products that aren't already listed; information will be collated to appear at the top of the thread.

Please don't assume that just because something isn't listed here, it is safe. Always check the facts for yourself and remember that taking any drug above the recommended level can be dangerous.


Common additives to OTC products which should be avoided include:
Paracetamol (acetaminophen, APAP) - a commonly used painkiller. When consumed in high doses it can cause serious damage to the liver and kidneys, possibly leading to death.

Ibuprofen - an NSAID painkiller. High doses can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, organ damage and possibly death.

Aspirin - a painkiller, anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant. High doses can cause nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, organ damage, pulmonary oedema and possibly death.

Sorbitol (glucitol) - a sweetener used as a sugar substitute. High doses of sorbitol can cause stomach pain, gas, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.

Chlorpheniramine Maleate - a first-generation antihistamine. Erowid: "High doses of Chlorpheniramine Maleate (CPM) can cause severe and life-threatening symptoms including seizures; shortness of breath or troubled breathing; weakness; loss of consciousness; severe dryness of mouth, nose, or throat; bleeding from skin, mouth, eyes, rectum, and vagina; and possibly death."

Brompheniramine Maleate - another antihistamine similar to Chlorpheniramine Maleate. High doses can cause similar symptoms to Chlorpheniramine Maleate, see above.

Guaiphenesin (guaifenesin) - an expectorant. High doses can cause nausea, vomiting and possibly the formation of kidney stones.

Phenylephrine Hydrochloride - a decongestant; replaces pseudoephedrine due to restrictions on that drug's sale. High doses can cause hypertension (high blood pressure) and seizures.

Pseudoephedrine - a decongestant. Erowid: "High doses of pseudoephedrine can cause irregular heartbeat, headaches, difficulty breathing, anxiety, and seizures."



Codeine

Codeine is an opiate analgesic. It is a pro-drug, metabolised in the liver (primarily by CYP2D6) to morphine, codeine-6-glucuronide, norcodeine and hydromorphone. At recreational doses it can produce euphoria, sedation, nausea and constipation (among other effects). Most OTC codeine products also include paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin for their analgesic properties. If using codeine recreationally, it is recommended to perform a cold water extraction (CWE) to remove these other drugs. Most OTC codeine products are suitable for this process; those listed below are not.

Links:
Erowid's codeine page
Erowid's codeine FAQ
Wikipedia's codeine page
Bluelight's OD Directory Scroll down to Codeine for links
MrBlonde's CWE Mega Thread and FAQ


Products containing codeine that are not recommended for recreational use:

Aspalgin Soluble
Type: Tablet
Available in: 20, 50 and 100 pack
Active: Codeine 8mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Aspirin 300mg
Not recommended due to soluble aspirin.

Bis-pectin
Type: Syrup
Available in: 200ml
Active: Codeine 8.1mg/15ml
Also contains: Light Kaolin 1.9g/15ml, Dried Aluminium Hydroxide 375mg/15ml, Pectin 120mg/ml
Not recommended due to aluminium hydroxide and pectin content.

Bronchitis Balsam
Type: Syrup
Available in: 200ml
Active: Codeine 0.6 mg/100ml
Also contains: Ammonium chloride 50mg/100ml, chloroform 0.02ml/100ml
Not recommended due to ammonium chloride and chloroform content.

Chemists' Own Cold & Flu Day/Night
Type: Tablets
Available in: 30 pack and 60 pack
Active: Codeine 9mg/tablet (day only)
Also contains: (per tablet) paracetamol 500mg (day and night), pseudoephedrine 30mg (day and night), chlorpheniramine maleate 2mg (night only)
Not recommended due to pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine maleate content.

Chemists' Own Cold & Flu Relief
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack and 48 pack (48 pack is prescription only)
Active: Codeine 9mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Pseudoephedrine 30mg, paracetamol 500mg
Not recommended due to pseudoephedrine content.

Chemists' Own Cough Suppressant Linctus
Type: Syrup
Available in: 200ml
Active: Codeine 1.5mg/ml
Also contains: Ammonium chloride 200mg/ml
Not recommended due to Ammonium chloride content.

Codalgin Plus
Type: Tablets
Available in: 20 pack
Active: Codeine 9.6mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg, doxylamine succinate 5.1mg
Not recommended due to doxylamine succinate content.

Codis
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack and 48 pack
Active: Codeine 8mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Aspirin 500mg
Not recommended due to soluble aspirin.

Codral 4 Flu
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack
Active: Codeine 9.5mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg, pseudoephedrine 30mg, chlorpheniramine maleate 2mg
Not recommended due to pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine maleate content.

Codral Cold & Flu
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack
Active: Codeine 6mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 30mg
Not recommended due to pseudoephedrine content.

Codral Day & Night
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack and 48 pack
Active: Codeine 9.5mg/tablet (day only)
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg (day), Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 5mg (day)
Not recommended due to phenylephrine hydrochloride content.

Codral Linctus
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml
Active: Codeine 7.5mg/ml
Also contains: Pseudoephedrine 20mg/5ml
Not recommended due to Pseudoephedrine content.

Codral PE Cold & Flu
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack and 48 pack
Active: Codeine 9.5mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 5mg
Not recommended due to phenylephrine hydrochloride content.

Demazin Day & Night Cold & Flu
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack (16 day and 8 night)
Active: Codeine 9mg/tablet (day only)
Also contains: (per tablet) Pseudoephedrine 30mg (day and night), paracetamol 500mg (day and night), chlorpheniramine maleate 2mg (night only)
Not recommended due to pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine maleate content.

Demazin PE Cold & Flu
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack
Active: Codeine 9mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg, phenylephrine hydrochloride 5mg
Not recommended due to phenylephrine content.

Disprin Forte
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack
Active: Codeine 9.5mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Aspirin 500mg
Not recommended due to soluble aspirin.

Dolased Analgesic - Calmative
Type: Tablets
Available in: 20 pack
Active: Codine 10mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg, Doxylamine Succinate 5.1mg
Not recommended due to Doxylamine Succinate content.

Dolased Day/Night Pain Relief
Type: Tablets
Available in: 30 pack (20 day, 10 night), 60 pack (40 day, 20 night)
Active: Codeine 9.6mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg (day and night), doxylamine succinate 5.1mg (night only)
Not recommended due to doxylamine succinate content.

Fiorinal Tablets
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack
Active: Codeine 8mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg, doxylamine succinate 5mg
Not recommended due to doxylamine succinate content.

Fiorinal Capsules
Type: Capsules
Available in: 20 pack
Active: Codeine 8mg/capsule
Also contains: (per capsule) Paracetamol 500mg, doxylamine succinate 5mg
Not recommended due to doxylamine succinate content.

Fiorinal Dental
Type: Capsules
Available in: 20 pack
Active: Codine 10mg/capsule
Also contains: (per capsule) Paracetamol 500mg, Doxylamine Succinate 2mg
Not recommended due to Doxylamine Succinate content.

Mersyndol
Type: Caplets
Available in: 20 pack - I believe the 24 pack Day Strength caplets don't contain doxylamine succinate, but check the packaging
Active: Codine 9.75mg/caplet
Also contains: (per caplet) Paracetamol 450mg, Doxylamine Succinate 5mg
Not recommended due to Doxylamine Succinate content.

Nucosef
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml
Active: Codeine 14.9mg/10ml
Also contains: Pseudoephedrine 60mg/10ml
Not recommended due to Pseudoephedrine content.

Painstop For Children Night-Time Pain Reliever
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml and 200ml
Active: Codeine 1mg/ml
Also contains: Paracetamol 120mg/5ml, promethazine hydrochloride 6.5mg/5ml, ethanol 0.5ml/5ml, sorbitol
Not recommended due to paracetamol, promethazine, ethanol and sorbitol content.

Painstop Night-Time Pain Reliever
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml and 200ml
Active: Codeine 1mg/ml
Also contains: Paracetamol 120mg/5ml, promethazine 6.5mg/5ml, ethanol 10% alc/vol
Not recommended due to paracetamol, promethazine and ethanol content.

Panadeine Rapid Soluble
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack
Active: Codeine 8mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg
Not recommended as it's a soluble.

Panalgesic
Type: Capsules
Available in: 24 pack
Active: Codeine 8mg/capsule
Also contains: (per capsule) Paracetamol 500mg, doxylamine succinate 5mg
Not recommended due to doxylamine succinate content.

Tensodeine
Type: Caplets
Available in: 20 pack
Active: Codeine 9.75mg/caplet
Also contains: (per capsule) Paracetamol 450mg, doxylamine succinate 5mg
Not recommended due to doxylamine succinate content.


Dextromethorphan (DXM)

Dextromethorphan is an antitussive cough medicine, usually available in liquid or gelcap form. When used in high doses, it is a disassociative hallucinogen, similar in some respects to ketamine and PCP. DXM is usually sold in the form dextromethorphan hydrobromide (DXM HBr), although sometimes it is sold in the longer-acting dextromethorphan polistirex. Unless noted otherwise, DXM refers to DXM HBr in this list. DXM is partially metabolised as DXO (dextrorphan) in the liver, by CYP2D6.


Links:
William White's DXM FAQ
Erowid's DXM Page
Wikipedia's DXM page
Erowid's DXM products page. Mostly USA products
The Big and Dandy Basic DXM Questions Thread
The Big and Dandy DXM Thread


Products containing DXM that are not recommended for recreational use:

Benadryl Dry Forte
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml and 200ml
Active: DXM 3mg/ml
Also contains: Sorbitol (14mg/40ml)
Not recommended due to sorbitol content.

Benadryl Dry Cough and Nasal Congestion Oral Liquid
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml
Active: DXM 2mg/ml
Also contains: Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 6mg/ml
Not recommended due to pseudoephedrine content.

Benadryl Nightime Oral Liquid
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml and 200ml
Active: DXM 2mg/ml
Also contains: Diphenhydramine hydrochloride 12.5 mg
Not recommended due to diphenhydramine content.

Benadryl PE Dry Cough and Nasal
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml and 200ml
Active: DXM 2mg/ml
Also contains: Phenylephrine hydrochloride 1mg/ml, sorbitol (26.25g/60ml)
Not recommended due to phenylephrine hydrochloride and sorbitol content.

Bisolvon Dry
Type: Syrup
Available in: 125ml and 200ml
Active: DXM 2mg/ml
Also contains: Sorbitol 1g/10ml, maltitol 3g/10ml
Not recommended due to sorbitol and maltitol content.

Codral Cold & Flu + Cough
Type: Capsules
Available in: 24 pack (18 day and 6 night capsules) or 48 pack (36 day and 12 night capsules)
Active: DXM 10mg/capsule (day and night)
Also contains: (per capsule) Paracetamol 500mg (day and night), Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 5mg (day) and Chlorpheniramine Maleate 2mg (night)
Not recommended due to paracetamol, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride and Chlorpheniramine Maleate content.

Codral Dry Cough Liquicaps
Type: Gelcaps
Available in: 24 pack
Active: DXM 10mg/cap
Also contains: Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 30 mg
Not recommended due to pseudoephedrine content.

Demazin Cough Cold and Flu
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack
Active: DXM 15mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Pseudoephedrine 30 mg, paracetamol 500 mg
Not recommended due to pseudoephedrine and paracetamol content.

Demazin Cough and Cold Relief (Colour Free version is the same except for no added colours)
Type: Syrup
Available in: 200ml
Active: DXM 2mg/ml
Also contains: Brompheniramine maleate 0.4mg/ml, Phenylephrine hydrochloride 1mg/ml, up to 7.5g of maltitol/60ml, and up to 9.5g of sorbitol/60ml
Not recommended due to Brompheniramine maleate, Phenylephrine hydrochloride, maltitol and sorbitol content.

Dimetapp Cough + Cold + Flu Daytime/Nightime
Type: Gelcap
Available in: 24 pack (18 day and 6 night capsules) or 48 pack (36 day and 12 night capsules)
Active: DXM 10mg/cap
Also contains: (per cap) Paracetamol 300mg (day and night), doxylamine succinate 6.25mg (night)
Not recommended due to paracetamol content.

Dimetapp DM (Colour Free version is the same except for no added colours)
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml and 200ml
Active: DXM 2mg/ml
Also contains: Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 1mg/ml, Brompheniramine Maleate 0.4mg/ml
Not recommended due to Phenylephrine Hydrochloride and Brompheniramine Maleate content.

Dimetapp DM Paediatric Drops Colour Free
Type: Syrup
Available in: 50ml
Active: DXM 2mg/ml
Also contains: Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 1mg/ml, Brompheniramine Maleate 0.4mg/ml, sorbitol (546g/10mL)
Not recommended due to Brompheniramine Maleate and Sorbitol content.

Lemsip Pharmacy Flu Strength - Nightime
Type: Powder sachet
Available in: 10 pack
Active: DXM 15mg/sachet
Also contains: (per sachet) Paracetamol 650 mg, pseudoephedrine 30mg, chlorpheniramine maleate 4mg
Not recommended due to paracetamol, pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine maleate content.

Logicin Flu Strength Day & Night
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack (18 day and 6 night)
Active: DXM 15mg/tablet (day only)
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg (day & night), pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 30mg (day & night), chlorpheniramine maleate 2mg (night only)
Not recommended due to paracetamol, pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine maleate content.

Panadol Cold & Flu Relief Original Formula
Type: Caplet
Available in: 24 pack
Active: DXM 15mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Paracetamol 500mg, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 30mg
Not recommended due to paracetamol and pseudoephedrine content.

Panadol PE Flu Strength Day & Night
Type: Caplet
Available in: 24 pack
Active: DXM 15mg/capsule (day and night)
Also contains: (per caplet) Paracetamol 500mg (day and night), Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 5mg (day and night), Chlorpheniramine Maleate 2mg (night only)
Not recommended due to paracetamol, Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride content.

Parke Davis Day & Night Original Cough Cold & Flu
Type: Capsules
Available in: 24 pack (18 day and 6 night)
Active: DXM 10mg/capsule (day and night)
Also contains: Paracetamol 500mg, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 30mg, chlorpheniramine maleate 2mg (night only)
Not recommended due to paracetamol, pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine maleate content.

Robitussin DM
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml and 200ml
Active: DXM 3mg/ml
Also contains: Guaiphenesin 20mg/ml, Ethanol 40mg/ml (4.8% alc/vol), Sorbitol 21.67g/40mL.
Not recommended due to Guaiphenesin and Sorbitol content.

Robitussion DM-P Extra Strength
Type: Syrup
Available in: 25ml (professional sample), 100ml (retail)
Active: DXM 3mg/ml
Also contains: pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 6mg/ml
Not recommended due to pseudoephedrine content.

Tussinol for Dry Coughs Elixir
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml and 200ml
Active: DXM 2mg/ml
Also contains: Sorbitol 560 mg/ml
Not recommended due to sorbitol content.


Dihydrocodeine (DHC)

Dihydrocodeine is an opiod analgesic and antitussive cough medicine. It has similar effects to codeine, although DHC is often reported to be 1.5 to 2 times stronger per milligram than codeine. As far a I know there is only one DHC product available in Australia, Rikodeine. Codox was available but has been discontinued; I include the information here in case someone comes across some.

Links:
Erowid's DHC page
Wikipedia's DHC page


Products containing DHC that are not recommended for recreational use:

Codox - discontinued in Australia
Type: Tablets
Available in: 24 pack
Active: Dihydrocodeine 7.5mg/tablet
Also contains: (per tablet) Aspirin 300mg
Not recommended due to soluble aspirin.

Rikodeine
Type: Syrup
Available in: 100ml and 200ml
Active: Dihydrocodeine 19mg/10ml
Also contains: Sorbitol 4.4g/10ml
Not recommended due to sorbitol content.

Great work, thanks

I think this is a really great idea for a thread. Good work Blau!

good work, if it works out as a pretty comprhensive list we'll see if we can add it to the FAQ section

Great post Blau....

Thank you

You could've just said which DXM to buy rather than which not to. (Robitussin DX)

Could have saved you a lot of time.

Ummm blau1005 i found this exact same thread on here.

Dextrous, the probability that someone uneducated will buy that when looking for DXM is unlikely IMO. If someone finds some DXM meds in their mums medicine cabinet, it is best that there is something out there to tell them that taking the whole bottle is really not a good idea.

dextrous said:

You could've just said which DXM to buy rather than which not to. (Robitussin DX)

Could have saved you a lot of time.

Click to expand...

Well the original idea was to list all OTC products and include warnings with those that aren't recommended. However the mods felt this would be too close to sourcing - and tbh this information is readily available elsewhere and Bluelight isn't really the place for information on what to take.

I guess the point is to educate users a little bit and contribute towards the harm reduction goal of the site. Yes, this information is also available elsewhere but the hope is that by consolidating it into one place, those 'less motivated' users could at least read this thread and find the information helpful, rather than having to spend much longer researching what products contain which ingredients, and what those ingredients do.

^ What he said. Very well written posts by the way.

Great work!

that benadryl night time stuff.
i had a bad cold last year and bought it.

my cough wasn't going away. took about 60ml in the space of an hour. started hallucinating a little. didnt know what was going on at first.
then i felt out of it and fell asleep.
turns out it contained dxm. =/

but awesome work on this post.
you read the list of side effects on these products. it's far scarier than what most illicit substances have. especially one that i take at least a couple of times a week
ibuprofen - organ damage and death??

remind me never to take more than 3 nurofen+ at once.

Nice work blau1005

Blau, there are also a few codeine/APAP meds that contain doxylamine succinate, which is not safe to consume in high doses. I'll see if I can get the names of them for you to add to your list, most of them have names like 'xyxz Pain Tablets with Calmative Agent'.

^^^Mersyndol. 450mg APAP, 9.75mg codeine, 5mg doxylamine. There's also a generic called Dolased (I think by the same company that make the C/O codeine apap tabs we use for extraction).

^ Yep, that's them. I've seen other generic versions before, I'm not sure but they may have been Pharmacy Choice?

To one of the posters above that didnt know Ibuprofen can cause some serious organ damage, generally to the stomach in the form of ulcers and such. not fun. most NSAID meds have this attributed to them. It's one of the reasons a few people were rallying for it not to be available in supermarkets.

Thanks MrBlonde and dnaenterprises1@ya

Anyone know if those soluble codeine products are safe to use or not? I've read in a few places that they aren't suitable for a CWE, but I can't understand why, the other actives just can't dissolve in the water.

^ What soluble codeine products? I've heard of effervescent aspirin/codeine tablets being available in Canada, do you mean them? If so, then are not safe to use for recreational purposes as you cannot perform a CWE on them as everything is dissolving in water. There is probably a way to use solvents to separate them, but I haven't heard from anyone who has done this yet.