MID-VOLUME · DEATH-HEAVY
dextromethorphan Side Effects
dextromethorphan (also sold as Delsym, Robitussin) sits MID-VOLUME #349 of 524 by FAERS report count. Lead signal: DEATH-HEAVY - 23.5% of FAERS reports list death as an outcome (1,756 of 7,480). Demographics and serious-outcome tables follow.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 7,480
- FAERS reports
FDA Adverse Event Reporting System extract for dextromethorphan. Stamp set WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID. How figures are compiled.
dextromethorphan: 23.5% of FAERS reports list death as an outcome (1,756 of 7,480). Caseload stamp WATCHLIST; volume band MID-VOLUME #349 of 524 by FAERS report count.
Mid-book FAERS page for dextromethorphan (Delsym) (7,480 reports). Signature DEATH-HEAVY. Dominant age band on file: 18-44. Educational reference only.
Counts from the openFDA FAERS extract (2004–2025). Stamps WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · SEX-BALANCED.
DRUG ABUSE leads 713 of 7,480 reports
Who reports · age peak 18-44 (SEX-BALANCED)
Sex coding · SEX-BALANCED
Age peak 18-44 (1,627 reports)
FAERS filings rising toward 2025
Reactions in Death Reports
Death-mentioned subset is HEAVY here (1,756 reports, 23.5%). Top co-reported reactions in that subset - voluntary, not causal.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 562 |
| DRUG ABUSE | 516 |
| COMPLETED SUICIDE | 332 |
| DEATH | 321 |
| CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ARREST | 138 |
| CARDIAC ARREST | 106 |
| OVERDOSE | 98 |
| RESPIRATORY ARREST | 86 |
| DRUG INTERACTION | 85 |
| ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE | 69 |
| DYSPNOEA | 59 |
| POISONING | 59 |
| FATIGUE | 57 |
| PNEUMONIA | 52 |
| ASTHENIA | 49 |
| DRUG TOXICITY | 48 |
| INTENTIONAL PRODUCT MISUSE | 47 |
| INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE | 46 |
| DIARRHOEA | 43 |
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Hospitalization mid-share (1,400, 18.7%). Co-reported reactions:
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 153 |
| PNEUMONIA | 148 |
| DYSPNOEA | 127 |
| OVERDOSE | 105 |
| SEROTONIN SYNDROME | 100 |
| DRUG INTERACTION | 94 |
| DRUG ABUSE | 89 |
| FATIGUE | 87 |
| PYREXIA | 87 |
| INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE | 86 |
| COUGH | 85 |
| MALAISE | 84 |
| HYPERTENSION | 83 |
| ANXIETY | 82 |
| NAUSEA | 81 |
| DIARRHOEA | 79 |
| VOMITING | 78 |
| CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 77 |
How to read dextromethorphan FAERS figures (WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID)
FAERS holds 7,480 voluntary reports linked to dextromethorphan (Delsym, Robitussin), 2004-2025. Death is listed on 1,756 (23.5%). Hospitalization appears on 1,400 (18.7%). Top co-reported indication: Product Used For Unknown Indication.
Mid-volume extract - treat DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID as signal-detection rates next to 23.5% of FAERS reports list death as an outcome (1,756 of 7,480).
Read with dextromethorphan
Peers ranked by ABS(total_reports), then an ABS(death_share) pole; guide hop follows DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID stamps.
ABS(total_reports) peer at 7,436 FAERS cases (Δ 44 lighter vs dextromethorphan); DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-HEAVY · MALE-LED vs this page's WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · SEX-BALANCED.
ABS(total_reports) peer at 7,422 FAERS cases (Δ 58 lighter vs dextromethorphan); DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · SEX-BALANCED vs this page's WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · SEX-BALANCED.
ABS(total_reports) peer at 7,411 FAERS cases (Δ 69 lighter vs dextromethorphan); DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-HEAVY · FEMALE-LED vs this page's WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · SEX-BALANCED.
ABS(total_reports) peer at 7,404 FAERS cases (Δ 76 lighter vs dextromethorphan); DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-HEAVY · SEX-BALANCED vs this page's WATCHLIST · DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID · SEX-BALANCED.
ABS(death_share) pole at 62.1% death-mentioned reports (Δ 38.6 pp vs dextromethorphan's DEATH-HEAVY): CASELOAD · HOSP-MID.
dextromethorphan stamps DEATH-HEAVY · HOSP-MID; FAERS outcome shares are signal-detection rates, not incidence. Read them next to caseload WATCHLIST and the label guide.