dextromethorphan Side Effects
Also known as: Delsym, Robitussin
Analysis of 7,480 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2004 to 2025.
Total Reports
7,480
Death-Related
1,756
23.5% of reports
Hospitalizations
1,400
18.7% of reports
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Most Reported Adverse Reactions
Who Reports Side Effects
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Reporting Trend by Year
Reactions in Death Reports
Top reactions reported in 1,756 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.
| 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 |
| OFF LABEL USE | 52 |
| PNEUMONIA | 52 |
| ASTHENIA | 49 |
| DRUG TOXICITY | 48 |
| INTENTIONAL PRODUCT MISUSE | 47 |
| INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE | 46 |
| DIARRHOEA | 43 |
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Top reactions in 1,400 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 153 |
| PNEUMONIA | 148 |
| DYSPNOEA | 127 |
| OVERDOSE | 105 |
| SEROTONIN SYNDROME | 100 |
| DRUG INTERACTION | 94 |
| OFF LABEL USE | 91 |
| DRUG ABUSE | 89 |
| FATIGUE | 87 |
| PYREXIA | 87 |
| INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE | 86 |
| COUGH | 85 |
| MALAISE | 84 |
| HYPERTENSION | 83 |
| ANXIETY | 82 |
| NAUSEA | 81 |
| DIARRHOEA | 79 |
| DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 79 |
| VOMITING | 78 |
| CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 77 |
Nearby — Related Medications
What the FAERS Data Reveals About dextromethorphan Side Effects
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 7,480 voluntary reports linked to dextromethorphan and its brand equivalents (Delsym, Robitussin), spanning 2004 through 2025. Of those, 1,756 (23.5%) listed death as an outcome and 1,400 (18.7%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Product Used For Unknown Indication.
Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 57% were female and 43% male; age distribution skews toward 18-44, with 1,627 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is drug ineffective with 1,313 submissions, followed by drug abuse and toxicity to various agents.
FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.