As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.
XVII
Tap phone images for better views.
On this page are discussed a few cold and allergy medicines. Some people abuse over-the-counter meds because they want to get high but they don't want to get in trouble with the law. The usual drug screening tests don't detect these chems. Quite a few of these meds contain aceteminophen (the ingredient in Tylenol), which, if used in large doses can lead to liver damage.
Discussed are
Benadryl is an antihistamine that is useful in controlling certain allergic reactions. The active ingredient (diphenhydramine hydrochloride) is also found in the over-the-counter sleep aids Sominex, Unisom and Nytol because it makes you drowsy.
Benadryl is among the top 10 chems tied to overdose deaths, it has been reported.
Some people take far more than the proper dosage in order to experience a druggie high -- even to the point of hallucinations.
That's a pretty risky proposition, since to obtain such effects, the amount needs to be close to lethal. Some youngsters, seeking hallucinations, have killed themselves by swallowing too many of the pills.
Addiction to Benadryl happens.
Johnny: The Rockin' Pneumonia and then Boogie Woogie Flu
Robitussin
DXM is the chemical found in Robitussin and numerous other cough suppressants. These meds come in lquid, pill and capsule form.
Some of these meds also contain antihistamines and decongestants. People seeking a robo-high frequently are also on something else, like alcohol or marijuana. Some people inject the stuff in order to get more of a bang. Unwise. You may end up bang! dead.
Imodium
Loperamide is the chemical found in Immodium and a number of other diahrrea control medicines.
How much of a problem is loperamide misuse? Hard to say. People who swallow a lot of it are seeking a hallucinogenic high. People taking opioids or opiates may swallow Immodium hoping to amplify the opioid effect. This mix can bring on serious opioid withdrawal problems. (Please see the page on Downers.)
Sudafed
Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a sinus and nasal decongestant found in Sudafed and several other cold medicines that can be used by drug dealers to make methamphetamine.
For this reason, products containing pseudoephedrine are sold "behind the counter" nationwide. A prescription is not needed in most states. Some states limit how much you can buy in a month or year without a prescription. In some states, only people 18 years of age or older can buy the medicine.
The chem makes the average person feel jittery, perhaps quite jittery. But for those with severe sinus problems, that effect is outweighed by the relief.
As with any other med, it's possible to overdose. Adults who take more than four 30 milligram pills or two 60 milligram pills are exceeding the maximum recommended dosage. Cut that max in half for kids aged 6 to 12.
Prolonged use, experts warn, may lead to a decrease in effectiveness, perhaps prompting some sufferers to begin taking risky amounts. (That effect happens with a lot of chems, including alcohol.)
More commonly, an excessive amount leads to symptoms like these:
Kids given Sudafed may get dry mouth, wide and rigid pupils, hot flushes, fever, and have problems with their digestive tracts. A few people who take too much may have hallucinations, indicating a need for emergency medical attention.
Aside from those uses, some people take it as a diet pill, since stimulants in general tend to suppress appetite. Some use it as a poor man's Adderall: to help them concentrate. And some use it as a sports doping agent in order to give them a bit of a competitive edge when endurance counts (though there isn't much evidence that performance is really enhanced). Such non-medical uses are frowned on by some. But there isn't much evidence of a widespread health problem that can be attributed to this med.
People with chronic severe sinus problems often have no effective alternative to the chem. Governmental controls force poor people to seek a prescription from a doctor, who might easily be reluctant to grant one -- because of concern about governmental monitoring. Not everyone has insurance that covers doctor visits and prescriptions. If they have access to doctors, that doesn't mean they have access to one who understands the problems associated with severe sinus conditions.
Go here for an up-to-date article on Sudafed.
Do your friends and your friends' kids a favor, and post one or more Funny Stuff links on social media.
Discussed are
Benadryl and similar chems
Robitussin and the like
Loperamide
Sudafed, decongestants
NR1
Benadryl and similar chemsBenadryl is an antihistamine that is useful in controlling certain allergic reactions. The active ingredient (diphenhydramine hydrochloride) is also found in the over-the-counter sleep aids Sominex, Unisom and Nytol because it makes you drowsy.
Benadryl is among the top 10 chems tied to overdose deaths, it has been reported.
Some people take far more than the proper dosage in order to experience a druggie high -- even to the point of hallucinations.
That's a pretty risky proposition, since to obtain such effects, the amount needs to be close to lethal. Some youngsters, seeking hallucinations, have killed themselves by swallowing too many of the pills.
NR2
Possible effects:
Drowsiness or fatigueIt gets worse:
Restlessness
Confusion
Anxiety
Mood swings
Depression
Nightmares
Poor coordination
Loss of appetite
Physical weakness
Chest tightness
Headache
Gastric problems
Impaired memory and thinkingAnd, over time, physical problems may become even worse and longer-lasting, with a heightened risk of permanent brain problems (dementia).
Rapid heartbeat
Seizures
Low blood pressure
Blurred vision
Poor coordination
Difficulty urinating
Liver problems
Addiction to Benadryl happens.
NR3
Fab Four: Twist and Shout.Johnny: The Rockin' Pneumonia and then Boogie Woogie Flu
Robitussin
DXM is the chemical found in Robitussin and numerous other cough suppressants. These meds come in lquid, pill and capsule form.
Some of these meds also contain antihistamines and decongestants. People seeking a robo-high frequently are also on something else, like alcohol or marijuana. Some people inject the stuff in order to get more of a bang. Unwise. You may end up bang! dead.
Imodium
Loperamide is the chemical found in Immodium and a number of other diahrrea control medicines.
How much of a problem is loperamide misuse? Hard to say. People who swallow a lot of it are seeking a hallucinogenic high. People taking opioids or opiates may swallow Immodium hoping to amplify the opioid effect. This mix can bring on serious opioid withdrawal problems. (Please see the page on Downers.)
Sudafed
Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a sinus and nasal decongestant found in Sudafed and several other cold medicines that can be used by drug dealers to make methamphetamine.
For this reason, products containing pseudoephedrine are sold "behind the counter" nationwide. A prescription is not needed in most states. Some states limit how much you can buy in a month or year without a prescription. In some states, only people 18 years of age or older can buy the medicine.
The chem makes the average person feel jittery, perhaps quite jittery. But for those with severe sinus problems, that effect is outweighed by the relief.
As with any other med, it's possible to overdose. Adults who take more than four 30 milligram pills or two 60 milligram pills are exceeding the maximum recommended dosage. Cut that max in half for kids aged 6 to 12.
Prolonged use, experts warn, may lead to a decrease in effectiveness, perhaps prompting some sufferers to begin taking risky amounts. (That effect happens with a lot of chems, including alcohol.)
NR4
If you take much too much, the jittery effect may vanish and be replaced by drowsiness -- caused by your nervous system slowing down. A few people end up with heart damage, or dead.More commonly, an excessive amount leads to symptoms like these:
HeadacheSuch symptoms don't necessarily lead to serious consequences. But they can, especially if you have some health problem or other.
Dizziness
Anxiety
A giddy sense of well-being
Tinnitus
Blurred vision
Ataxia
Chest pain
Pounding heart
Heart flutters
Up or down blood pressure changes
Thirst
Sweating
Difficulty urinating
Nausea and vomiting
Kids given Sudafed may get dry mouth, wide and rigid pupils, hot flushes, fever, and have problems with their digestive tracts. A few people who take too much may have hallucinations, indicating a need for emergency medical attention.
NR5
Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a drug with a long history of medical use. it is helpful in treating symptoms of the common cold and flu, sinusitis, asthma and bronchitis. Aside from those uses, some people take it as a diet pill, since stimulants in general tend to suppress appetite. Some use it as a poor man's Adderall: to help them concentrate. And some use it as a sports doping agent in order to give them a bit of a competitive edge when endurance counts (though there isn't much evidence that performance is really enhanced). Such non-medical uses are frowned on by some. But there isn't much evidence of a widespread health problem that can be attributed to this med.
People with chronic severe sinus problems often have no effective alternative to the chem. Governmental controls force poor people to seek a prescription from a doctor, who might easily be reluctant to grant one -- because of concern about governmental monitoring. Not everyone has insurance that covers doctor visits and prescriptions. If they have access to doctors, that doesn't mean they have access to one who understands the problems associated with severe sinus conditions.
Go here for an up-to-date article on Sudafed.
NR6
The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.
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Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.
The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.
Go to NEXT page.
Find table of content for Funny Stuff Funnies at this link.
The Lunapic image editor contributed greatly to this booklet's pictorial enhancement. Other image editors used were Palette and Petalica.
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