Coricidin

Coricidin, Coricidin 'D' (decongestant), or CoricidinHBP (for high blood pressure), is the name of a drug marketed by Schering-Plough that contains dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) and chlorphenamine maleate (an antihistamine). Varieties of Coricidin may also contain acetaminophen (an analgesic/fever reducer) and guaifenesin (an expectorant). The drug is marketed as a remedy for the common cold, especially for people with hypertension, whose high blood pressure may worsen if they take other decongestants.

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Recreational use

Coricidin is sometimes used in high doses as a recreational drug because it contains the psychoactive drug dextromethorphan. In this context, Coricidin is referred to as C's, Corey (Cori), Red Devils (Red D's), Skittles (they are the same size and color of a red skittle) or Triple C's (the coricidin used for recreational activity has three c's on the front). Use of Coricidin for this purpose is dangerous because chlorphenamine has anticholinergic activity, which in high doses can cause serious reactions. Fatalities have resulted from overdoses of chlorphenamine.^[1] Prior to 2002, the Coricidin Cough and Cold variety contained pseudoephedrine instead of chlorphenamine, rendering the drug safer for recreational users. The majority of reported overdoses and deaths occurred after chlorphenamine was added. Some Coricidin products also contain acetaminophen, which is toxic to the liver in large doses.

Use in popular music

In the 1960s, blues-rock guitarist Duane Allman (1946-1971) of The Allman Brothers Band began using an empty glass Coricidin bottle as a guitar slide, finding it to be just the right size and shape for this purpose. Other prominent slide guitarists, such as Derek Trucks, Rory Gallagher, and Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd adopted the Coricidin bottle as well, but such bottles eventually went out of production in the early 1980s (although replicas have been produced since 1985).^[2][3]

See also

• Safety of dextromethorphan

Notes

• The Third Plateau: Coricidin - emphasis on the effects of abuse
• Coricidin Trip Report
• Dextroverse Article on Coricidin