We bring the FAST and laughs to pharmacy.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Cough Syrup Query

We got an email question from someone wanting a good cough syrup. Unfortunately the best thing over the counter everywhere is Delsym liquid. In some states various brands of guaifenesin/codeine syrup are available by signing a registry. The catch is that chain and big box retailers will not sell them OTC even if the law allows. It reduces insurance and DEA liability to not sell without a prescription. The even better cold/cough liquids like Tussionex and Promethazine/codeine are rx only and controlled substances. Since some douche bag rapper made a song about "drank" which is prometh/codeine as a recreational beverage many physicians are reluctant to write for it. Another option is Tessalon Perles which are rx gel caps that most practitioners will have no issue with prescribing because they won't get you high but they will quiet the cough. There are cough quelling options but sometimes they are hard to come by.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

No need to wait for the drank, I had somebody get Hydocan/Hydromet. He returns 3 minutes later with a red-sticky prescription bag demanding a refill. Says he dropped it and the bottletop fell off.

As we're on the phone with the dr's office, a nurse that happen to be in the parking lot notifies us that he and his friend were chugging the bottle outside.

We washed out his bottle and sent him packing.

MDB said...

I usually end up recommending delsym or barring that the robitussin gel caps for people who don't feel like drinking the delsym.

Filet-o-bitch RPh said...

one of my students said he tried to centrifuge tussionex by tying the bottle to a high powered ceiling fan. just ended up making a giant mess but it was a great story! lol

Big 'N Tasty RPH said...

Um did the student bother to put something of equal weight at the opposite end of the fan like a real centrifuge? Stupid question because there wouldn't have been a big mess...

nurfaisyah said...

I usually like that Fast Food...but now i can learn to STOP it after read your post...so thank you

TiredRPh said...

I've started to recommend honey. Yes, straight honey. 1tbs every 2-4 hrs. I do ak if they're diabetic first. It works, no lie.

DenaliDriveThruPharmD said...

Up here in Alaska, there is only 2 pharmacys in the state that will honor the cherachol codiene registry, ports of call for tourists.

DenaliDriveThruPharmD said...

Up here in Alaska, there is only 2 pharmacys in the state that will honor the cherachol codiene registry, ports of call for tourists.