Agency warns against dextromethorphan abuse

AORN Journal, August, 2005

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with health and Law enforcement agencies to warn the public about the potential harm of dextromethorphan (DXM) abuse, according to a May 20, 2005, FDA Talk Paper. Dextromethorphan is a synthetically produced ingredient found in many over-the-counter cough and cold remedies. It has gradually replaced codeine as the most widely used cough suppressant in the United States.

Although DXM generally is safe and effective when taken in recommended doses, pure DXM in powdered form is being sold by drug dealers for street use. Abuse of DXM can cause death, as well as other serious adverse events, such as brain damage, seizure, Loss of consciousness, and irregular heart beat. Additional information about the dangers of DXM abuse can be found on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration web site at http://store.health.org/ catalog/mediaDetails.aspx?ID=371 and http://www.family.samhsa.gov/ get/otcdrugs.aspx.

FDA Warns Against Abuse of Dextromethorphan (DXM) (FDA Talk Paper, Rockville, Md: US Food and Drug Administration, May 20, 2005) http://www.fda.gov/ bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2005/ANS01360.html (accessed 25 May 2005).

AORN is the premier provider of perioperative continuing education. To ensure that you are registering for an AORN event, look for the AORN name and logo. If you are not sure whether an event is sponsored by AORN, call AORN Customer service at (800) 755-2676 x 1.

AORN CONFERENCES

World Conference on Surgical Patient Care

Sept 25-29, 2005

Palau de Congressos de Catalunya Barcelona, Spain

Emergency Management: Preparing

Surgical Services for Challenge

Sept 29-Oct 1, 2005

Marriott Metro Center, Washington, DC

Laser Seminar

Oct 14, 2005

Hyatt Haborside, Boston

Advances in Clinical Practice and RNFA Trends

Oct 15-16, 2005

Hyatt Harborside, Boston

Financial Skills for Perioperative Managers

Oct 20, 2005

Palmer House Hilton, Chicago

Ambulatory Surgery: Keys to Clinical and Management Success

Oct 21-22, 2005

Palmer House Hilton, Chicago

Laser Seminar

Nov 3, 2005

Omni CNN Hotel, Atlanta

Performance Improvement and Risk Management

Nov 4, 2005

Omni CNN Hotel, Atlanta

Future Directions in Perioperative Services: Leadership, Education, Industry, Informatics

Nov 5-6, 2005

Omni CNN Hotel, Atlanta

Efficiency Tools for the Perioperative Manager: Criteria for Selection and Implementation of Information Systems and Block Time Scheduling

Nov 11, 2005

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston

Latin American Conference

Nov 11-13, 2005

Venue to be determined, Cancun, Mexico

Performance Improvement and Risk Management

Nov 12, 2005

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston

10th Conference on Infectious Diseases

Dec 6-8, 2005

Roswell, GA