Young people have recently begun engaging in an unhealthy trend by mixing herbal cough medicines and energy drinks together, which can quickly lead to dependency and addiction.
Caffeine is an inherently stimulating component found in coffee, tea and certain soft drinks like cola; it is also present in over-the-counter medications.
Caffeine
Caffeine, a naturally-occurring stimulant found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans, guarana berries and yerba mate can act as a central nervous system stimulant to increase alertness, heart rate, blood pressure and concentration while decreasing fatigue and delaying sleep onset. Caffeine is often included in over-the-counter pain relievers, cold medications and energy drinks but synthetic versions can be made for foods, beverages and tablets.
As long as caffeine use is limited to short periods, most healthy adults are likely safe consuming up to 400 mg a day (four cups of coffee). Higher dosages could cause nervousness, anxiety and difficulty sleeping in larger doses; larger amounts could even increase risk factors such as tremors and irregular heartbeat, while potentially raising blood pressure levels further.
One cup of coffee typically contains 75-200 mg, while a single serving of chocolate contains 20-30 mg. Some energy drinks contain as much as 500 mg of caffeine; additional ingredients may include taurine or guarana extract. Products containing highly concentrated or pure forms of caffeine could pose risks by accidentally inducing overdosage.
Some individuals are sensitive to caffeine and may experience side effects like stomach upset and nervousness, while more serious reactions could include vomiting, diarrhea or an itchy rash covering all or parts of their bodies accompanied by feelings of weakness, confusion or muscle twitching.
If you tend to experience such reactions, you should avoid products containing caffeine such as over-the-counter cough syrups. Although these medicines don’t typically contain opioids like codeine, they still possess strong effects which could potentially become addictive when misused. Furthermore, many of these medicines contain additional ingredients which could make you queasy and have adverse impacts on heart rhythm.
Caffeine should be avoided by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding as it can pass through the placenta to their unborn baby and interfere with its proper development. Caffeine can also worsen migraines and other chronic headaches by activating trigger points that lead to more frequent or severe symptoms; in addition, caffeine interacts with several prescription and nonprescription drugs including antidepressants, clonidine diuretics heart drugs and antidiabetic agents causing adverse interactions.
Dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan (DXM or “crank”) is a cough suppressant found in many OTC cold and flu medications, often taken correctly it produces few side effects; however it can be misused to produce hallucinations and feelings of euphoria when taken at high doses resulting in hallucinations or feelings of euphoria in high dosage amounts, leading to hallucinations known as DXM “crank.” Misusing cough syrups that contain dextromethorphan can result in dangerous heart or lung issues.
DXM works by blocking the NMDA receptor in the brain. Additionally, it acts as an nonselective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and an agonist of the Sigma-1 receptor, creating mechanisms which may result in psychological dependence when taken recreationally as well as dissociative symptoms that include changes to senses, movement and mood that disrupt sleep and consciousness. If taken more severely a person may even experience psychosis.
Dextromethorphan can lead to serious adverse side effects, including liver damage and respiratory failure. Furthermore, alcohol may intensify some of these side effects as well as interfere with how well this medicine works. To protect yourself and the safety of others taking dextromethorphan medication it is also wise to avoid drinking alcohol while on this regimen. Alcohol may increase side effects while also interfering with how well this medicine functions.
Dextromethorphan-containing over-the-counter cough medicines should never be given to infants and children under 4 years old as these products could potentially lead to serious or life-threatening side effects in these children. Furthermore, other medications which increase risk, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, some antipsychotics and sedatives should not be combined with cough medicine as this increases adverse reaction risk significantly.
Dextromethorphan should always be taken in conjunction with other medicines you take, and you should carefully read all label information about any other products you take containing dextromethorphan such as analgesics such as acetaminophen or decongestants that contain other ingredients not listed on their labels. These products could contain harmful effects that were never listed; always read through and follow all label instructions when purchasing anything new.
Teenagers are most likely to use over-the-counter cough medicines containing dextromethorphan as a form of recreational drug use, often mixing it with stimulants or other substances such as prescription painkillers for maximum effects. Such combinations can be especially hazardous as many of their components remain unknown and untested – potentially making it very dangerous indeed for adolescents.
Lean
Lean is an intoxicating combination of cough syrup, soda and candy that can have serious health repercussions. Teenagers frequently abuse it due to peer pressure or their desire to feel good; unfortunately there are ways that can help them kick this dangerous habit.
Codeine, an opioid drug, is one of the core ingredients in lean. While its side effects include respiratory depression and drowsiness, codeine can interact with other drugs to increase their effect – making possession illegal without an official medical prescription. Furthermore, another key component in lean is promethazine; an antihistamine that interacts with opioids to strengthen their effectiveness further – potentially leading to severe respiratory depression or even stopping breathing altogether.
People who abuse lean often combine it with other ingredients in order to enhance its strength, such as adding ecstasy or cocaine – substances which are both dangerous substances capable of leading to heart attacks and stroke. Furthermore, mixing codeine with alcohol can also be deadly as alcohol decreases its effectiveness, creating a sedative effect which could prove deadly.
While young adults can experience the high of lean for an occasional thrill, many become dependent upon it over time due to needing more and more cough syrup to achieve the same effects – then suffering withdrawal symptoms which can be very painful.
Drug detox and therapy can both provide effective solutions to lean addiction, though detox is only the initial step of treatment. Extended care at a rehab center is key in order to overcome your addiction and build a new life for yourself; additionally, seeking support from peers who have gone through similar circumstances as you is another great way of finding help online or social media networks.
Energy drinks
Energy drinks have quickly become one of the fastest-growing segments of the beverage industry and promise both physical and mental stimulation. Energy drinks typically contain five times more caffeine than soda as well as other ingredients like sugar, guarana, taurine, riboflavin, pyridoxine and herbal extracts – these drinks may even claim to provide health benefits like increased alertness in sleepy people, enhanced driving performance when fatigued, reduced night worker fatigue and better alertness at work! Studies indicate these drinks improve alertness and attention in sleepy people as well as increased alertness/attention in sleepy people, increased driving performance when fatigued while night workers reported reduced fatigue from night workers – although these beverages do not hydrate their bodies and may contain too many calories!
As well as stimulants, these beverages often include additives like ginseng and creatine that claim to help prevent and treat illnesses such as high blood pressure or heart attacks – however experts caution against their claims because there is not sufficient scientific evidence supporting them.
The FDA advises adults not to exceed 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, which is approximately equivalent to four cups of coffee. But due to varying caffeine contents in drinks consumed over short periods, many may exceed this recommendation by downing multiple beverages within minutes.
Some individuals become addicted to energy drinks, which can become problematic over time. It’s essential that regular consumers reduce their consumption over time while prioritizing improving sleep and eating healthier food instead.
Too much consumption of certain beverages, when mixed with alcohol, can be dangerous. Research shows that when combined together they may mask its intoxicating effects and lead to binge drinking, unprotected sexual encounters and dangerous driving behavior.
Although there are no official guidelines regulating energy drinks for daily consumption, doctors and dietitians agree that children and teenagers should avoid them due to their caffeine content, which can harm young bodies; additional ingredients found in some energy drinks have also been linked with health conditions like liver disease or digestive distress.
Consumption of these beverages in excess can have adverse side effects, including rapid heartbeat and difficulty sleeping. Furthermore, some ingredients present can be toxic when consumed for extended periods.
