RECREATIONAL USE OF POPULAR OTC DRUGS –
PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW
PIOTR JAKUBOWSKI *, PUCHAŁA ŁUKASZ, GRZEGORZEWSKI WALDEMAR
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
Aleja Warszawska 30, 11-041 Olsztyn, Poland
*corresponding author: piotr.jakubowski@uwm.edu.pl
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Abstract:
Over-the-counter medicines use disorder is a serious and growing health problem affecting mainly adolescents. Drugs from
many therapeutic classes, including antitussive agents such as dextromethorphan and codeine, antihistamine drugs
diphenhydramine and dimenhydrinate, nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine and anti-inflammatory drug benzydamine are
used for this purpose. Habitual users of most of these drugs can develop symptoms of substance dependence. When used in
large quantities, these drugs can cause numerous toxic effects, including death. Recently many countries introduced legal
restrictions in codeine, dextromethorphan and pseudoephedrine sales.






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