Coricidin
Encyclopedia
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 chlorpheniramine maleate (an antihistamine
). Varieties of Coricidin may also contain acetaminophen (an analgesic
/antipyretic
) and guaifenesin
(an expectorant).
. In this context, Coricidin is referred to as C's, Cory (Cori), Red Devils (Red D's), Skittles, Trips , or Triple C's. Use of Coricidin for this purpose is dangerous due to the fact they contain chlorpheniramine in addition to dextromethorphan. Chlorpheniramine is an anticholinergic
that can cause very serious reactions in high doses. This may be compounded by the fact that dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine are both metabolized by CYP2D6
isozyme of Cytochrome P450. This could increase the plasma concentration of both drugs by inhibiting metabolism and increasing blood serum concentrations. Fatalities have resulted from overdoses
of chlorpheniramine.
In the late 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
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).
Schering-Plough
Schering-Plough Corporation was a United States-based pharmaceutical company. It was founded in 1851 by Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering as Schering AG in Germany. In 1971, the Schering Corporation merged with Plough to form Schering-Plough. On November 4, 2009 Merck & Co...
that contains dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan is an antitussive drug. It is one of the active ingredients in many over-the-counter cold and cough medicines, such as Robitussin, NyQuil, Dimetapp, Vicks, Coricidin, Delsym, and others, including generic labels. Dextromethorphan has also found other uses in medicine, ranging...
(a cough suppressant) and chlorpheniramine maleate (an antihistamine
Antihistamine
An H1 antagonist is a histamine antagonist of the H1 receptor that serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions...
). Varieties of Coricidin may also contain acetaminophen (an analgesic
Analgesic
An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
/antipyretic
Antipyretic
Antipyretics ; an-tee-pahy-ret-iks; from the Greek anti, against, and pyreticus, are drugs or herbs that reduce fever. Normally, they will not lower body temperature if one does not have a fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override an interleukin-induced increase in temperature...
) and guaifenesin
Guaifenesin
Guaifenesin INN or guaiphenesin , also glyceryl guaiacolate, is an expectorant drug sold over the counter and usually taken by mouth to assist the bringing up of phlegm from the airways in acute respiratory tract infections.-History:Similar medicines derived from the guaiac tree were in use as a...
(an expectorant).
Medicinal use
Coricidin is used to alleviate coughs and includes chlorpheniramine for people with high blood pressure. Other versions of Coricidin are used to reduce fever or as an expectorant.Recreational use
Coricidin is sometimes used in high doses as a recreational drug because it contains the dissociative dextromethorphanDextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan is an antitussive drug. It is one of the active ingredients in many over-the-counter cold and cough medicines, such as Robitussin, NyQuil, Dimetapp, Vicks, Coricidin, Delsym, and others, including generic labels. Dextromethorphan has also found other uses in medicine, ranging...
. In this context, Coricidin is referred to as C's, Cory (Cori), Red Devils (Red D's), Skittles, Trips , or Triple C's. Use of Coricidin for this purpose is dangerous due to the fact they contain chlorpheniramine in addition to dextromethorphan. Chlorpheniramine is an anticholinergic
Anticholinergic
An anticholinergic agent is a substance that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and the peripheral nervous system. An example of an anticholinergic is dicycloverine, and the classic example is atropine....
that can cause very serious reactions in high doses. This may be compounded by the fact that dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine are both metabolized by CYP2D6
CYP2D6
Cytochrome P450 2D6 , a member of the cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidase system, is one of the most important enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics in the body. Also, many substances are bioactivated by CYP2D6 to form their active compounds...
isozyme of Cytochrome P450. This could increase the plasma concentration of both drugs by inhibiting metabolism and increasing blood serum concentrations. Fatalities have resulted from overdoses
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
of chlorpheniramine.
Use in popular music
Duane Allman
Howard Duane Allman was an American guitarist, session musician and the primary co-founder of the southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band...
(1946–1971) of The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
began using an empty glass Coricidin bottle as a guitar slide
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
, finding it to be just the right size and shape for this purpose. Other prominent slide guitarists, such as Derek Trucks
Derek Trucks
Derek Trucks is a Grammy Award-winning, American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He founded The Derek Trucks Band and worked as a session musician when he was still in his early teens. Throughout those teenage years, he toured with The Allman Brothers Band primarily as a slide...
, Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
, and Gary Rossington
Gary Rossington
Gary Robert Rossington is a founding member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He plays lead and rhythm guitar. He is also a founding member of The Rossington-Collins Band along with former Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmate, the late Allen Collins...
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).
External links
- CoricidinHBP.com - Official website for Coricidin
- The Third Plateau: Coricidin - emphasis on the effects of abuse
- Dextroverse Article on Coricidin