Dextromethorphan, often shortened to DXM, is a cough suppressant used for a dry, tickly cough — the kind that produces no phlegm and often gets worse at night. It is one of the standard active ingredients in the 'dry cough' cough syrups on sale across Nigeria, including brands such as Benylin Dry Cough and Robitussin Dry Cough, as well as many combination cold-and-flu products.
In the NAFDAC register
29 registered products
from 23 registration holders
+1 more country
What it costs online
Price varies — check with a pharmacy. This drug has not yet appeared in our fortnightly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies.
Brands of Dextromethorphan in Nigeria
Those 29 products from 23 registration holders include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Kenvue | 15mg/5ml | Syrup |
 | Haleon | 10mg/5ml | Syrup |
Dextromethorphan Price in Nigeria
Dextromethorphan prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay.
We show a price here once it appears in our monthly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies (MedPlus, HealthPlus), or when we have a reliable market figure. For now, confirm the current price directly with a licensed pharmacy.
How to Verify Your Dextromethorphan is Genuine
- 1Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack — genuine cough syrups sold in Nigeria must carry a valid NAFDAC number
- 2Verify the NAFDAC number using the NAFDAC Green Book or the NAFDAC mobile app, especially for imported brands like Benylin and Robitussin
- 3Buy from licensed pharmacies and registered stores rather than roadside sellers, as cough syrups are commonly counterfeited
- 4Check the expiry date and that the seal, cap, and carton are intact and untampered
- 5Genuine syrup should be the expected colour and consistency with no unusual smell; discard anything that looks or smells wrong
- 6Avoid any cough syrup that claims to contain codeine — codeine-containing cough syrups are banned in Nigeria and illegal to sell
Where to Buy
Buying Dextromethorphan by the carton
Cartons are bought at Nigeria's four open drug markets. Each guide names the sellers there you can contact, and how to buy safely:
No shop we list has Dextromethorphan on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Dextromethorphan in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
Need Dextromethorphan in bulk, or can't find it near you?
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What is Dextromethorphan?
Dextromethorphan works on the cough centre in the brain, calming the reflex that makes you cough. This is helpful when a cough is dry and irritating and serves no useful purpose — for example, an annoying cough that keeps you awake. It is the opposite of an expectorant like guaifenesin: dextromethorphan quietens the cough, while an expectorant helps bring mucus up. Using dextromethorphan on a chesty, productive cough is not advisable, because suppressing that cough can trap mucus on the chest.
At the normal recommended doses, dextromethorphan is safe and available without a prescription. It is important to respect the dose, however: taken in large amounts far above the recommended limit, dextromethorphan can cause dangerous effects and is sometimes misused for that reason. Used sensibly and briefly for a dry cough, it is a well-established, effective medicine. As with all cough syrups in Nigeria, check for a NAFDAC registration number before buying.
What is Dextromethorphan used for?
In Nigeria, Dextromethorphan is commonly used for:
- Relieving a dry, tickly, non-productive cough
- Calming a night-time cough that interferes with sleep
- Short-term relief of an irritating cough during a cold or flu
- Symptom relief as part of combination cold-and-flu remedies
- Soothing throat-tickle coughs where there is no mucus to clear
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
For a typical 15mg/5ml syrup, the usual adult dose is 10ml (30mg) three to four times a day, or as directed on the pack; do not exceed the maximum stated on the label. Strengths differ between products, so always follow the specific product's instructions and never take more than the label allows.
Children
Doses depend on age and product strength — follow the label or a pharmacist's advice. Dextromethorphan-containing cough medicines are generally not recommended for children under 6 years, and should be used cautiously in older children. Do not give an adult cough syrup to a young child by guessing the dose.
Elderly
Standard adult doses are usually appropriate. Older adults on several medicines, particularly certain antidepressants, should check with a pharmacist before use.
Dextromethorphan is for short-term relief of a dry cough, not for a chesty cough or a cough that has lasted for weeks. Never exceed the recommended dose — taking large amounts is dangerous, not more effective. Read labels on combination products carefully; many also contain paracetamol, and doubling up on paracetamol across different medicines can cause serious harm.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Drowsiness or dizziness
- •Nausea or mild stomach upset
- •Tiredness
- •Occasionally restlessness or difficulty sleeping
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Confusion, hallucinations, agitation, or a fast heartbeat — usually only at doses far above the recommended limit
- Rash, itching, or swelling of the face, lips, or throat — possible allergic reaction; seek emergency care
- Signs of serotonin syndrome (agitation, sweating, tremor, rapid heartbeat) if taken with certain antidepressants
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if your cough lasts more than 2-3 weeks, keeps returning, or comes with a high fever, breathlessness, chest pain, or blood in the phlegm. Stop the medicine and seek urgent help if you develop swelling, difficulty breathing, confusion, or a rapid heartbeat. If a cough is chesty and bringing up phlegm, a suppressant like dextromethorphan is the wrong choice — speak to a pharmacist about an expectorant instead.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Dextromethorphan if you have:
- Do not use if you are allergic to dextromethorphan
- Do not take with, or within two weeks of stopping, MAOI antidepressants — this combination can be dangerous
- Avoid in children under 6 years unless advised by a doctor
- Do not use for a chesty, productive cough without medical advice, as suppressing it can trap mucus
- Do not exceed the recommended dose — high doses are unsafe and dextromethorphan is sometimes misused
Drug interactions
- •MAOI antidepressants — must not be combined; risk of a serious reaction
- •SSRIs and other serotonergic antidepressants — combining can raise the risk of serotonin syndrome
- •Alcohol and other sedatives increase drowsiness
- •Combination cold-and-flu products often contain paracetamol — avoid taking extra paracetamol-containing medicines at the same time
- •Some medicines that affect liver enzymes can raise dextromethorphan levels
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Dextromethorphan is best avoided in pregnancy unless clearly necessary, particularly in the first trimester, and only after advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Non-drug measures — warm fluids, honey, rest, steam inhalation — are safer first steps for a cough in pregnancy. Small amounts may pass into breast milk; check with a pharmacist before use while breastfeeding, and prefer single-ingredient products over combinations.
Related Resources for Dextromethorphan
Guides, articles, and tools related to Dextromethorphan and other cough, cold & flu medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Dextromethorphan on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Dextromethorphan.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.