Coricidin

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).

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

See also: Recreational use of dextromethorphan

Coricidin is sometimes used in high doses as a recreational drug because it contains the dissociative dextromethorphan. In this context, Coricidin is referred to as C's, Cory (Cori), Red Devils (Red D's), Skittles, Trips^[1] , 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.^[2]

Use in popular music

Two Coricidin bottles used as guitar slides (second and third from left)

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).^[3][4]

See also

• Chlorpheniramine
• Dextromethorphan

Notes

1. ^ Henigig, Christian. 
2. ^ (PMID 7318380)
3. ^ Planet Blue Productions ....Home of The Real Bottlenecking Company and The Coricidin Slide, Accessed September 11, 2005
4. ^ Duane Allman (1946 - 1971), September 11, 2005

External links

• CoricidinHBP.com - Official website for Coricidin
• The Third Plateau: Coricidin - emphasis on the effects of abuse
• Dextroverse Article on Coricidin