strange reactions to medicine?

[fluffhead]

My 4-YO daughter has had this lingering horrible cough for over a month, so to let her get some sleep I gave her delsym (active ingredient dextromorphan) on Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and last night.

I'd noticed some erratic behavior on her part on Wednesday, and chalked it up to too much sugar on Purim (Tues.), and lack of sleep. It was very uncharacteristic of her - grabbing toys, not wanting to play with another girl...
Then her teacher told us of some strange belligerent behavior on Thursday.
Anyway, after thinking and talking the thing through together last night, we've decided that it must be the delsym! (Unfortunately I'd already dosed her when we figured this out).
We did not exceed the recommended dosage, and she was on no other medication. I guess she's just hypersensitive to the stuff.
In large quantities, it's pretty psychoactive:
http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/dxm/faq/dxm_faq.shtml

Has anybody experienced strange effects of medicines in small doses?
I know that I'm really sensitive to certain chemicals - I can't even sleep when I use topical steroids on my hands.

[DCJenn]

That's interesting, fluff. I'll ask Rick when he (finally) gets home from his 'mini' fellowship. I get really wierd on Sudafed-I hate the stuff.

Jenn

PS- There was a Purim parade here that ended at the newly refurbished synagogue. If you ever get to DC check it out. It's not being used for one congregation but as an educational/holidays/community resource. They did a nice job on the redo, too.

[Sheherezade]

No sudafed for me. I feel like my heart will explode on that stuff - and my head races from thought to thought. I get the same way with 2-3 days of caffeinated coffee drinking. I have to do a few days of decaf in order to be able to handle a pot of caf around the house. I think I have that deficient enzyme they recently described. (It is handy when you have to drive all night. A sudafed or a Starbucks and I'm good to go for 48 hours. )

We actually love delsym here, but I don't think I've ever given more than 2 doses to a kid during an illness. I love the 12 hour stuff. I hate giving medicine to my kids unless absolutely necessary.

We have never had anything like that happen. I've never used delsym before, though. I stick with the generic brand of whatever I'm going for: Wal-Tussin, Wal-fed, Wal-dryl ....