A Table of Medication Risks
It is possible to be addicted to anxiolytics such as Ativan, Valium or Xanax, or any benzodiazepine, including Rohypnol. Barbiturates can be addictive, as can the codeine found in many painkillers, cough mixtures (which can also contain alcohol) and nasal decongestants. Ephedrine (amphetamines), caffeine and other stimulants sold in weight-loss products – often as ‘natural’ supplements – is also potentially addictive.
Use the following table to find out more about the risks carried by medications that you can get without a prescription.
| Medication | Mood Altering | Potential | Safe Medication |
| Classification | Ingredient to Avoid | Risk | List |
| Allergy / Decongestants (Systemic) | Brompheniramine | Dimetane®, Dimetap® | Travist-1® (Clemastine Fumarate) Claritin® (Loratadine) Clarinex® (Desloratadine) Allegra® (Fexofenadine) Zyrtec® (Cetinzine) |
| Chlorpheniramine | Chlor-Trimeton® Efidac®, Teldrin® | ||
| Dexchlorpheniramine | Polaramine-RX® | ||
| Diphenhydramine | Benadryl® Benylin Cough® | ||
| Triprolidine | Actifed® | ||
| Cyproheptadine | Perictin-RX® | ||
| Phenylephrine | AH-Chew D®, Entex LA® Nalex-A®, Prolex-D® Sinutuss DM® Tussafed-EX® | Potential Risk Allegra D® Claritin D® Zytrec D® (contains pseudoephedrine) |
|
| Promethazine | Phenergan-RX® | ||
| Pseudoephedrine | Sudafed®, Novafed, Profen | ||
| Anorexiants, Stimulants, and Weight Control | Amphetamine Salts | Adderall®, Dexedrine® | |
| Benzphetamine HCl | Didrex® | RX | |
| Caffeine | Red Dog®, Rip Tide®, Others | Xenical® (Orlistat) | |
| Diethylpropion HCl | Tenuate®, Tepanilz® | ||
| Ephedrine, Ephedra, Ma Haung | Metabolife®, Metobolite® | ||
| Modafinil | Provigil® | ||
| Methylphenidate | Concerta®, Metadate® Methylin®, Methylphenidate | ||
| Nicotine | Tobacco products Nicorette®, Nicoderm® | ||
| Pemoline | Cylert® | ||
| Phendimetrazine Tartate | Bontril PDM®, Anorex® Melfiat-105®, Prelu-2® | Diet Ayds® (candy) Slim-Mint® (gum) Slim Fast®, Slender® | |
| Phentermine HCl | Fastin®, Adipex-P® Ionamin®, Obephen® | ||
| Medication | Mood Altering | Potential | Safe Medication |
| Classification | Ingredient to Avoid | Risk | List |
| Analgesics (pain relief) | Hydromorphone HCl | Dilaudid® | OTC |
| Levorphanol Tartate | Levo-Dromoran® | Advil®, Aleve®, Asprin® | |
| Methadone HCl | Dolophine® | Bufferin®, Tylenol® | |
| Meperidine HCl | Demerol® Mepergan Fortis® | RX | |
| Morphine Sulfate | Avinza®, Duramorph® MS Contin®, MSIR® Roxanol® | Disalcid®, Salflex® Dolobid®, Trilisate® | |
| Opium | Paregoric® | Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory AgentsAnaprox®, Ansaid® Arthrotec®, Bextra® Cataflam®, Celebrex® Clinoril®, Daypro® Feldene®, Indocin® Lodine®, Meclomen® Mobic®, Motrin® Nalfon®, Naprelan® Naprosyn®, Orudis® Oruvail®, Ponstel® Relafen®, Tolectin® Toradon®, Vioxx® Voltaten® | |
| Alfentanil HCl | Alfenta® | ||
| Fentanyl | Sublimaze® Duragesic® | ||
| Oxymorphone HCl | Numorphan® | ||
| Propoxyphene | Wygesic®, Darvon® Darvocet® | ||
| Sufentanil Citrate | Sufenta® | ||
| Hydrocodone Bitartrate | Anexsia®, Bancap® Hycodan®, Hydrocet® Lorcet®, Lorcet-HD® Lortab®, Maxidone® Norco®, Vicodin® Vicoprofen®, Zydone® | ||
| Methotrimeprazine | Levoprome® | ||
| Malbuphine HCl | Nubain® | ||
| Pentazocine | Talwin NX®, Talacen® | ||
| Tramadol HCl | Ultram®, Ultracet® | ||
| Carisoprodol | Soma, Soma Compound with Codeine | Dantrium®, Flexeril® Lioresal®, Robaxin® Skelaxin® | |
| Levomethadyl | ORLAAM® | ||
| Buprenorphoine HCl | Buprenex® | Imitrex® (migraines) Zomig® (migraines) | |
| Codeine | Empirin #3, 4® Fiorcet w/ codeine® Fiorinal w/ codeine® | ||
| Analgesics with Barbiturates | Esgic®, Fioricet® Triad®, Phrenilin® Axocet®, Bucet® Fiorinal®, Axotal | ||
| Butorphanol Tartrate | Stadol® | ||
| Caffeine | Vanquish®, Excedrin® Goody’s Powder®, Midol®, BC Powder® Cope® | ||
| Dihydrocodeine Bitrtrate | DHC Plus® Caps Panlor SS® Synalgos-DC® Caps | ||
| Oxycodone HCl | Oxcotin®, Oxyir® Percodan®, Percocet® Roxicet®, Tylox® | ||
| Medication | Mood Altering | Potential | Safe Medication |
| Classification | Ingredient to Avoid | Risk | List |
| Asthma Medication | Ephedrine | Primatene® Tablets | RX |
| Epinephrine | Primatene® Mist | Advair®, Alupent® Brethine®, Combivent® Duoneb®, Maxair® Proventil, Pulimart® Qvar®, Vanceril® Volmax® | |
| Cough / Cold (Preparation) | Codeine | Ambenyl®, Brontex® Hovahistine DH® Nucofed®, Phenegran with Codeine Robitussin AC® | OTC (Guaifenesin) Naldecon Senior EX® Organidin NR® Robitussin® Plain Breonesin® Capsule |
| Dextromethorphan | Benylin®, Delsym® Dimetap Cough® Comtrex®, Contac® Duratuss® plain or DM Nyquil® Novihistine DMX® Novafed® Profen® Robitussin DM® Vicks Formula 44D® | ||
| Hydrocodone Compound | Hycodan® Tabs & syrup Hycomine® | RX (Guaifensin) Organidin NR® Duratuss G® Fenesin Tablets® Humibid LA® (Benzonatate-sofgels) Tessolon Perles® |
|
| Hydrocodone Syrup (Multiple generics and trade names) | Anaplex HD® Bitartrate/Guaifensin syrup, Duratuss HD® Hycotuss® Hycotuss® Expectorant Hydrocodone Protuss/ProtussD Vicodan Tuss® Expectorant, Others | ||
| Diarrhea | Alcohol | Imodium A-D Liquid® Paregoric®, Pepto Diarrhea Control® | Diasorb® Donnagel® Tabs Kaopectate® Kaopetolin®, Kaodene® Lactinex® Imodium® A-D capsules/tablets Pepto-Bismol® Rheaban® |
| Diphenozylate HCL Atropine Sulfate | Lomotil®, Logen® Lonox® | ||
| Tincture of Opium | Donnagel Liquid® | ||
| Mouthwash / Mouthcare Dental Hygiene | Alcohol | Advance Formula N’Ice® Throat Spray, Cepacol® Cheracol Sore Throat Spray®, Listerine® Listermint®, Peridex® Perioguard®, Plax® Scope® Sucretes® Spray | Cepastar® Chloraseptic Gly-Oxide® Halls® Lozenges Mycinette® N’Ice® Lozenges Orajel® Perioseptic Sucrets® Lozenges Vicks® Cough Drops Vicks® Throat Discs |
| Medication | Mood Altering | Potential | Safe Medication |
| Classification | Ingredient to Avoid | Risk | List |
| Sedatives / Antianxiety Agents | Meprobamate | Equanil®, Miltown® Meprospan® | RX Adapine®, Buspar® (Buspirone HCL) Desyrel® (Trazadone) Elavil®, Mellaril®, Paxil® Seroquel®, Sinequan® Thorazine®, Trilafon® |
| Benxodiazepines: | Benxodiazepines: | ||
| Alprazolam | Xanaz® | ||
| Chlordiazepoxide | Librium®, Libritabs® Librax® | ||
| Clonazepam | Klonopin® | ||
| Clorazepate | Tranxene® | ||
| Dipotassium | Gen-Xene® | ||
| Diazepam | Valium®, Valrelease® Dizax® | OTC Warm Milk |
|
| Etazolam | ProSom® | ||
| Flurazepam | Dalmane® | ||
| Halazepam | Paxipam® | ||
| Lorazepam | Ativan® | ||
| Oxazepam | Serax® | ||
| Quazepam | Doral® | ||
| Temazepam | Restoril® | ||
| Tiazolam | Halcion® | ||
| Non-Benzodiazepines: | Non-Benzodiazepines: | ||
| Chlormezanone | Trancopal® | ||
| Doxepin HCl | Sinequan®, Adapin® | ||
| Hydroxyzine HCl | Vistaril/generic | ||
| Hydroxyzine Pameate | Atarax/generic | ||
| Chloral Hydrate | Chloral Hydrate | ||
| Ethchlorvynol | Placidyl® | ||
| Glutethimide | Doriden® | ||
| Paraldehyde | Paral® | ||
| Zaleplon | Sonata | ||
| Zolpidem Tartrate | Ambien® | ||
| Barbiturates: | Barbiturates: | ||
| Amobarbital/Secobarbital Combinations | Tuinal Pulvules® | ||
| Amobarbital Sodium | Amytal Sodiumn® | ||
| Aprobarbital | Alurate® | ||
| Butabarbitual Sodium | Butisol Sodium® | ||
| Mephobarbital | Mebaral® | ||
| Pentobarbital Sodium | Nembutal Sodium® | ||
| Phenobarbital | Solfoton®, Luminal® | ||
| Secobarbital | Seconal Sodium® | ||
| OTC: Benadryl®, Compoz® Dormin® Extra-Strength Tylenol PM®, Excedrin PM® Legatrin PM®, Nervine® Nighttime Pamprin® Nytol®, Sleep-eze® Sominex®, Twilite® Unisom® | OTC: Doxylamine Succinate |
||
| Medication | Mood Altering | Potential | Safe Medication |
| Classification | Ingredient to Avoid | Risk | List |
| Nasal Decongestant Sprays | Ephedrine | Pretz-D® | OTC |
| Epinephrine HCL | Adrenaline Chloride Solution | Ayr Saline®, Humist® Ocean®, NaSal® Salinex® | |
| L-Desoxyephedrine | Vicks® Inhaler | ||
| Naphozoline HCl | Privine® | ||
| Oxymetazdine HCl | Afrin®, Allerest® Dristan®, Duration® 4-Way®, Sinarest® | RX Aerobid®, Astelin® Attovert®, Azmacort® Beconase®, Flonase® Nasacort®, Nasalcrom® Nasalide®, Nasarel® Nasonex®, Rhinocort® Vancanase® |
|
| Phenylephrine HCl | Neo-Synephrine® Sinex®, Alconefin® Nostril® | ||
| Propylhexedrine | Denzedrex® | ||
| Tetrahydrozoline HCl | Tyzine® | ||
| Xylometazolline HCl | Otrivin® | ||
| Nausea (Anti-emetic / Anti-vertigo Agents) | Cyclizine | Marezine® | OTC |
| Chlorpromazine Buclizine HCl | Bucladen® | Emetrol®, Emecheck® Pepto-Bismol®, Nausetrol® | |
| Dimehydrinate | Dramamine®, Triptone® Vertab® | ||
| Diphenhydramine | Benadryl® | RX | |
| Diphenidol | Vontrol® | Anzemet®, Compazine® Kytril®, Metoclopramide: Reglan®, Maxolon® Octamide®, Norzine® Thorazine®, Tigen® (trimethobenzamide HCl) Torecan®, Trilafon® Zofran® | |
| Dronabinol | Marinol® | ||
| Meclizine | Antivert®, Bonine® Dramamine®, Vergon® | ||
| Promethazine | Phenegran® Tablets | ||
| Scopolamine Transdermal | Transderm-Scop® |
