Dextromethorphan

The need-to-know information for Dextromethorphan

Dextromethorphan

Pearls and Fun Nuggets

1. Medication for the Joker?😬 In 2010, the FDA approved the combination drug dextromethorphan/quinidine for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect (uncontrollable laughing/crying).

2. If you take too much, you’ll see things 👀 At doses much higher than medically recommended, DXM and its major metabolite, dextrorphan, acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist, which produces dissociative hallucinogenic states somewhat similar to ketamine and phencyclidine.[46]

3. Be careful when taking it with grapefruit 🍇Caution should be exercised when taking dextromethorphan when drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruits, as compounds in grapefruit affect a number of drugs, including dextromethorphan, through the inhibition of the cytochrome p450 system in the liver, and can lead to excessive accumulation and prolonged effects. 

4. It’s related to Morphine 💉 It is in the morphinan class of medications with sedative, dissociative, and stimulant properties (at lower doses). In its pure form, dextromethorphan occurs as a white powder.[3]

Patient Perspectives

 “Delsym (dextromethorphan) has been remarkable for controlling a cough that has persisted since I got over bronchitis about a month ago. No side effects at all. I’m also making sure I’m staying hydrated and have stopped taking menthol cough drops (Ricola) since I read that menthol can make a cough worse. This has really helped.”

 

“I had a bad cough for about 3 weeks due to bronchitis. Delsym eased my cough a little and also made me so tired I fell asleep in spite of the throat irritation. My main complaint is that even though I took one recommended dose only at bedtime, I was half asleep all the next day. “

 

“I took Delsym for my allergies. It worked really good the first two days. But on the third day it made me feel like I was drunk or high, not really dizzy. I was disoriented and couldn’t focus and my mind was all over the place. I thought that maybe I had just not eaten enough that day or something, but after seeing the reviews I guess other people experienced this too.”

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