I think I recall posting this before?

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread153404.html

DM also helps with chronic pain management if used properly.

*tkrik getting ready to go get some cough syrup*

That's awesome mrsD! Who would have thought that a little cough syrup can be a neuroprotective agent. Thanks for posting this.

I've been using low dose dextrometorphan as an alternative to LDN for Parkinson's disease for more than six years of the ten years I have been diagnosed, with what I feel is good success.

I buy over-the-counter pediatric preparations (PediaCare, Triaminic, etc) that contain 7.5 mg of dextromethorphan hydrobromide per 5 ml (1 tsp). It is important that the cough syrup NOT contain any other active ingredient such as guafinesin, polystyril, antihistamines. I take 1/2 tsp every night at bedtime, which should contain 3.75 mg of the drug.

Dextromethorphan (DM) and naltrexone are both morphinans which have been shown to be powerful anti-inflammatory drugs, demonstrated by the research by Dr. J.S. Hong to be especially effective in neural tissues of the CNS. Because of the long history of safety of DM, I feel very comfortable in using this inexpensive, non-prescription drug as a neuroprotective agent.

Robert Smith

Robert - Thank you for your post. I was kind of wondering about all that and your posted answered it. I will try the kinds that you recommended. It does seem like an inexpensive and safe treatment option. I am glad to hear it is working for you for your Parkinson's.

You mention not to get ones with other active ingredients and I was just wondering why that is? The reason I ask is that I have seasonal allergies and it would be great to get a 2 for 1, so to speak, medicine - a neuroprotective and an antihistamine. Do the other ingredients reduce the neuroprotective effect?

tkrik - Because the amount of DM appropriate for the low-dose effect is so small, I doubt that you would get enough antihistamine to be effective. The usual dose of the dilute pediatric preparations for cough is a couple of teaspoons at 6-8 hr intervals; way more than used in the low-dose approach.
Some of the additives, especially polystyril, result in a slow release of the DM, which defeats the quick "peak" of the med required for the desired effect. I learned this directly from Dr. Hong who has done much of the research on suppression of CNS inflammation with morphinans like DM and naltrexone at very low doses.

I'm on LDN and loving it. I wonder what the effect would be, if I took both? Double your pleasure-double your fun or maybe one canceling out the other?

the idea of low-dose to make positive effect is to keep it "low dose". No sense adding another med that could send signals/effect completely awry. Anyone else?

my neuro just put me on Nuedexta (beyond pricey!!). Ironically it is comprised of 20mg Dextromethorphan HBr and 10mg Quinidine sulfate.

I had very good response while on the 2week sample bottle of capsules. Went to fill at pharmacy and learned you must be a millionare to afford it... Apparently there is some rule preventing the compounding of ingredients in order to make it less costly???

Have you tried this, Sally? I'm wondering if I could switch to the cough medicine instead of the LDN for a while without major impact. I guess the LDN is working. I mean, I still have lots of sx but I seem to remain steady and only get pseudo-flares when the weather changes or I'm sick. The only way to know if LDN is truly working is to stop taking it and I'm scared to do that!

Well isn't that just par for the course for Big Pharma....the turds..