I think the most important thing to look for in the DM-containing cough preparation is that it contain no additional active ingredient such as guafinesin or polistirex. Also, try to get a pediatric preparation with no more than 7.5 mg / 5 ml (5 ml is one tsp). This makes the small dose of 4-8 mg easier to measure. I prefer the "Simply Cough" which contains 5 mg / ml, but have not been able to find it recently.

The polystirex causes the DM to be slowly released over a period of several hours, and it is apparently important that the small dose "hit" the brain all at once in that critical time a couple of hours before the nightime sleep period when your body normally produces your natural endorphins. Polystirex will prevent this.

Guafinesin is a decongestant, but at the small amount taken probably has little or no effect.

Robert

this is OT to this thread...but another member has been looking for scott and his wife. me included. i used to go to chit chat at mgh and bt with scott and c. please say hello from us. we would love to hear from them.


carry on white rats.

Sorry but there is a problem. Monitor your blood pressure. I just got a reading of 175/105. Not good since I usually run about 140/90.

I'll watch it and let you know. It may vary from person to person too.

Are Amantadine, Sinemet (generic), or Mirapex ok to take with dextromethorphan? Or are they MAO inhibitors?

Ann

The most common MAO inhibitors prescribed for PD are Eldepryl (selegiline) and Azilect (rasagiline). Several other MAOIs may be prescribed for a variety of other medical conditions. To be sure, check with your pharmacist about other meds you may be taking.

I left Amantadine off. It is not a MAOI either.

This is what I found, but claims hypertension is a side effect of a 250-1000 mg dose..My BP runs on average about the same as yours, but havent checked mine lately..I have doubts that 5-8 mg would elevate BP

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/inju...methorphan.htm

Side Effect Profile: Adverse effects with recommended antitussive doses are rare. However, nausea, other gastrointestinal disturbances, slight drowsiness and dizziness can occur. Following acute doses of between 250-1500 mg, the following clinical and overdose symptoms have been reported: excitation, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, nystagmus, dilated pupils, body itching, rash, ataxia, sweating, hot/cold flashes, fever, hypertension, shallow respiration, urinary retention, diarrhea, opisthotonos (spasm where head and heels are bent back, and torso is bent forward), toxic psychosis (hyperactivity, marked visual and auditory hallucinations), coma, and an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. Side effects can be serious if very large doses of the combined preparations are ingested; for example, guaifenesin and dextromethorphan can cause severe nausea and vomiting; chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan can cause seizure, loss of consciousness and bleeding.

..that it may be an interaction with something else and I'll investigate further. Otherwise I've been impressed with the DM. Also, I do have high BP anyway and am on meds for that, so there may be a factor.

Even with all that, I have awakened at 5:00 AM. taken my meds, and am "on" at just 5:30. Usually there is an hour of thumb twiddling for me in the initial wait.

but guaifenesin is NOT a decongestant. It is a mucolytic, and does not raise blood pressure. It may cause nausea however. It is often COMBINED with decongestants, so read labels carefully. Guaifenesin is typically used in heart patients and those with hypertension and is safe in that respect.

Also pediatric products contain mixtures of things as a rule, or are also long acting now.
Here is Robitussins new line:
http://www.robitussin.com/formula/index.asp
Robitussin maximum is no longer on the website...but it is still on Drugstore.com:
http://www.drugstore.com/products/pr...-PLST-0-SEARCH
This does not have guaifenesin in it.

DM interacts with SSRIs too. I posted that earlier in this thread. Not commonly but it does happen. I would expect it at higher doses of both drugs, and/or in slow metabolizers. People with abnormally high levels of serotonin physiologically would be at risk also, these include hidden tumors secreting biogenic amines (lung cancer) or undiagnosed carcinoid syndrome (often hidden and hard to diagnose).

But basically DM is easy to tolerate for most people.

After research, reading the posts about good results others have had taking dextromethorphan, and finding a pediatric dose with no alcohol or other active ingredients, I took one/half teaspoon of Robitussin pediatric cough syrup before bedtime. I almost immediately felt a little queasy and one hour later was awake with a dry eye feeling and a rapid, rapid heartbeat. I tried to keep calm, but I kept thinking, "What the heck is this?" This morning I awoke feeling stiffer than ever. Everyone's PD is different, and I guess this medicine is not for me.

Ann

I tried something different last night..actually by accident..I usually take my last dose of Sinamet for the day at 7:00 pm, and I didnt remember to take it untill 11:30..I took the DM at 12:30, and am having a real good day today, all except for some weakness in my right wrist and forearm