Dextromethorphan/DM
 

I have decided to post about this because I have been using it for over a week 24/7... I came down with a severe bronchitis and had to stop the endless coughing.

The last time I was sick with a virus a few years ago, I had terrible burning. (for 3 days). So I was waiting for the burning this time, but it never happened. I had a high fever one day, and low fever for 2 more, and endless endless terrible coughing.

I've been taking guaifenesin with DM all the time, and I have to say, my feet are feeling almost normal! I had a terrible pain flare around New Year's from some Chinese food that must have slipped me MSG. That is not only GONE, but the other minor discomforts I have typically in my feet are gone also.

Dextromethorphan is the dextro isomer of the narcotic levorphanol, which is a CII narcotic for pain.
DM is over the counter, but carefully sold now because kids are using it to create a high (called a dissociative high) and abuse it.
But you can still find it. Robitussin DM, Delsym, Mucinex DM. etc and some generics are in many stores.

Nide44 (Bob) here has tried high dose DM with a doctor's care.
I think it was at least 100mg/cap..made for that study.
If I remember correctly, it did not work for him.
The OTC doses are 10mg in 5ml of Robitussin DM, 30mg in 12 hr Delsym/5ml dose, or 30mg in 12 hr long acting Mucinex DM, or 20mg in generic guaifenesin DM tablets (which I am using).

DM is a NMDA antagonist, and works on those pain receptors.
So it does have a minor effect on pain.

I just can't recall ever using so much of it for my coughing before. My cat actually had this sneezing/coughing a couple of days before it started on me. She sneezed once in my face in fact. So I don't know exactly what virus I have...I don't think it is the "flu"...and I have no infection...just endless phlegm.
It has been a week now, and my feet are totally, normal at night. So I am going to continue with the DM and see if it continues to reduce my minor burning/pain issues.

Usually when I get sick, my feet hurt MORE, not LESS. So I am thinking it is the DM. I only took pain relievers for 3 days, Aleve liquigels alternating with Tylenol every 4 hours. That was for the fever. I haven't used any for several days now. So it is not them working on me.

Here is a Wiki article about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextromethorphan

Notice you CANNOT use DM safely if you use SSRI antidepressants, and this includes Cymbalta. It also has a warning with MAO inhibitors.

Interesting. I have a friend with fibromyalgia and DM is one of the OTC's they think has some potential for pain relief.

Check the PD forum MrsD, some have been using it daily for years.

yes,
 

The PD patients claim small doses (smaller than I am using) work on PD too to lessen progression.

Thanks for the reminder.

(I am averaging about 80mg per 24hr period now).

Some stores do not sell this, or it might be behind the counter. I know that
Costco stopped carrying the generic and previously to that, you had to show
driver's license to purchase in my state.
I found 60 tablets of generic called Mucus Relief Cough at WalMart, for $7.99.
This will last 2 weeks at the dose I am taking now.
Mucinex and Delsym are quite expensive.

I am planning on using this for a month. Then I will slowly taper to the lowest dose
that seems to work for me. It is so nice to be able to keep my feet under the covers!
And it seems to remove some of my leg pain, which still plagues me.

I have also started Melatonin, but that was before I acquired this cough. Because melatonin does work on NMDA receptors as well, as zinc and magnesium, I think there may be an additive function.
http://www.ionchannels.org/showabstr...ium+NMDA+block
I missed some melatonin doses though at the beginning of this illness, I was too sick to
take many of my supplements. So I don't know how much it is contributing. I am using the melatonin because of new research showing it helps keep blood sugar down.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/132138.php
Since I do have some wakening sleep issues, I thought it might help with my
insulin resistance.

Thanks for the information about the product at Walmart. I know what she had been paying was a lot more!

It was I.V. high dose on a one day trial at the pain mgmt clinic @ Johns Hopkins - don't remember (not in my notes, anyway) exactly what the mgs were.
I got fairly high (memories of college days), but the pain was still there..

My daughter, one of them, is severely allergic to Dextromethorphan. She has an anaphylactic type reaction to it. It was so bad it was thought she had asthma. Severe asthma. The thing of it was...the only time she had an attack was after she was given Robitussin DM which the doctors kept saying was safe to give. She's not had an attack since her last dose of Dex. which was a very long time ago.

It sure would be nice if this works...I may have to get some just to try it out. I haven't kept it in the house since way back when but it would be ok to have it here now.

Though I have a lot less pain the burning can still be an issue and if I could find something OTC that works that would be great!