Hi all,

My daughters doctor has recommended dextromethorphan for pain, is anyone taking this? She said that they use it in Europe. My pharmacist said that he knows of some people that take it for pain. Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

Sandy

My fiancee who is NOT at Dr but does have a PHD in chemistry has had me taking dextromethorphan (robitussin) along with Aleve for pain. He said it's something about the way they bind together that makes the actual pain meds work better, in his word's (like a poor man's ketamine). I can't say whether there's truly anything to it or not and I've had to stop Aleve with my combo of Toradool DUragesic patches, etc but I still take robitussin capsules twice a day just in case it is helping.

Dextromethorphan is a weak NMDA pain receptor blocker.

It has studies on PubMed for use for post operative pain in high dose. One of our PN posters was offered a trial of this at Johns Hopkins, and it did not work for him.

However, I have used it for my foot pain, and typically take one
Mucus cough DM tablet at bedtime for my sinus congestion, and the DM helps my feet some. (this is generic Humibid LA DM and available at WalMart.) It is somewhat less expensive than the liquid.

I don't think it is very good however, for severe chronic pain.

The PD forum here uses it in small amounts for their dystonic movements. If you search at Parkinson's you will find many posts about it.

Delsym cough syrup is plain DM with no other ingredients.

The FDA is looking at DM products, and may start to control them more tightly, since abuse with them is common by the younger set. Expect to show your driver's license when you buy it at the register. WalMart doesn't check us, since we are gray and obviously OLD. But Target DOES.

I personally like DM... but it is not as strong as tramadol for me for pain.

I tried the Delsym DM but couldn't stand the taste of it so now take a generic rubitussin capsule that works the same. I do take it in addition to Tramadol and all of the other pain meds I have mentioned. I'd certainly never give the other pain pills up but I do think it has merit as an adjunct.

Hi Mrs. D...

The doctor is going to write a script, they come in pill form that can be compounded. I have my pharmacist looking into it, he has a compounding lab. It will be interesting to see what he comes back with. I did research it a little, but it is mostly used for Fibro and CFS. I was surprised. I will keep you posted when I hear from my pharmacist. Thank you again for the information.

Sandy

Many of the trials used IV form.

When you get up there in dose, there are side effects.

Dizziness is the most common. It is absorbed well orally however.

If you go thru that process of compounding...see if you can get a sustained action form while you are at it. That would give better pain results than having to do several oral doses daily.

This study used 45mg:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19198708

Metabolic problems in dosing in a poor metabolizer patient, including interaction with amitriptyline:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18359183

Go to PubMed and type in "dextromethorphan pain" and there are 206 hits... many saying not effective. And some saying more effective in males than females. And some metabolic liver enzyme warnings.