review Dextromethorphan abuse: Clinical effects and management Frank Romanelli and Kelly M. Smith Frank Romanelli, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, is Abstract Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Pharmacy, and Kelly M. Smith, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP, is Assistant Dean and Asso- Objective: To describe the epidemiology, patient presentation, and clinical man- ciate Professor of Pharmacy, Department agement associated with dextromethorphan (DM) abuse. of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Data sources: PubMed/Medline search using terms dextromethorphan and abuse Lexington. through July 2008, bibliographies of selected publications, epidemiology tracking Correspondence: Frank Romanelli, databases. PharmD, MPH, BCPS, Department of Study selection: By the authors. Pharmacy Practice and Science, College Data extraction: English language–published review articles, clinical trials, and of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 725 case reports that described the epidemiologic and toxicologic profile of DM were Rose St., Lexington, KY 40536. Fax: 859- 323-0069. E-mail:
[email protected] included. Data synthesis: DM is a relatively inexpensive and easily accessible over-the- Continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credits: See learning objectives below counter (OTC) medication intended for use as an antitussive. Increasingly, illicit use of and assessment questions at the end the drug has been reported. At clinical doses, the drug produces few adverse effects. of this article, which is ACPE universal However, when abused in large quantities (>2 mg/kg), the drug has been associated activity number 202-000-09-115-H01-P with a dissociative effect similar to those described by ketamine and phencyclidine in APhA’s educational program. To take abusers. Massive ingestions of the drug may be associated with untoward effects, the CPE test for this article, go to www.