DEXTROMETHORPHAN- AN EMERGING DRUG OF ABUSE

Abstract

Dextromethorphan or DXM is an effective and harmless cough and cold suppressant available in many cold and cough preparations. At maximum dosage, it mimics hallucinogenic and psychoactive effects in human body and hence it is appealing for abuse. In this work, a detailed study of an antitussive agent i.e. Dextromethorphan which is a semi-synthetic opioid and a replacement of codeine and pholcodine in various cough linctuses has been described extensively. This review also revolves around the structured detailing of Dextromethorphan, its physical and chemical properties as well its pharmacokinetics in human body and also its effect on human brain and its relationship with NMDA receptors. This study also focuses on the emergence of Dextromethorphan as new drug of abuse due to its easy availability and as it possesses similar effects with LSD and other hallucinogens when taken in overdose in addition with the Toxicological analysis of Dextromethorphan from biological matrices using respective analytical methods.