This compound is an NMDA receptor antagonist and acts as a non-competitive channel blocker. It is one of the widely used antitussives, and is also used to study the involvement of glutamate receptors in neurotoxicity” (p.1). According to Drugs.com (2016), the mechanism of dextromethorphan “ Dextromethorphan is an opioid-like drug that binds to and acts as antagonist to the NMDA glutamatergic receptor, it is an agonist to the opioid sigma 1 and sigma 2 receptors, it is also an alpha3/beta4 nicotinic receptor antagonist and targets the serotonin reuptake pump. Dextromethorphan is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, where it enters the bloodstream and crosses the blood-brain barrier. The first-pass through the hepatic portal vein results in some of the drug being metabolized into an active metabolite of dextromethorphan, dextrorphan, the 3-hydroxy derivative of dextromethorphan” (p.1) According to Drugs.com (2016), dextromethorphan is absorbed at a fast pace through the gastrointestinal tract, it has a half-life three to six …show more content…
According to Burns & Boyer (2013), dextromethorphan is similar to ketamine and phencyclidine, dextromethorphan have similar “antitussive effects” like codeine but does not “possess analgesic or addictive properties”. Dextromethorphan reaches highest level of serum concentrations after two and half hours after taking it. The major metabolite of dextromethorphan metabolites and less than 0.1 percent of the dextromethorphan leaves the body through renal elimination. The half-life is between two and four hours, for those with a normal metabolism. “Dextromethorphan is metabolized by cytochrome CYP2D6. In humans, CYP2D6 is a genetically polymorphic enzyme responsible for metabolizing numerous substances” (p.1). According to Burns & Boyer (2013), eight five percent of the population in the United States are considered more likely to abuse dextromethorphan because its availability and cause an “intense