title: Safety and tolerance of oral dextromethorphan in patients at risk for brain ischemia.
abstract: Experimental ischemia models have shown the antitussive dextromethorphan to be an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist with neuroprotective properties. We treated 10 patients with a history of recent stroke or transient ischemic attack with oral dextromethorphan (60 mg q.i.d.) for 3 weeks in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover tolerance study. We documented no clinical evidence of toxicity attributable to dextromethorphan in this preliminary study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center, Calif.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sáenz
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D003915:Dextromethorphan