Dextromethorphan: a review of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist in the management of pain.
Dextromethorphan (DM) is a noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, which is widely used as an antitussive agent. DM also prevents neuronal damage and modulates pain sensation via noncompetitive antagonism of excitatory amino acids (EAAs). DM has been found to be useful in the treatment of pain in cancer patients and in the treatment of methotrexate-induced neurotoxicity. Clinical studies with DM in cancer patients are reviewed in this article.
Siu
Anita
A
Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, The Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA. anitasiu@rci.rutgers.edu
Drachtman
Richard
R
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D003915:Dextromethorphan