Dextrorphan (DXO) is a psychoactive drug of the morphinan class which acts as an antitussive or cough suppressant and in high doses a dissociative hallucinogen. It is the dextrorotatory enantiomer of racemorphan; the levorotatory enantiomer is levorphanol. Dextrorphan is produced by O-demethylation of dextromethorphan by CYP2D6. Dextrorphan is an NMDA antagonist and contributes to the psychoactive effects of dextromethorphan.
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics + Dextrorphan Site Ki (nM) Species Ref (MK-801) 486–906 Rat σ1 118–481 Rat σ2 11,325–15,582 Rat 420>1,000 RatHuman 34,700 Rat 5,950 Rat 401–484 Rat ≥340 Rat >1,000 Rat 5-HT1A >1,000 Rat 5-HT1B/1D 54% at 1 μM Rat 5-HT2A >1,000 Rat α1 >1,000 Rat α2 >1,000 Rat β 35% at 1 μM Rat D2 >1,000 Rat H1 95% at 1 μM Rat 100% at 1 μM Rat 1,300–29,600(IC50) Rat Values are Ki (nM), unless otherwise noted. The smaller the value, the more strongly the drug binds to the site.
The pharmacology of dextrorphan is similar to that of dextromethorphan (DXM). However, dextrorphan is much more potent as an NMDA receptor antagonist and much less active as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, but retains DXM's activity as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It also has more affinity for the opioid receptors than dextromethorphan, significantly so at high doses.
Pharmacokinetics Dextrorphan has a notably longer elimination half-life than its parent compound, and therefore has a tendency to accumulate in the blood after repeated administration of normally dosed dextromethorphan formulations. It is further converted to 3-HM by CYP3A4 or glucuronidated.
Society and culture
Legal status Dextrorphan was formerly a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, but was unscheduled on October 1, 1976.
Research Dextrorphan was under development for the treatment of stroke, and reached phase II clinical trials for this indication, but development was discontinued.
Environmental presence In 2021, dextrorphan was identified in >75% of sludge samples taken from 12 wastewater treatment plants in California. The same study associated dextrorphan with estrogenic activity by using predictive modelling, before observing it in in vitro.
See also Cough syrup Racemorphan; Levorphanol Noscapine Codeine; Pholcodine Dextromethorphan; Dimemorfan Butamirate Pentoxyverine Tipepidine Cloperastine
References