Dextromethorphan 10mg/5ml oral solution
Available from a pharmacy with pharmacist advice
Cough preparations
Genetic variations that may affect drug response
2 known genetic variations may influence how your body responds to Dextromethorphan 10mg/5ml oral solution.Gene involved: CYP2D6
These are known genetic variations. They don't mean the medicine won't work for you — speak to your doctor or a pharmacogenomics specialist for personalised advice. Source: DrugBank (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Official medicine documents
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
View Drug Analysis Profile
Suspected adverse reactions reported for Dextromethorphan
Browse all iDAP reports
Interactive Drug Analysis Profiles for all medicines
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
View EudraVigilance report
Suspected adverse reactions reported for Dextromethorphan
About EudraVigilance
Learn about EU pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring
EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
4 branded products available
Part of the Robitussin brand family (generic: Dextromethorphan)
MHRA licensed products
View all licensed products for Dextromethorphan on the MHRA register
Numark Adult Dry Cough linctus
WHO defined daily dose (DDD)
90 mg
Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.
Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via NHS dm+d BNF mapping files. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and NHS BNF section grouping. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
NHS prescribing volume and spending trends
Clinical guidelines and formulary information
British National Formulary
Dextromethorphan
Source: British National Formulary, NICE. Joint Formulary Committee. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
NICE clinical guidance(1)
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
Pharmacy stock checkers
Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.
Supply & product information
Official product databases and supply status monitoring
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. emc (electronic medicines compendium) is operated by Datapharm Ltd. Shortage information sourced from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), sps.nhs.uk.
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF codes from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
58 found
Half-life
3-30 hours
Mechanism
Dextromethorphan is a low-affinity uncompetitive NMDA antagonist and sigma-1 receptor agonist.
Food interactions
1 warning
Human targets
16 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
30mg
[A34933]
Half-life
3-30 hours
[A215382]
Protein binding
60-70%
[L14363]
Volume of distribution
5-6.7L/kg
[A215382]
Metabolism
[A415]…
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Dextromethorphan was granted FDA approval before 3 December 1957.[A215412][L14997]
[L14366]
Dextromethorphan is also used in combination with [guaifenesin] as an over-the-counter product to relieve a cough.
[L14369]
Dextromethorphan in combination with [quinidine] is indicated in the treatment of pseudobulbar affect.
[L14363]
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 1420 interactions
[L14363]
Overdose should be managed through symptomatic and supportive measures.
[L14363]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[A34933]
[A215382]
[L14363]
[A215382]
[A415]
Dextrorphan is N-demethylated by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, while 3-methoxymorphinan is O-demethylated by CYP2D6.
[A415]
Both are metabolized to form 3-hydroxymorphinan.
[A415]
Dextrorphan and 3-hydroxymorphinan are both O-glucuronidated or O-sulfated.
[A415]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
Plays a role in calcium signaling through modulation together with ANK2 of the ITP3R-dependent calcium efflux at the endoplasmic reticulum. Plays a role in several other cell functions including proliferation, survival and death. Originally identified for its ability to bind various psychoactive drugs it is involved in learning processes, memory and mood alteration .
PMID:16472803 PMID:9341151
Necessary for proper mitochondrial axonal transport in motor neurons, in particular the retrograde movement of mitochondria.
Plays a role in protecting cells against oxidative stress-induced cell death via its interaction with RNF112 (By similarity)
Forms excitatory glycinergic receptor complexes with GluN1 alone which are activated by glycine binding to the GluN1 and GluN3 subunits .
PMID:38598639
GluN3A subunit also binds D-serine (By similarity). Each GluN3 subunit confers differential attributes to channel properties, including activation, deactivation and desensitization kinetics, pH sensitivity, Ca2(+) permeability, and binding to allosteric modulators (By similarity). By competing with GIT1 interaction with ARHGEF7/beta-PIX, may reduce GIT1/ARHGEF7-regulated local activation of RAC1, hence affecting signaling and limiting the maturation and growth of inactive synapses (By similarity)
PMID:27702664 PMID:2848247
Catalyzes three successive oxidations of C19 androgens: two conventional oxidations at C19 yielding 19-hydroxy and 19-oxo/19-aldehyde derivatives, followed by a third oxidative aromatization step that involves C1-beta hydrogen abstraction combined with cleavage of the C10-C19 bond to yield a phenolic A ring and formic acid .
PMID:20385561
Alternatively, the third oxidative reaction yields a 19-norsteroid and formic acid. Converts dihydrotestosterone to delta1,10-dehydro 19-nordihydrotestosterone and may play a role in homeostasis of this potent androgen .
PMID:22773874
Also displays 2-hydroxylase activity toward estrone .
PMID:22773874
Mechanistically, uses molecular oxygen inserting one oxygen atom into a substrate, and reducing the second into a water molecule, with two electrons provided by NADPH via cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR; NADPH-ferrihemoprotein reductase) PMID:20385561 PMID:22773874
PMID:18723036
CHRNA2 forms heteropentameric neuronal acetylcholine receptors with CHRNB2 and CHRNB4 and plays a role in nicotine dependence PMID:24467848 PMID:27493220
PMID:10407194 PMID:12869649 PMID:21730057 PMID:27049939 PMID:27756841 PMID:34851672
Essential for serotonin homeostasis in the central nervous system. In the developing somatosensory cortex, acts in glutamatergic neurons to control serotonin uptake and its trophic functions accounting for proper spatial organization of cortical neurons and elaboration of sensory circuits.
In the mature cortex, acts primarily in brainstem raphe neurons to mediate serotonin uptake from the synaptic cleft back into the pre-synaptic terminal thus terminating serotonin signaling at the synapse (By similarity). Modulates mucosal serotonin levels in the gastrointestinal tract through uptake and clearance of serotonin in enterocytes. Required for enteric neurogenesis and gastrointestinal reflexes (By similarity).
Regulates blood serotonin levels by ensuring rapid high affinity uptake of serotonin from plasma to platelets, where it is further stored in dense granules via vesicular monoamine transporters and then released upon stimulation .
PMID:17506858 PMID:18317590
Mechanistically, the transport cycle starts with an outward-open conformation having Na1(+) and Cl(-) sites occupied. The binding of a second extracellular Na2(+) ion and serotonin substrate leads to structural changes to outward-occluded to inward-occluded to inward-open, where the Na2(+) ion and serotonin are released into the cytosol. Binding of intracellular K(+) ion induces conformational transitions to inward-occluded to outward-open and completes the cycle by releasing K(+) possibly together with a proton bound to Asp-98 into the extracellular compartment.
Na1(+) and Cl(-) ions remain bound throughout the transport cycle .
PMID:10407194 PMID:12869649 PMID:21730057 PMID:27049939 PMID:27756841 PMID:34851672
Additionally, displays serotonin-induced channel-like conductance for monovalent cations, mainly Na(+) ions. The channel activity is uncoupled from the transport cycle and may contribute to the membrane resting potential or excitability (By similarity)
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
ATC N06AX62
ATC R05DA09
ATC N07XX59
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Show
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Dextromethorphan
Additional database identifiers
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
10247
Drugs Product Database (DPD)
2173
ChemSpider
13109865
BindingDB
50366613
ZINC
ZINC000003201907
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:8157
GenAtlas
OPRS1
GeneCards
SIGMAR1
GenBank Gene Database
U75283
GenBank Protein Database
1783387
Guide to Pharmacology
2552
UniProt Accession
SGMR1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:16767
GenAtlas
GRIN3A
GeneCards
GRIN3A
GenBank Gene Database
AJ416950
GenBank Protein Database
20372905
UniProt Accession
NMD3A_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2594
GenAtlas
CYP19A1
GeneCards
CYP19A1
GenBank Gene Database
M22246
GenBank Protein Database
179002
Guide to Pharmacology
1362
UniProt Accession
CP19A_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1956
GenAtlas
CHRNA2
GeneCards
CHRNA2
GenBank Gene Database
U62431
GenBank Protein Database
1458110
Guide to Pharmacology
463
UniProt Accession
ACHA2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11050
GenAtlas
SLC6A4
GeneCards
SLC6A4
GenBank Gene Database
X70697
GenBank Protein Database
36433
Guide to Pharmacology
928
UniProt Accession
SC6A4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:16090
GeneCards
PGRMC1
UniProt Accession
PGRC1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1957
GeneCards
CHRNA3
GenBank Gene Database
M86383
GenBank Protein Database
177898
Guide to Pharmacology
464
UniProt Accession
ACHA3_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1958
GenAtlas
CHRNA4
GeneCards
CHRNA4
GenBank Gene Database
L35901
GenBank Protein Database
755648
Guide to Pharmacology
465
UniProt Accession
ACHA4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1964
GeneCards
CHRNB4
GenBank Gene Database
U62439
GenBank Protein Database
1458126
UniProt Accession
ACHB4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1962
GenAtlas
CHRNB2
GeneCards
CHRNB2
GenBank Gene Database
X53179
GenBank Protein Database
32017
UniProt Accession
ACHB2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:1960
GenAtlas
CHRNA7
GeneCards
CHRNA7
GenBank Gene Database
X70297
GenBank Protein Database
496607
Guide to Pharmacology
468
UniProt Accession
ACHA7_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:8156
GenAtlas
OPRM1
GeneCards
OPRM1
GenBank Gene Database
L25119
GenBank Protein Database
452073
Guide to Pharmacology
319
UniProt Accession
OPRM_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:8153
GenAtlas
OPRD1
GeneCards
OPRD1
GenBank Gene Database
U07882
GenBank Protein Database
27545517
Guide to Pharmacology
317
UniProt Accession
OPRD_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:8154
GenAtlas
OPRK1
GeneCards
OPRK1
GenBank Gene Database
U11053
GenBank Protein Database
532060
Guide to Pharmacology
318
UniProt Accession
OPRK_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2577
GeneCards
CYBA
UniProt Accession
CY24A_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2578
GeneCards
CYBB
Guide to Pharmacology
3002
UniProt Accession
CY24B_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:7660
GeneCards
NCF1
UniProt Accession
NCF1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:7661
GeneCards
NCF2
UniProt Accession
NCF2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:7662
GeneCards
NCF4
UniProt Accession
NCF4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9801
GenAtlas
RAC1
GeneCards
RAC1
GenBank Gene Database
M29870
GenBank Protein Database
190824
UniProt Accession
RAC1_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:9802
GeneCards
RAC2
UniProt Accession
RAC2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11048
GenAtlas
SLC6A2
GeneCards
SLC6A2
GenBank Gene Database
M65105
GenBank Protein Database
189258
Guide to Pharmacology
926
UniProt Accession
SC6A2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2625
GenAtlas
CYP2D6
GeneCards
CYP2D6
GenBank Gene Database
M20403
GenBank Protein Database
181350
Guide to Pharmacology
1329
UniProt Accession
CP2D6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2637
GenAtlas
CYP3A4
GeneCards
CYP3A4
GenBank Gene Database
M18907
Guide to Pharmacology
1337
UniProt Accession
CP3A4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2640
GeneCards
CYP3A7
GenBank Gene Database
D00408
GenBank Protein Database
220149
UniProt Accession
CP3A7_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2615
GeneCards
CYP2B6
GenBank Gene Database
M29874
GenBank Protein Database
181296
Guide to Pharmacology
1324
UniProt Accession
CP2B6_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2621
GeneCards
CYP2C19
GenBank Gene Database
M61854
GenBank Protein Database
181344
Guide to Pharmacology
1328
UniProt Accession
CP2CJ_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2623
GenAtlas
CYP2C9
GeneCards
CYP2C9
GenBank Gene Database
AY341248
Guide to Pharmacology
1326
UniProt Accession
CP2C9_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12553
GeneCards
UGT2B4
GenBank Gene Database
Y00317
GenBank Protein Database
37589
UniProt Accession
UD2B4_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12554
GeneCards
UGT2B7
GenBank Gene Database
J05428
GenBank Protein Database
340080
UniProt Accession
UD2B7_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12546
GeneCards
UGT2B15
UniProt Accession
UDB15_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:12547
GeneCards
UGT2B17
GenBank Gene Database
U59209
GenBank Protein Database
3287473
UniProt Accession
UDB17_HUMAN
International reference pricing
Reference pricing from DrugBank. Prices are indicative and may not reflect current UK costs.
Source: DrugBank. Used under CC BY-NC 4.0 academic licence for non-commercial purposes.
Patent information
126 active patents, 6 expired
Source: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0. Patent data sourced from national patent offices. Expiry dates may not reflect extensions, regulatory exclusivity periods, or legal challenges.
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications: