Uploaded July 2018 | Updated September 2026, 20 minutes ago
Dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan.svg
Dextromethorphan-from-xtal-3D-balls-A.png
Clinical data
Trade names Robitussin, Delsym, DM, DexAlone, Duract, others
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
MedlinePlus a682492
Pregnancy
category
AU: A
US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Dependence
liability Low
Routes of
administration By mouth
ATC code
R05DA09 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status
AU: S2 (Pharmacy only)
CA: OTC
UK: P (Pharmacy medicines)
US: OTC
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 11%[1]
Metabolism Hepatic (liver) enzymes: major CYP2D6, minor CYP3A4, and minor CYP3A5
Elimination half-life 2–4 hours (extensive metabolizers); 24 hours (poor metabolizers)[2]
Excretion Renal
Identifiers
IUPAC name[show]
CAS Number
125-71-3 ☑
PubChem CID
15978238
IUPHAR/BPS
6953
DrugBank
DB00514 ☑
ChemSpider
13109865 ☑
UNII
7355X3ROTS
KEGG
D03742 ☑
ChEBI
CHEBI:4470 ☒
ChEMBL
CHEMBL52440 ☑
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.321 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
Formula C18H25NO
Molar mass 271.40 g/mol
3D model (JSmol)
Interactive image
Melting point 111 °C (232 °F)
SMILES[show]
InChI[show]
☒☑ (what is this?) (verify)
Dextromethorphan (DXM or DM) is a drug of the morphinan class with sedative, dissociative, and stimulant properties (at higher doses). It is a cough suppressant in many over-the-counter cold and cough medicines including generic labels and store brands, Benylin DM, Mucinex DM, Camydex-20 tablets, Robitussin, NyQuil, Dimetapp, Vicks, Coricidin, Delsym, TheraFlu, Cheracol D, and others. Dextromethorphan has also found numerous other uses in medicine, ranging from pain relief (as either the primary analgesic, or an opioid potentiator) over psychological applications to the treatment of addiction. It is sold in syrup, tablet, spray, and lozenge forms.
In its pure form, dextromethorphan occurs as a white powder.[3]
Dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan.svg
Dextromethorphan-from-xtal-3D-balls-A.png
Clinical data
Trade names Robitussin, Delsym, DM, DexAlone, Duract, others
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
MedlinePlus a682492
Pregnancy
category
AU: A
US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Dependence
liability Low
Routes of
administration By mouth
ATC code
R05DA09 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status
AU: S2 (Pharmacy only)
CA: OTC
UK: P (Pharmacy medicines)
US: OTC
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 11%[1]
Metabolism Hepatic (liver) enzymes: major CYP2D6, minor CYP3A4, and minor CYP3A5
Elimination half-life 2–4 hours (extensive metabolizers); 24 hours (poor metabolizers)[2]
Excretion Renal
Identifiers
IUPAC name[show]
CAS Number
125-71-3 ☑
PubChem CID
15978238
IUPHAR/BPS
6953
DrugBank
DB00514 ☑
ChemSpider
13109865 ☑
UNII
7355X3ROTS
KEGG
D03742 ☑
ChEBI
CHEBI:4470 ☒
ChEMBL
CHEMBL52440 ☑
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.321 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
Formula C18H25NO
Molar mass 271.40 g/mol
3D model (JSmol)
Interactive image
Melting point 111 °C (232 °F)
SMILES[show]
InChI[show]
☒☑ (what is this?) (verify)
Dextromethorphan (DXM or DM) is a drug of the morphinan class with sedative, dissociative, and stimulant properties (at higher doses). It is a cough suppressant in many over-the-counter cold and cough medicines including generic labels and store brands, Benylin DM, Mucinex DM, Camydex-20 tablets, Robitussin, NyQuil, Dimetapp, Vicks, Coricidin, Delsym, TheraFlu, Cheracol D, and others. Dextromethorphan has also found numerous other uses in medicine, ranging from pain relief (as either the primary analgesic, or an opioid potentiator) over psychological applications to the treatment of addiction. It is sold in syrup, tablet, spray, and lozenge forms.
In its pure form, dextromethorphan occurs as a white powder.[3]
