What Is the Chemical Structure of Dextromethorphan?
A cough-suppressing ingredient found in many OTC medications, dextromethorphan is absorbed through the gastrointestinal track, enters the bloodstream and crosses the blood-brain barrier. When it passes through the liver, dextromethorphan produces the metabolite dextrorphan, which is probably at least partly responsible for the medication's neurological activity.
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Mode of Operation
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Dextromethorphan does not operate directly on the lungs, but operates through the brain.
Functional Groups and Structure
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The structure of dextromethorphan includes an ether linkage to an aromatic ring that is part of a four-ring structure, one ring of which contains a tertiary amine group. In terms of overall structure, dextromethorphan bears resemblance to opium, morphine and cocaine.
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Functional Groups and Molecular Shape
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Dextromethorphan works through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) brain receptors. Sometimes this is due to similarity of functional groups and molecular shape allowing replacement molecules to match a receptor. This effectively blocks the usual receptor chemical from activity at the same receptor. Dextromethorphan is thus termed an "antagonist."
Chemical Formula
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Dextromethorphan's chemical formula in simplest terms is C₁₈H₂...NO. It is often sold as a hydrobromide derivative, or C₁₈H₂...NO...HBr.
Over-the-Counter Abuse
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Abused especially by adolescents, dextromethorphan taken in high dosages produces euphoria, auditory and visual hallucinations. One of the most common sources of dextromethorphan is the cough syrup Robitussin, giving rise to the street term "Robotripping."
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