Dextromethorphan: pharmacodynamics (receptor effects)

Dextromethorphan has multiple effects in the CNS (Werling et al., 2007a). Let’s discuss them and their implications one by one. Blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors NMDA receptors are one of the three types of receptors for glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter. Dextromethorphan blocks NMDA receptors non-competitively. It differs from other NMDA antagonists like ketamine and phencyclidine…