Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DELSYM versus DEXTROMETHORPHAN POLISTIREX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: DELSYM versus DEXTROMETHORPHAN POLISTIREX.
DELSYM vs DEXTROMETHORPHAN POLISTIREX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Dextromethorphan is a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist and sigma-1 receptor agonist, which suppresses cough by elevating the threshold for coughing in the medullary cough center.
Dextromethorphan polistirex is an NMDA receptor antagonist and sigma-1 receptor agonist. It inhibits serotonin reuptake and acts on the brain stem cough center to elevate the threshold for coughing.
60 mg orally every 12 hours (extended-release suspension).
30-60 mg orally every 12 hours; not to exceed 120 mg in 24 hours.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life of dextromethorphan is approximately 11 hours (range 9-14 hours) in extensive metabolizers; in poor metabolizers (CYP2D6 deficiency), half-life can exceed 24 hours, leading to accumulation.
Terminal half-life: 13–19 hours; clinical context: extended-release formulation due to polistirex complex; time to steady-state: ~3 days
Renal excretion of unchanged drug and metabolites, primarily dextrorphan glucuronide; <5% excreted unchanged in urine. Biliary/fecal elimination is negligible.
Renal: ~45% as unchanged drug and metabolites (dextrorphan conjugates); fecal: <2%; biliary: minimal
Category C
Category C
Antitussive
Antitussive