Cough medicine ingredient may help treat multiple sclerosis

[MSUK]

A drug used in over-the-counter cough medicine may treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis -- offering inexpensive therapy for a disease with few treatment options, according to UC Davis researchers.

In tests using mice, the drug, dextromethorphan, was found to significantly reduce the loss of myelin, the fatty sheath surrounding nerve fibers in the central nervous system. It also minimized the development of paralysis during MS attacks.

The finding provides an opportunity to pursue a new treatment strategy "with a drug that is widely available, inexpensive and known to be safe," said Wenbin Deng, principal investigator of the study and a UC Davis assistant professor.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1397

[mrbarlow]

Very interesting - thanks for posting.

Looks like having a bottle of Dextromethorphan based cough mixture on standby for a relapse could be useful.

[DizzyDean]

Frankly, I've never had much luck getting dextromethorphan to suppress my symptoms when I have a cough - which is its primary indication. Its codeine or bust for me when I get one of those nasty lungie gunko things going.

But if it has a chance to treat my current bout of optic neuritis, I might just give some a try

[LR1234]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21704706

Dextromethorphan (DM) is a dextrorotary morphinan and a widely used component of cough medicine. Relatively high doses of DM in combination with quinidine are used for the treatment of mood disorders for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, at lower doses, morphinans exert anti-inflammatory activities through the inhibition of NOX2-dependent superoxide production in activated microglia. Here we investigated the effects of high (10mg/kg, i.p., "DM-10") and low (0.1mg/kg, i.p., "DM-0.1") doses of DM on the development and progression of mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. We found no protection by high dose DM treatment. Interestingly, a minor late attenuation by low dose DM treatment was seen in severe EAE that was characterized by a chronic disease course and a massive spinal cord infiltration of CD45(+) cells including T-lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils. Furthermore, in a less severe form of EAE, where lower levels of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells, Iba1(+) microglia/macrophages and no significant infiltration of neutrophils were seen in the spinal cord, the treatment with DM-0.1 was remarkably more beneficial. The effect was the most significant at the peak of disease and was associated with an inhibition of NOX2 expression and a decrease in infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes into the spinal cord. In addition, chronic treatment with low dose DM resulted in decreased demyelination and reduced axonal loss in the lumbar spinal cord. Our study is the first report to show that low dose DM is effective in treating EAE of moderate severity. Our findings reveal that low dose morphinan DM treatment may represent a new promising protective strategy for treating MS.

[DizzyDean]

Thanks for the update, any human trials in the works?

[Wonderfulworld]

So would a low dose of dextromethorphan then be 5ml for a 55kg adult? I am working it out relative to the EAE mice- given that in LR's article it says the high dose did nothing?

I have found one over-the-counter product here in Ireland that is just dextromethorphan on its own (no paracetamol or codeine added) and it's gluten free too....off to try it out for a few weeks at a low dose, can't see much harm in it because I wouldn't hold my breath for trials DizzyDean. No money to be made on it, easy to use, no adverse effects, no licensing problems..........no, can't see any research being done on dextromethorphan and MS in Ireland anytime soon.

[LR1234]

I am having a go too. The only issue is that dextromethorphan can be addictive and has been abused in the past by addicts but I doubt at the very low doses we are going to test it could do harm.
Benylin Dry coughs non drowsy is dextromethorphan. 5ml = 7.5mg
I weigh 49kg so I reckon I take 4.9mg which is 3-3.5ml.

[Wonderfulworld]

I agree LR, that kind of dose is very small, I wouldn't imagine it would be addictive but I am going to google a bit just in case.
Robitussin Dry Cough is the product I found here although we also have Benylin.
LR I need to see the suspension in Robitussin to work out my dose for 55kg.......and I will check with the pharmacist if I can take it with Lyrica too.
Good luck to us with our 'trial' - phase 2 .

[CureOrBust]

...Robitussin Dry Cough...

thats what we are suppose to have here in Australia, but when I picked up some other scripts from the chemist, I found that they did not stock this version of Robitussin. I am guessing its due to its opportunity for abuse.

[mrbarlow]

Look on the bright side - even if it doesn't work in a relapse at least you get the benefit of a pseudo-opoid hit from the stuff

[LR1234]

How's the experiment going for those trying this?
I am on day 11. Nothing to report yet. I was in an ON relapse when I started. Still in it but it seems to be easing off a bit now.

[CureOrBust]

I am on day 11. Nothing to report yet. I was in an ON relapse when I started. Still in it but it seems to be easing off a bit now.

how long would it normaly take to resolve, ie without the dextromethorphan?

[LR1234]

Dunno never had ON before so cannot be attributed to the dmx as had steroids too.
Will have to see if it helps with symptoms after this relapse is over.

[Wonderfulworld]

Hey LR
I didn't start it yet as I read a lot of stuff saying dextrom/lyrica is not a good combo.........going to pharmacist today anyway and will enquire further.....hope your ON lifts soon.

[Wonderfulworld]

Hey
LR1234 did you continue the dextromethorphan for long? Did it influence your ON last year?
I never did take it because I had to change to Cymbalta for pain, but I am curious if anyone else did.......