PlainPill

Dextromethorphan

People mainly take Dextromethorphan for mood. Based on 8 first-hand reports and 62 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #1091 of 1,974 overall.

14
User score
Mixed
12% positive25% mixed0% negative62% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 32% are positive.

Clinical research
AStrong research base
62
meta-analyses
234
RCTs
3,231
papers

What Dextromethorphan does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

3 more with fewer than 3 reports
betterno changeworse

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

AStrong research base

3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2018 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Honey for acute cough in children

Conclusion: Honey probably relieves cough symptoms to a greater extent than no treatment, diphenhydramine, and placebo, but may make little or no difference compared to dextromethorphan. Honey probably reduces cough duration better than placebo and salbutamol. There was no strong evidence for or against using honey. Most of the children received treatment for one night, which is a limitation to the results of this review. There was no difference in occurrence of adverse events between the honey and control arms.

PubMed 29633783 ↗
Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2016 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Pharmacologic interventions for treating phantom limb pain

Conclusion: Since the last version of this review, we identified another study that added another form of medical therapy, BoNTs, specifically BoNT/A, to the list of pharmacologic interventions being reviewed for clinical efficacy in phantom limb pain. However, the results of this study did not substantially change the main conclusions. The short- and long-term effectiveness of BoNT/A, opioids, NMDA receptor antagonists, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, calcitonins, and local anaesthetics for clinically relevant outcomes including pain, function, mood, sleep, quality of life, treatment satisfaction, and

PubMed 27737513 ↗
BMJ Clin Evid · 2010 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Postherpetic neuralgia

Conclusion: In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: corticosteroids, capsaicin, dextromethorphan, dressings, gabapentin, herpes zoster vaccine, oral antiviral agents, oral opioid analgesics, lidocaine, topical antiviral agents (idoxuridine), and tricyclic antidepressants.

PubMed 21418680 ↗
BMJ Clin Evid · 2007 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Postherpetic neuralgia

Conclusion: In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: corticosteroids, dextromethorphan, dressings, gabapentin, oral antiviral agents, oral opioid analgesics, topical anaesthesia (lidocaine), topical antiviral agents (idoxuridine), topical counterirritants (capsaicin), tricyclic antidepressants.

PubMed 19454113 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

occasionalas reported
60-180 mgas reported

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

hypertension ×1stimulation ×1brain fog ×1mania ×1

What users say

Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.

“So far, I'm aware of methylene blue, and also dextromethorphan.”
Source discussion ↗
“ask about Wellbutrin, Auvelity (or adding dextromethorphan to Wellbutrin, which is what Auvelity is), ketamine, and TMS.”
Source discussion ↗
“compounds like Ketamine or Dextromethorphan provide rather novel, effective, immediate and long-lasting anti-depressant qualities”
Source discussion ↗
“I was prescribed bupropion and will occasionally take low doses of dxm because it seems to alleviate anxiety and really low feelings for the following couple of days.”
Source discussion ↗
“dextromethorphan”
Source discussion ↗
Top discussions (5)

Other options for mood

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate