Alex

Alex Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Alex suppresses the cough reflex by a direct action on the cough center in the medulla of the brain. Alex shows high affinity binding to several regions of the brain, including the medullary cough center. This compound is an NMDA receptor antagonist and acts as a non-competitive channel blocker. It is one of the widely used antitussives, and is also used to study the involvement of glutamate receptors in neurotoxicity.

Alex is an opioid-like molecule indicated in combination with other medication in the treatment of coughs and pseudobulbar affect. It has a moderate therapeutic window, as intoxication can occur at higher doses. Alex has a moderate duration of action. Patients should be counselled regarding the risk of intoxication.

Trade Name Alex
Availability Rx and/or OTC
Generic Dextromethorphan
Dextromethorphan Other Names D-methorphan, delta-Methorphan, Dextromethorfan, Dextromethorphan, Dextrométhorphane, Dextromethorphanum, Dextrometorfano
Related Drugs diphenhydramine, Benadryl, benzonatate, guaifenesin, codeine, Mucinex
Weight 10mg,
Type Ginger Lemon Flav Lozenges, Tablet, Capsule
Formula C18H25NO
Weight Average: 271.404
Monoisotopic: 271.193614429
Protein binding

Dextromethorphan is 60-70% protein bound in serum.

Groups Approved
Therapeutic Class Cough suppressant
Manufacturer Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Innvotek Pharmaceuticals
Available Country India, Pakistan
Last Updated: September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am
Alex
Alex

How Alex works

Alex is an agonist of NMDA and sigma-1 receptors. It is also an antagonist of α3/β4 nicotinic receptors.[A10589] However, the mechanism by which dextromethorphan's receptor agonism and antagonism translates to a clinical effect is not well understood.

Dosage

Alex dosage

Adults and Children over 12 years: 15 to 30 mg three to four times per day. However, 60 mg doses up to four times per day have been used without increased side effects.

Children between 6 and 12 years: 5-15 mg up to four times per day.

Children between 2 and 6 years: 2.5-5 mg up to four times per day.

Side Effects

Adverse effects with Alex are rare, but nausea and dizziness sometimes occur. The drug produces no analgesia or addiction and little or no CNS depression. Excitation, confusion and respiratory depression may occur after overdosage.

Toxicity

A dextromethorphan overdose may present as nausea, vomiting, stupor, coma, respiratory depression, seizures, tachycardia, hyperexcitability, toxic psychosis, ataxia, nystagmus, dystonia, blurred vision, changes in muscle reflexes, and serotonin syndrome. Overdose should be managed through symptomatic and supportive measures.

Precaution

Do not use Alex to control a cough that is associated with smoking, asthma, or emphysema, or a cough that is productive (produces sputum or phlegm).

Interaction

The following medicines should be taken carefully while concomitantly use with Alex: Amiodarone, Fluoexetine, Quinidine, CNS depressants and Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors.

Food Interaction

  • Take with or without food. The absorption is unaffected by food.

Alex Alcohol interaction

[Moderate] GENERALLY AVOID:

The central nervous system-depressant effects of dextromethorphan and ethanol may be additive.

The combination of these agents may result in additive CNS depression and impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.



Patients should be cautioned about the concomitant ingestion of dextromethorphan and ethanol.

Consumption of large doses of either substance should be avoided.

Alex Disease Interaction

Moderate: psychiatric conditions

Volume of Distribution

The volume of distribution of dextromethorphan is 5-6.7L/kg.

Elimination Route

A 30mg oral dose of dextromethorphan reaches a Cmax of 2.9 ng/mL, with a Tmax of 2.86 h, and an AUC of 17.8 ng*h/mL.

Half Life

Alex has a half life of 3-30 hours.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy: Adequate and well-controlled studies in human have not been done. However, Alex has not been reported to cause birth defects.

Lactation: It is not known whether dextromethorphan passes into breast milk. However, Alex has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Contraindication

Hypersensitivity to Alex or any other component.

Acute Overdose

Symptoms: In mild overdose, tachycardia, hypertension, vomiting, mydriasis, diaphoresis, nystagmus, euphoria, loss of motor coordination, and giggling; in moderate intoxication, in addition to those listed above, hallucinations and a plodding ataxic gait; in severely intoxication, agitation or somnolence.

Management: treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Naloxone may be useful in reversing toxicity.

Storage Condition

Store at 15-30° C

Innovators Monograph

You find simplified version here Alex

Alex contains Dextromethorphan see full prescribing information from innovator Alex Monograph, Alex MSDS, Alex FDA label

*** Taking medicines without doctor's advice can cause long-term problems.
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