Dextromethorphan/quinidine for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect
Edna Patatanian1, Jessica Casselman2
1College of Pharmacy, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, Oklahoma.
Summary
Dextromethorphan/quinidine (DM/Q) shows promise as a short-term treatment for pseudobulbar affect (PBA), characterized by involuntary emotional expressions. However, more research is needed to confirm its long-term effectiveness and safety.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary crying or laughing.
- Current treatments for PBA, including antidepressants and antiepileptics, have shown mixed results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dextromethorphan/quinidine (DM/Q) for treating PBA.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed and MEDLINE.
- Included studies were English-language clinical trials and case reports on DM/Q for PBA.
- Bibliographies of relevant articles were also reviewed for additional data.
Main Results:
- Four clinical trials investigated DM/Q for PBA treatment.
- Positive therapeutic outcomes were observed with DM/Q.
- Limitations include small sample sizes and short treatment durations in existing studies.
Conclusions:
- Dextromethorphan/quinidine (DM/Q) may be a viable short-term treatment option for PBA.
- Long-term safety and efficacy data for DM/Q in PBA are currently lacking.
Keywords:
AD = Alzheimer's diseaseAE = Adverse effectALS = Amyotrophic lateral sclerosisAntidepressantsCNS-LS = Center for Neurologic Study Lability ScaleCYP = CytochromeDM/Q = Dextromethorphan/quinidineDextromethorphanEmotional labilityFDA = Food and Drug AdministrationICD = International Classification of DiseasesMS = Multiple sclerosisNMDA = N-methyld-aspartatePBA = Pseudobulbar affectPD = Parkinson's diseasePLACS = Pathological Laughing and Crying ScalePLC = Pathological laughing or cryingPathological laughing and cryingPseudobulbar affectQuinidineSSRIs = Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitorsTBI = Traumatic brain injuryTCAs = Tricyclic antidepressantsRelated Concept Videos
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