Dextromethorphan

India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has directed all states and territories to halt the manufacture, sale, and distribution of 35 unapproved fixed-dose combination drugs that lack proper safety and efficacy evaluation.

• Researchers have identified dextromethorphan, a common cough medicine ingredient, as a potential treatment for lung fibrosis by inhibiting collagen production. • The study utilized high-throughput microscopy and proteomics to identify dextromethorphan's mechanism of action in reducing scar tissue formation in the lungs. • Experiments in mouse models and human lung tissue cultures demonstrated that dextromethorphan effectively impedes collagen, reducing lung fibrosis. • Phase II clinical trials are being planned to investigate the efficacy of dextromethorphan in human patients with lung fibrosis, offering a potential new therapeutic avenue.

AXS-05, combining dextromethorphan and bupropion, is under development by Axsome Therapeutics for agitation in Alzheimer's disease, offering a novel approach by targeting glutamate and NMDA receptors.

The FDA is proposing to remove oral phenylephrine, a common decongestant, from over-the-counter medications due to its lack of proven effectiveness.

The FDA is proposing to remove oral phenylephrine as an active ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) monograph drug products for temporary nasal congestion relief.