2. The primary use of dextromethorphan hydrobromide is as an antitussive, or cough suppressant. This is one of the most popular ingredients in over-the-counter cold and cough medications.

3. It also can be added to other preparations to help treat pain and a variety of other disturbances as well. 

 

The primary use of dextromethorphan is as a cough suppressant, for the temporary relief of cough caused by minor throat and bronchial irritation (such as commonly accompanies the flu and common cold), as well as those resulting from inhaled particle irritants.

Pseudobulbar affect and other neuropsychiatric disorders

In 2010, the FDA approved the combination product dextromethorphan/quinidine for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect (emotional lability). The combination is also under investigation for the treatment of a variety of other neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, such as agitation associated with Alzheimer's disease andmajor depressive disorder.Dextromethorphan is the actual therapeutic agent in the combination; quinidinemerely serves to inhibit the enzymatic degradation of dextromethorphan and thereby increase its circulating concentrations via inhibition of CYP2D6.