The Effects of Dextromethorphan on Driving Performance and the Standardized Field Sobriety Test.
Paul J. Perry, Kristian Fredriksen, Stephanie Chew, Eric J Ip, Ingrid Lopes, Shadi Doroudgar, Kelan Thomas
Journal of Forensic Sciences September 1, 2015 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12833 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Crossover design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Healthy subjects |
| Interventions | Dextromethorphan Guaifenesin |
| Dose | DXM 120 mg, guaifenesin 400 mg |
| Measures | STISIM Drive driving simulator, standardized field sobriety test (SFST) |
| Keywords | Antitussive Cough suppressant Dextromethorphan Driving performance Driving simulator Forensic science Over-the-counter medications |
| Key points | A single 120 mg dose of dextromethorphan did not impair driving performance on a simulator or increase standardized field sobriety test failures compared to guaifenesin 400 mg. |
Abstract
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is abused most commonly among adolescents as a recreational drug to generate a dissociative experience. The objective of the study was to assess driving with and without DXM ingestion. The effects of one-time maximum daily doses of DXM 120 mg versus a guaifenesin 400 mg dose were compared among 40 healthy subjects using a crossover design. Subjects' ability to drive was assessed by their performance in a driving simulator (STISIM® Drive driving simulator software) and by conducting a standardized field sobriety test (SFST) administered 1-h postdrug administration. The one-time dose of DXM 120 mg did not demonstrate driving impairment on the STISIM® Drive driving simulator or increase SFST failures compared to guaifenesin 400 mg. Doses greater than the currently recommended maximum daily dose of 120 mg are necessary to perturb driving behavior.