The Effects of Dextromethorphan on Driving Performance and the Standardized Field Sobriety Test

• Published in: Journal of forensic sciences Vol. 60; no. 5; pp. 1258 - 1262
• Main Authors: Perry, Paul J., Fredriksen, Kristian, Chew, Stephanie, Ip, Eric J., Lopes, Ingrid, Doroudgar, Shadi, Thomas, Kelan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; antitussive; Antitussive Agents - administration & dosage; Antitussive Agents - adverse effects; Automobile Driving; Computer Simulation; cough suppressant; Cross-Over Studies; dextromethorphan; Dextromethorphan - administration & dosage; Dextromethorphan - adverse effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; driving performance; driving simulator; Driving Under the Influence; Drug-impaired driving; Expectorants - administration & dosage; Expectorants - adverse effects; Female; Forensic chemistry; forensic science; Guaifenesin - administration & dosage; Guaifenesin - adverse effects; Humans; Male; Nonprescription Drugs; over-the-counter medications; standardized field sobriety test; Substance Abuse Detection; driving performance; cough suppressant; forensic science; over-the-counter medications; standardized field sobriety test; antitussive; dextromethorphan; driving simulator
• ISSN: 0022-1198; 1556-4029
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12833

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.