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dextromethorphan vs rasagiline

Side-by-side comparison of dextromethorphan and rasagiline. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Meperidine: Risk of serotonin syndrome (4, 7.1) Dextromethorphan: Risk of psychosis or bizarre behavior (4, 7.2) MAO inhibitors: Risk of non-selective MAO inhibition and hypertensive crisis (4, 7.3) 7.1 Meperidine Serious, sometimes fatal reactions have been precipitated with concomitant use of meperidine (e.g., Demerol and other tradenames) and MAO inhibitors including selective MAO-B inhibitors [see Contraindications (4)] . 7.2 Dextromethorphan The concomitant use of rasagiline tablets and dextromethorphan was not allowed in clinical studies. The combination of MAO...

Recommendation: Avoid using these medications together. Check the labels of over-the-counter cough medicines to make sure they do not contain dextromethorphan.

Drug Class
dextromethorphan Antitussive
rasagiline MAO-B Inhibitor
Type
dextromethorphan Over-the-Counter
rasagiline Prescription
Summary
dextromethorphan

Dextromethorphan is a medicine that helps to relieve coughs. It can also help with cold and flu symptoms.

rasagiline

Rasagiline (Azilect) is a medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease. It helps to improve motor control and reduce symptoms like tremors and stiffness.

What It Treats
dextromethorphan

This medicine temporarily relieves symptoms from a cold. It can help with minor aches and pains, headache, and nasal and sinus congestion. It also helps with sore throat, cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation, and reduces fever.

rasagiline

Rasagiline is used to treat Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that affects movement. This medicine can be used alone or with other Parkinson's medicines to help control your symptoms.

How It Works
dextromethorphan

Dextromethorphan works by decreasing the activity in the part of your brain that causes you to cough. This helps to reduce your urge to cough. It does not treat the underlying cause of the cough.

rasagiline

Rasagiline belongs to a class of drugs called MAO-B inhibitors. It works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals help to control movement and reduce Parkinson's symptoms.

Common Side Effects
dextromethorphan
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
rasagiline
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Joint pain
  • Depression
  • Indigestion
  • Swelling in the arms or legs
FAERS Reports
dextromethorphan
  • Misusing the medicine 713
  • Poisoning 678
  • Taking too much medicine 594
  • Feeling lightheaded 435
  • Accidentally taking too much medicine 403
rasagiline
  • Falling 343
  • Seeing or hearing things that are not there 326
  • Uncontrolled movements 276
  • Parkinson's disease 216
  • Feeling lightheaded 205
Serious Warnings
dextromethorphan

Do not use in children under 12 years of age.

rasagiline

Rasagiline can cause high blood pressure. It can also cause serotonin syndrome, a serious condition, especially when taken with antidepressants. You may fall asleep suddenly or feel very drowsy. Rasagiline can also cause or worsen uncontrolled movements, hallucinations, and compulsive behaviors. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these side effects.

Pregnancy
dextromethorphan

Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk.

rasagiline

It is not known if rasagiline can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if rasagiline passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare rasagiline with

How to Read This dextromethorphan vs rasagiline Comparison

dextromethorphan is classified in the Antitussive drug class, while rasagiline sits within the MAO-B Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, dextromethorphan has 2,823 submissions while rasagiline has 1,366. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to taking these drugs at the same time can cause severe changes in your brain chemistry. this can lead to unusual behavior, confusion, or a loss of touch with reality.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between dextromethorphan and rasagiline - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.