Repurposing of dextromethorphan as an adjunct therapy in patients with major depressive disorder: a randomised, group sequential adaptive design, controlled clinical trial protocol
BMJ Open April 1, 2024 Shampa Maji, Debadatta Mohapatra, M. Jena et al.
Adding dextromethorphan to ongoing SSRI treatment may improve outcomes for major depressive disorder. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will assign patients to receive either 30 mg dextromethorphan or placebo once daily for 8 weeks alongside their SSRI. The primary outcome is change in depression severity measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale; secondary outcomes include response and remission rates, clinical global impression, and serum biomarkers. The trial aims to address therapeutic latency, lack of efficacy, and adverse drug reactions in current antidepressant therapies.