Fixed-Drug Eruption Due to Dextromethorphan

    July 1990 in “ Archives of Dermatology
    S Stubb, Sakari Reitamo
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    TLDR A woman had a skin reaction from a cough suppressant, dextromethorphan, which is a new cause of fixed-drug eruption.
    The document described a case where a 45-year-old woman experienced a fixed-drug eruption (FDE) after taking dextromethorphan, a common cough suppressant. She developed an erythematous patch with a blister on her arm, which recurred with further use of the medication. An oral provocation test with 8 mg of dextromethorphan resulted in a milder reaction without blistering, and histopathologic examination confirmed FDE. Topical tests with the drug were negative, indicating that a derivative of dextromethorphan might be responsible for the reaction. This case was the first to report FDE caused by dextromethorphan, thereby adding to the list of drugs that can cause FDE.
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