Dextromoramide 115dextromoramide addiction. At one time some medical observers doubted that
dextromoramide is addictive, but negative results in their research were prob-
ably due to the medical context in which the drug was being used. In rats the
development of dextromoramide tolerance is so much slower than with mor-
phine that one group of investigators doubted the phenomenon was really
occurring. Researchers have disagreed about how fast tolerance appears in
humans, but it does occur, as does dependence. Disagreement about how
quickly tolerance emerges in humans may be related to which drug effects are
being examined; tolerance does not necessarily develop to all of a drug’s ef-
fects at the same rate. For example, tolerance to pain relief properties might
emerge at a different point of treatment than tolerance to nausea or sleepiness
caused by a drug.
Drug interactions.Taking this drug with antihistamines or depressants
(such asalcohol) can be risky. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs, found
in some antidepressants and other medicine) are particularly dangerous to
take with dextromoramide. Persons with breathing difficulty or poor thyroid
activity should be careful about taking this drug.
Cancer.Not enough scientific information to report.
Pregnancy.The drug produces massive birth defects in mice, but its ability
to cause human malformations at normal medical dosage levels is unknown.
Dextromoramide has been used to ease childbirth, but if pregnant women
receive the drug shortly before giving birth, their infants may have trouble
breathing. One medical authority has called the substance too dangerous to
use during labor. Dextromoramide passes into milk of nursing mothers.
Additional scientific information may be found in:
De Vos, J.W., et al. “Craving Patterns in Methadone Maintenance Treatment with Dex-
tromoramide as Adjuvant.”Addictive Behaviors24 (1999): 707–13.
Jurand, A., and Martin, L.V. “Teratogenic Potential of Two Neurotropic Drugs, Halo-
peridol and Dextromoramide, Tested on Mouse Embryos.”Teratology42 (1990):
45–54.
La Barre, J. “The Pharmacological Properties and Therapeutic Use of Dextromora-
mide.”Bulletin on Narcotics11, no. 4 (1959): 10–19.
Newgreen, D.B. “Dextromoramide: Review and Case Report.”Australian Journal of
Pharmacy61 (1980): 641–44.