In the early 1960’s dextromethorphan (DXM) replaced codeine as the primary active ingredient of cough suppressants on the market, in an attempt to bring down codeine dependency. Abuse of DXM became apparent as early as 1973, the over the counter cough medicines using DXM began making their medicines’ taste unpleasant as a way to discourage abuse.

DXM is a hallucinogen most closely associated with ketamine and PCP. Unlike any other hallucinogen, DXM has different levels of effects, known as “plateaus” with different effects that range from the “drunk” and “stoned” feeling of the first plateau to complete body/mind disillusion and hallucination of the fourth plateau. The risks of injury or death from DXM raise with the levels of usage, making DXM a very dangerous drug.

The risks  

• Nausea, itchy skin, hallucinations, disorientation, and loss of motor skills are the primary risks from DXM

• Even with a small dose, DXM impairs a user’s motor skills, at higher doses it causes the user to be completely immobile, making it a popular choice with rapists.

• Like ecstasy, DXM impairs the body’s ability to control its temperature, DXM use can result in heatstroke, this risk is greatly increased when mixed with ecstasy.  

• DXM can be highly addicting. Normal use of DXM greatly increases the chances of permanent injury and death.

• Permanent serious brain damage can occur from DMX including: impaired memory, control of your behavior, learning, visual perception, and multi-sensory thinking as well as other permanent damage including: psychosis, limbic seizures, temporal lability and depression.

• DXM can result in coma or death.

The signs

• Someone on DXM will appear to be drunk or stoned.

• A DXM user will most likely have trouble walking straight, and may have trouble speaking.