Dextromethorphan (DXM) Abuse | Effects, Symptoms Of Addiction, & Treatment

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressant. It’s found in many over-the-counter (OTC) cold medicines, often combined with drugs that treat other cold symptoms, like antihistamines or decongestants. 

In low doses, DXM helps you stop coughing so you can sleep or simply have relief from a persistent cough. In high doses, DXM produces stimulation, euphoria, and hallucinations. 

Because DXM is available over the counter (without a prescription), many teens and young adults abuse it. It’s easy to obtain and relatively inexpensive. Abuse of DXM can turn into an addiction, and it’s possible to overdose on the drug and experience adverse long-term effects.

Types Of Dextromethorphan (DXM)

DXM comes as a liquid, chewable tablet, dissolving strip, meltable lozenge, or gel capsule. 

If you get it as a liquid, you have to drink a lot of cough syrup to get high, and it doesn’t taste good. Pills, strips, and lozenges provide an easier mode of abuse—especially the extended-release high-dose formulations. They’re also easy to hide and carry with you.

DXM is available as a powder online. The powder is a more dangerous way to take the drug, as you don’t know how potent it is or what else might be mixed with it.

Effects Of Dextromethorphan (DXM)

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the effects of dextromethorphan (DXM) are dose-dependent. That means you may have different effects at varying doses. 

Effects of DXM cough medicine include:

• mild stimulation (if you take 100 to 200 mg at a time)
• euphoria, auditory and visual hallucinations (with a 200 to 400 mg dose)
• distorted vision, impaired coordination (at 300 to 600 mg) 
• dissociative (out-of-body) experiences, intense sedation (at 500 to 1500 mg)

High doses of DMX can affect both your body and mind. It can make you act and think differently and lose control of your body and behavior. While side effects are rare if you take DXM as directed, drug abuse makes side effects more likely.

Other effects of high doses of DXM may be:

• confusion
• agitation
• paranoia
• panic
• mania
• feeling like you’re floating
• hearing or feeling things differently (physically)
• over-excitability
• lethargy
• slurred speech
• lack of coordination
• high blood pressure
• sweating
• nausea and vomiting
• eye movement spasms

DXM can cause psychosis (loss of touch with reality), seizures, and coma in severe cases. These effects are life-threatening.

Long-Term Effects Of Dextromethorphan (DXM)

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is often combined with other drugs that can cause long-term health problems. 

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) abuse can lead to liver damage. Other cold medications, such as chlorpheniramine and guaifenesin, can cause impaired coordination, racing heart rate, vomiting, and seizures when misused.

Substance abuse is often a way of escaping stress, boredom, or trauma. Using DXM to change your perception of the world can become a habit that develops into addiction. Each time you depend on a drug to cope, your brain forms new connections that lead to cravings.

If you’re dependent on DXM and stop taking it, you may have withdrawal symptoms like high blood pressure, racing heart rate, sweating, nausea, and cravings. 

Dextromethorphan (DXM) Overdose Risk

It’s possible to overdose on DXM. About 6,000 people visit the emergency department every year for DXM overdose requiring medical care. Fortunately, it’s usually treatable.

But if you’re under the influence of DXM, you’re more likely to have a fatal accident due to poor vision, depth perception, or an altered sense of reality. 

Combining DXM with other drugs—particularly alcohol or antidepressants—is dangerous and raises the risk of life-threatening overdose. 

The DEA notes that five to 10 percent of Caucasians are “poor DXM metabolizers,” who have trouble processing and excreting the drug from their system. This condition makes it more likely that they’ll overdose and experience complications.

Dextromethorphan (DXM) Abuse

Dextromethorphan (DXM) abuse is taking the drug in any way other than intended. Most people abuse DXM orally but ingest much higher doses than recommended. 

The typical dosage of DXM is 15 to 30 mg three to four times per day. You may take anywhere from 250 to 1500 mg in a single dose if you abuse it. 

Commonly abused products containing DXM include Robitussin and Coricidin HBP Cough & Cold. These products are the source of many DXM street names, such as:

• robo
• skittles
• CCC
• triple C

DXM is also called “poor man’s PCP,” referring to the hallucinogenic drug phencyclidine. Some street names for dextromethorphan abuse are: “robotripping,” “dexing,” and “skittling.”

Signs & Symptoms Of Dextromethorphan (DXM) Addiction

If you’re concerned that someone you love is abusing dextromethorphan (DXM), knowing the signs and symptoms of addiction may help you save their life. Addiction is not just a physically deadly disease—it also destroys your mind, relationships, and quality of life.

Signs and symptoms of DXM addiction include:

• taking DXM often when you’re not sick
• regularly ingesting high doses of DXM to feel its intoxicating effects
• keeping a large supply of DXM products on hand for personal use
• loss of interest in things once loved
• secretive behavior
• neglecting work, school, or other obligations
• seeming euphoric or out of touch with reality much of the time

The line between drug abuse and addiction isn’t always easy to see, but it’s easy to cross. When you can’t control your DXM consumption, even if it’s harming your life and health, you’re addicted.

Dextromethorphan (DXM) Addiction Treatment

If you or a loved one are struggling with DXM addiction, there is hope. Addiction treatment centers like Ark Behavioral Health offer a wide range of therapies for DXM abuse. 

The most effective treatment programs are based on your unique needs. They typically include behavioral therapy, group therapy, and counseling. Other treatment options may be exercise, yoga and meditation, art therapy, and peer support groups.

The goal of DXM addiction treatment is to resolve the root of your substance use disorder. To avoid relapse, you need to know why you are abusing DXM, identify negative thought patterns that lead to substance use, and learn positive coping strategies. 

You also need to replace substance use with healthy sober activities that nurture a substance-free life. At Ark Behavioral Health, we nurture your physical and mental health so you can experience lasting recovery.
To learn more about DXM addiction treatment, reach out to an Ark Behavioral Health treatment specialist today.