DXM or dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant available in a variety of over-the-counter cough and cold medications.  DXM is abused because, when it is taken in doses that dramatically exceed the recommended dose, it can produce hallucinations and a sense of dissociation.

 

What does it look like?

 

As an over-the-counter, DXM is available in various forms including tablets, capsules, liquids, gel caps, and lozenges.  DXM powder--prepared by extracting the drug from cough syrup-- is being sold on the Internet.

 

Who abuses DXM, and how is it abused?

 

Sold over-the-counter on open shelves, medications containing DXM are readily available and even susceptible to shoplifting.  Law enforcement sources indicate that teenagers and young adults are the principal abusers of DXM. The accessibility and relatively low price make cough and cold medications particularly attractive to young people.

 

In the past, cough syrup was the most commonly abused form of the drug.  Abusers consumed large doses -- usually at least half of an 8-ounce bottle -- by drinking the liquid very fast.  Consumption of large quantities of cough syrup induces vomiting.  So to achieve the desired effects, abusers must drink the cough syrup quickly enough to allow the body to absorb the DXM before vomiting occurs.

 

 

What are the risks?

 

DXM is generally safe when users adhere to the recommended dosage.  However, individuals who abuse DXM drink much higher doses, which produce hallucinations and dissociative effects similar to those experienced with PCP (phencyclidine) or Ketamine.  While the user is under the influence of the drug which can last as long as 6 hours, they risk injuring themselves and others because of the drug's effects on visual perception and cognitive processes.

Side effects associated with DXM abuse are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, fingers and toes, seizures, brain damage, and death.

 

Street Terms:

Dex, DM, Drex, Robo, Rojo, Skittles, Triple C, and Velvet.