DXM

WHAT IS DXM?

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is used as a cough suppressant in some over-the-counter medicines. It is also found in other pain relief treatments. DXM comes in white powder, liquid, tablets or a spray. It’s usually used orally but DXM powder is sometimes snorted. DXM is a strong sedative, dissociative and stimulant drug with psychedelic properties
Young people use DXM to create a drug called lean or purple drank.

OTHER NAMES:

DXM is also known as cough-syrup, Dex, Dextromethorphan, DM, Robo, Skittles, Syrup, Triple-C, Vitamin D, Tussin.

EFFECTS:

• Drugs with psychedelic properties impact our emotions and the way we think. People can have different experiences on DXM depending on the dosage which are sometimes called plateaus.
• These can range from a mild stimulant effect (buzz), to an intoxicating feeling similar to feeling drunk and stoned at the same time.
• High doses of DXM have dissociative effects, meaning you will feel a sense of being “out of your body”.
• At higher doses people can experience increased dissociative effects which may include hallucinations (feeling, seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) and out of body experiences.
• It can make you feel “woozy”, confused and cause you to have less control of your movements

DURATION and COMING DOWN

• DXM can last for 4-6 hours.
• A young person might start to feel the effects of DXM 20-60 minutes after consuming which can peak at 1.5-3 hours in.
• A young person may not feel the drug after 6 hours, it’s still active in your system for up to 24 hours after consumed.
• A young person can experience come down effects from 4 to 72 hours after using.

The ADF has more information about DXM and other drugs.

SOME COMMON HARM REDUCTION STRATERGIES

Encourage a young person to: –

• Try to use in a safe and comfortable environment with people you trust
• Always dose yourself and measure your dose to the mL
• Call an ambulance if you think you or someone else has had too much.
• Avoid using DXM when it is mixed with other medications, these are usually listed on the box or bottle under ‘active’ ingredients.
• DXM should not be mixed with MAOIs as they can be fatal. Some antidepressants, diet drugs and some antihistamines should be avoided because they can be very unsafe when mixed with DXM.
  This is only a little bit of information this Harm Reduction Victoria fact sheet has heaps more.