Drugs:Fact and Fiction/DXM

What Is DXM?

DXM is the active ingredient found in over the counter cough and cold medications. When taken in recommended doses, these medications are safe and effective.

Health and Safety

In very large quantities, DXM can cause effects similar to those of ketamine and PCP because these drugs affect similar sites in the brain. These effects can include impaired motor function, numbness, nausea/vomiting, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. On rare occasions, hypoxic brain damage—caused by severe respiratory depression and a lack of oxygen to the brain—has occurred due to the combination of DXM with decongestants often found in the medication.

NOTE! Abuse of cough medicine has more serious side effects then those listed here. The amount of cough syrup which contains "recreational" dose of DXM can have a fatal dosage of its other active ingrediates.[1]