Many thanks to dancesafe.org (
DanceSafe) for allowing the reprinting of this article with information on the dangers behind DXM. The original is at http://dancesafe.org/dxm.html.
What is DXM?
DXM is
dextromethorphan. It is a legal
cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cough syrups. In high doses it acts as a "
dissociative anaesthetic" like
ketamine (http://dancesafe.org/ketamine.html) or
PCP. A high dose will cause you to feel very spacey and "out of it," and you may lose
motor control (your legs may feel wobbly, for example, or at very high doses you won't be able to move much at all). It can also produce audio and
visual hallucinations, and can sometimes cause
nausea and itchy skin.
Some people use
DXM recreationally. When they do, they nearly always do it at home, in bed or on their couch.
DXM is definitely not a
dance drug, and getting scammed with a DXM tablet when you are expecting
ecstasy is no fun at all. It can also be quite dangerous.
Watch Out!
High doses of DXM have contributed to numerous cases of rave-related
heatstroke. Most heatstroke emergencies
DanceSafe volunteers have witnessed around the country have resulted after an individual unsuspectingly consumed
DXM rather than
MDMA (http://dancesafe.org/ecstasy.html). Many drugs can increase the risk of heatstroke in a hot environment by inhibiting the body's ability to regulate its temperature. Both
MDMA and
DXM carry this risk, but
anecdotal evidence suggests
DXM is much more likely to contribute to life-threatening heatstroke reactions at
raves (especially when taking multiple tablets).
Correction: In previous literature we reported that DXM had "
anti-cholinergic" effects. Upon a more careful review of the medical literature, this appears not to be the case. The
pharmacological activity of DXM that increases heatstroke potential is less cut and dry, and is likely related to its effects on
serotonin. Also, while DXM tablets are more likely to induce
medical emergencies in dance environments when they are being passed off as "
ecstasy" to unsuspecting consumers, serious adverse reactions are rare among purposeful DXM users who consume the drug in home environments.
Don't Mix different brands of E together.
It is even more dangerous to combined
DXM with real
Ecstasy. Both drugs are metabolized through the same liver enzyme,
CYP-2D6 (pronounced "sip-two-dee-six), which means that if you combine them together your liver will not be able to break them down as efficiently as it should. This can lead to significantly heightened effects from the
DXM, and a much greater chance of suffering a heatstroke reaction.
What if you think you have accidentally ingested DXM?
Taking breaks from dancing, and staying hydrated are always the best ways to reduce the risk of heatstroke at a rave. If you think you may have accidentally consumed a pill containing DXM, however, you should probably not dance at all, and should stay in a cool environment. Have some friends watch out for you, and chill out for the evening. Remember, your chances of
heatstroke are greater if you have consumed
DXM, and greatest if you have consumed both
MDMA and
DXM together.
Can I Tell if a Pill has DXM in it Before I Take It?
Yes. The
Ecstasy Testing Kit (http://dancesafe.org/testingkits.html) can identify pills which contain DXM.
Why are people selling DXM as "Ecstasy?"
DXM is cheap, legal and easy to obtain, while making
MDMA is expensive and risky. This is why people are selling DXM as ecstasy: to cash in on the high demand for MDMA without undergoing the risk or expense. The manufacturers of these
fake pills are trying to make money, but they may not be aware of the dangers they are inflicting upon users. Help spread the word about the dangers of DXM being sold as ecstasy.
Here are some informative websites on DXM:
http://ramindy.sghms.ac.uk/~ltg/dxm.htm
http://www.lycaeum.org/drugs/DXM
http://www.erowid.org/dxm
http://www.frognet.net/dxm/contents.html
For more information on the
adulterated market and the need for
adulerant screening, visit http://dancesafe.org/pilltesting.html.