Treatment for a dextromethorphan overdose may include breathing support, medications that block the effects of the drug, laxatives, activated charcoal and intravenous fluids. Hospital staff may employ aggressive cooling techniques to treat dangerously high body temperature or administer benzodiazepines to control seizures.
What are the treatment options for DXM?
Mar 11, 2022 · When treating DXM abuse and addiction, the first step is detox. Medical detox has proven to be the best way to avoid any complications during withdrawal symptoms. After detox, inpatient rehab is the next step. There, you will be under the 24-hour care of a fully trained medical staff. The staff will help you learn life skills, coping mechanisms ...
What is DXM?
Nov 29, 2021 · Inpatient rehab centers may use a combination of individual and group therapy, recreational or music therapy, 12-step groups, and vocational training. Outpatient treatment. Some people may prefer outpatient recovery, which uses many of the same treatments as inpatient rehab but on a less intense scale .
What are the effects of DXM on the brain?
Caleb needed DXM drug rehab. However, one of his friends was visiting from out of town, and he had to pick him up at the train station. By this point, he was taking 7.5 mg every three hours to intensify his high. After picking up his friend, Caleb became confused and disoriented. He accidentally turned the wrong way on a one-way street.
Why do people use high-dose DXM?
Aug 24, 2019 · A young adult rehab program in Mahanoy City PA provides the right type of support and treatment for these types of addiction. To find out more or to find answers for your questions about DXM abuse, contact Silver Pines Treatment Center today.
How do you reverse the effects of dextromethorphan?
Naloxone has been shown to be effective in antagonizing the effects of a number of narcotic and related drugs. Its successful use in managing a patient with an overdose of dextromethorphan extends its application as a specific antidote.
How is dextromethorphan overdose treated?
If a person is overdosing on DXM, they require emergency medical attention. Call 911 immediately. There are no drugs that counteract a DXM overdose; the only way they can survive the condition is to get help in a hospital immediately.
Can u OD on dextromethorphan?
Dextromethorphan is a medicine that helps stop coughing. It is an opioid substance. Dextromethorphan overdose occurs when someone takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medicine.Oct 3, 2019
Is dextromethorphan habit forming?
In a recently published study, Soyka and colleagues showed that the NMDA antagonist dextromethorphan, as a glutamate antagonist, has addictive potential in that it produces a psychotropic effect similar to that of alcohol (9). Dextromethorphan rarely produces side effects when given at low doses.Jul 30, 2010
Can I take 60 mg of dextromethorphan?
For cough: Adults and children 12 years of age and older—60 mg every twelve hours, as needed. Children 6 to 12 years of age—30 mg every twelve hours, as needed.Feb 1, 2022
How does dextromethorphan affect the brain?
DXM also depresses brain function, particularly the parts of the brain that control breathing and heart function. Taking a lot of DXM causes hallucinations and out-of-body sensations similar to the ones caused by drugs like ketamine and PCP. These effects can last as long as 6 hours.
How much guaifenesin is too much?
The maximum recommended adult dose of guaifenesin is a total of 2400mg per day. Guaifenesin does not need to be taken with food. If the symptoms persist for more than a few days, or worsen, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Can dextromethorphan cause liver damage?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that chronic use and abuse of DXM can also result in: An excess buildup of acid in the body fluids. Liver damage when DXM is consumed in medications that also contained acetaminophen.
How long does DXM last?
The recommended safe dosages for the use of DXM vary between 15 mg and 30 mg taken within a four-hour period. Taking the medication in this dosage and at these recommended time periods will not result in any significant effects, and the antitussive effects will typically last throughout the timespan associated with this recommended use. Of course, individuals who abuse the drug will not adhere to this recommended schedule.
Is DXM an opiate?
DXM is actually produced from a derivative of morphine, but it is not an opiate and has a different mechanism of action from opiate drugs like Vicodin, OxyContin, heroin, morphine, etc. DXM has an affinity for receptors in the brain that are specialized for the excitatory neurotransmitter NDMA (N-methyl-D-aspartate). It is an antagonist for NDMA, meaning it inhibits the actions and release of NDMA, and this action accounts for its efficacy in suppressing the coughing reflex.
Can you abuse DXM with alcohol?
According to NIDA, individuals who abuse DXM often take it in combination with alcohol, cannabis products, central nervous system depressants like narcotic medications or benzodiazepines, and stimulant medications. Of course, this can result in a complicated situation as polysubstance abuse can typically present with a number of mixed effects and very serious complications that result from combining different drugs.
What is DXM? What You Need to Know
The recommended dosage for DXM in a syrup or gel capsule is 10 to 20 milligrams every four to six hours. This is a safe dosage that helps you with your cough without presenting any danger. By contrast, the dosage for recreational use is usually between 240 and 1,500 milligrams. This is a significant increase in the dosage.
Dependency and Withdrawal from DXM
So, what type of drug is DXM? As with any other drug, the longer you take DXM, the more your body builds a tolerance to it. This means that you have to keep consuming the drug to get high. The more you take, the higher the risk is that you will suffer a severe side effect.
Get Off of DXM Today with Professional Help
What is DXM? Now that you know what it is and how dangerous it can be, you can get off of it today. Silver Pines Treatment Center offers comprehensive treatment for DXM and other drug or alcohol addiction. To find out more, feel free to call us at [Direct]. We can provide the right detox and treatment to help you get clean.
Where can I buy DXM?
DXM users can obtain the drug at almost any pharmacy or supermarket, seeking out the products with the highest concentration of the drug from among all the OTC cough and cold remedies that contain it. DXM products and powder can also be purchased on the Internet.
What is DXM abuse?
DXM abuse has traditionally involved drinking large volumes of the OTC liquid cough preparations.
What is DXM cough suppressant?
WHAT IS DXM? Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough suppressor found in more than 120 over-the- counter (OTC) cold medications, either alone or in combination with other drugs such as analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen), antihistamines (e.g., chlorpheniramine), decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine), and/ or expectorants (e.g., guaifenesin).
How did DXM kill a 14 year old boy?
In 2003, a 14-year-old boy in Colorado who abused DXM died when he was hit by two cars as he attempted to cross a highway. State law enforcement investigators suspect that the drug affected the boy’s depth perception and caused him to misjudge the distance and speed of the oncoming vehicles.
Can DXM cause death?
DXM overdose can be treated in an emergency room setting and generally does not result in severe medical consequences or death. Most DXM- related deaths are caused by ingesting the drug in combination with other drugs . DXM-related deaths also occur from impairment of the senses, which can lead to accidents.
Is DXM dangerous?
DXM intoxication involves: • Over-excitability, lethargy, loss of coordination, slurred speech, sweating, hypertension, nausea, vomiting, and involuntary spasmodic movement of the eyeballs The use of high doses of DXM in combination with alcohol or other drugs is particularly dangerous, and deaths have been reported.
Is DXM powder safe?
DXM powder, sold over the Internet, is also a source of DXM for abuse. (The powdered form of DXM poses additional risks to the user due to the uncertainty of composition and dose.) DXM is also distributed in illicitly manufactured tablets containing only DXM or mixed with . DXM .
What does DXM stand for?
Withdrawal from DXM. Overdose. Professional Assistance. DXM stands for dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant found in over-the-counter cough, cold, and flu medicines. It is often found in both gel capsules and cough syrups. It is a dissociative anesthetic at very high doses, producing psychedelic effects.
What are the side effects of DXM?
Taking DXM for nonmedical reasons for a long time or in large amounts can cause various side effects, such as: 1 Hot flashes 2 Sweating 3 Rashes or red, blotchy skin (not an allergic reaction) 4 Dizziness 5 Lethargy 6 Nausea and vomiting 7 Loss of coordination 8 Slurred speech 9 Impaired judgment 10 Reduced cognitive ability 11 Nystagmus, or rapid eye movements 12 Visual disturbances 13 Disorientation 14 A sensation of floating 15 Panic attacks 16 Paranoia 17 Hypertension, or increased blood pressure 18 Tachycardia, or increased heart rate 19 Dissociation from the body 20 Altered perception of time 21 Hallucinations, typically visual or auditory but sometimes tactile 22 Seizures
How many people died from DXM in 2014?
The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that, in 2014, there were 45,748 cases of DXM poisoning (some of which were accidental); 33,811 single exposures to the drug; and six deaths from DXM abuse. Symptoms of DXM overdose include:
How long does DXM last?
Effects from DXM typically begin within 15-30 minutes after the substance is ingested. Euphoria, hallucinations, and negative side effects can last for several hours, usually between three and six hours. In 2006, 3.1 million Americans between the ages of 12 and 25 reported recreational abuse of DXM at least once in their lives, ...
How long does it take for DXM to work?
The scale they report shows the following effects with specific doses: Effects from DXM typically begin within 15-30 minutes after the substance is ingested.
What age group is most likely to abuse DXM?
Adolescents ages 12-20 make up 51 percent of hospitalizations from DXM overdose. Although some states prevent adolescents from purchasing cough or cold medicines due to DXM abuse problems, this age group is the most likely to abuse this substance. Nearly every household has DXM products in the medicine cabinet.
What are the symptoms of DXM?
Hypertension, or increased blood pressure. Tachycardia, or increased heart rate. Dissociation from the body. Altered perception of time. Hallucinations, typically visual or auditory but sometimes tactile. Seizures. People who abuse DXM regularly are likely to develop physical tolerance to, and dependence on, the drug.
The Mechanism of Action of DXM
The Effects of DXM
- The effects associated with taking any drug or medication will vary by the dosage or amount takes, and DXM is no exception this case. The recommended safe dosages for the use of DXM vary between 15 mg and 30 mg taken within a four-hour period. Taking the medication in this dosage and at these recommended time periods will not result in any significant effects, and th…
Statistics on DXM Abuse
- The latest data available from SAMHSA indicates an increasing trend for abuse of antitussive agents for the period of 2004-2011. Again, the results indicate a general increasing trend over this time period. SAMHSA and the DEA report that the abuse of DXM can occur across all age groups, but it is primarily focused in younger individuals between the ages of 12 and 26. In addition, SA…
Recognizing Signs of DXM Abuse and Getting Help
- According to NIDA, individuals who abuse DXM often take it in combination with alcohol, cannabis products, central nervous system depressants like narcotic medications or benzodiazepines, and stimulant medications. Of course, this can result in a complicated situation as polysubstance abusecan typically present with a number of mixed effects and very serious complications that r…