Note: this is not the DXM FAQ! It is located at http://www.frognet.net/dxm and should be read before trying DXM!

• 1st plateau (100-250mg): Great for conversation, yet can be a powerful trip. It all depends on the mindset. Usually one is very empathetic, and has great insights to everything. Also, the physical aspects (robo walk, the drippy feeling, etc) are present. The 1st plateau, when in a good, carefree mode, can be good for a party, or concert, though you should try and act normal, of course.
  
  
• 2nd plateau (250-450mg): All the effects of the 1st plateau are present, with the addition of more euphoria, a decreased sense of time and a decreased sense of surroundings.
  
  
• 3rd plateau (450-800mg): Many of the effects of the first two plateaus are present, yet they seem to take on a totally different "shape". This is hard to explain. Visual (closed-eye-visual, mostly) hallucinations are present, mostly spirals, or visions of fluid. Insights are extraordinary. One may tend to shut him/herself away from other people in order to explore themselves at this plateau. This is definitely not a party plateau. I've found that this plateau could be some sort of "transition" between the physical and the mental that occurs on some sort of "highway". The spiraling shapes and the fluid could be the highway that the transition is made on. This is often comparable to space. While on this highway, thoughts and feelings of one's life will pop up. General thinking becomes deeper and more enhanced.
  
  
• 4th plateau (800-1800mg): The highway can be crossed at this plateau. What is on the other side of the highway could be anything. Alien encounters, out of body experiences, etc are not uncommon. I haven't had reports on any of these things, though. I don't have to mention that the 4th plateau is not for beginners. Note that anything above 1200mg is really dangerous and should not be done without close access to a hospital and a smart trip-sitter. Actually, for all intents and purposes, it shouldn't be done over 1000mg.
  
  
• 5th plateau (1800mg-????): There have been some reports of a 5th plateau. They include nothing of what is typically a DXM trip. It involves profuse sweating, extreme nausea, and blackouts. After effects can last up to 2 days afterwards. This is pretty much a DXM OVER-overdose. Obviously, this is not fun. I've only included it here because there is a distinct point beyond the fourth plateau where all the fun effects of DXM are replaced by negative effects. I call it "the point of no return". Unless you want to go through a physical and mental hell, don't try and hit this point.
  
  

The toxic dose of DXM is around 3000 mg. I've heard of people taking this much and living, though they went into a sort of coma in which they tripped for about a week, involving profuse sweating and vomiting.

A good first dose is about a 4 oz bottle of robitussin, or around 354 mg. Most people, after being experienced with DXM, level off at a prefferred dose of between 450 mg and 600 mg. Then again, some more experienced psychonauts prefer stronger doses.

Most DXM experiences are good, though some can be bad. DXM is something that an experienced tripper should use, and is generally not a good first psychedelic. The bad experiences are the ones that generally are the first and last experiences. The causes could be that a person took too much on the first try and became overwhelmed, or that a person wasn't ready for the trip. Another cause of a bad trip could be that a person was in a bad mood when he/she took it. Never use ANY psychedelic as a mood-lifter. Psychedelics are enhancers. If you are in a bad mood when you take a psychedelic, you will feel worse during the trip. Only use psychedelics when you feel really good.

After taking a typical 2nd/3rd plateau dose, one could experience all, none, or some of the following:

• A (sometimes very unpleasant) feeling of knowing one's true self.
  
• Possible recollections of sweet/painful memories, feelings, etc. that one hasn't remembered in years, possibly childhood memories. Though they usually aren't specific (not one particular memory could be exhibited), they are still powerful.
  
• Empathy is a common DXM trait. It can be very bitter-sweet.
  
• Strange things really seem to make sense. Though most seem stupid, I am positive that they are somehow connected to the sub-conscious. This is comparable to a dream. Most dreams seem pointless and stupid at face value, but all dreams hold symbols of the subconscious.
  
• . Connections can be seen throughout many things. If a person remembers these connections after the trip, they will make even greater connections when applied to everyday (sober) life.
  
• Disoriented feelings of being very small, surrounded by a huge world around you. This world is an enhancement of the room/environment you are in.
  
• Various physical/visual/auditory feelings. Sound seems very strange. Some people think sounds are remarkable on DXM (crystal clear, and very ambient), others think sounds sound cheap and "plastic". Sounds can be comparable to having ears all over the body, thus sound can be heard from every part of the body and from every direction. This can be frightening if you don't know how to handle it.
  
• Dilated pupils, the (in)famous robo walk, the drippy feeling (feeling like you are a thick fluid), and other typical DXM characteristics.
  

I want to take DXM, where should I start?

Whoa...not so fast! DXM isn't a toy. DXM isn't something that you can light up in a bowl, and have a good 3 hours with trippy visuals and colorful sounds. DXM is an inner journey that can be either horrible or beautiful. It depends on the type of person you are. A vast majority of people dislike DXM. DXM should not be abused because it will seriously make you an unhappy person. If you are unhappy, don't use DXM. DXM will elevate your unhappiness. It won't make you forget your problems. In fact, throughout the period of a DXM trip, these problems might surface and, combined with the empathy characteristic of DXM, will make you even more unhappy.

For some (I emphasize some) people, DXM is a beautiful thing that they can learn from. If used occasionally (best results are at most once a month), and responsibly, DXM can be beneficial. You generally need to be a positive, happy person who wants to use DXM to explore the mind, and not to get "fucked up". If you want to use DXM to fuck you up, you should not use it. If you want to get fucked up, drink a couple beers.

I suggest that you use mental exploration and meditation to reach altered states of consciousness, and not drugs. Although doing this requires a great amount of time and effort, it is always the most effective and the best. Using a drug to do it is the faster way out and it has it's side effects such as puking, being fucked up, confusion, pure horror, etc, not to mention the infamous DXM hangover.

I don't advocate the use of recreational DXM. I'm just relaying the facts so that people can make intelligent decisions. If you are not sure if you want to do this -- don't. Don't do it until you are sure.

If you don't want to get "fucked up" and have a legitimate use for DXM, then you are ready to try it. A good starting dose is around 150-300 mg. If you start at a high dose, you will become overwhelmed by something you don't understand. If you try and learn rocket science before learning algebra, you will not succeed. If you try a high dose of DXM without understanding it first, you will not like it. It will be 6 hours of confusion...you won't know what the hell is going on. On the other hand, if you start at a low dose, you will get very slight taste of yourself and the drug...this usually is good, but can be unpleasant. Use your best judgement.

Notes on DXM Addiction:

Although many people say that DXM is not addictive, I beg to differ. DXM is mentally addictive. You may like DXM so much that you continue to use it often. What many people realize after over-doing DXM is that the trips get repetitive and lost effect. The trips become dull and un fulfilling. DXM is something that gets old really easy and really fast. When you start doing DXM frequently, you'll find the trips are a waste of time and are very boring. Ecspcially at a higher dose. Be responsible and wait a few months to try DXM again if you get to this point.

So you may ask what responsible DXM use is. I can't quite explain that because it's different for everyone. A good general rule is to trip about once a month, when you really feel like exploring. Like I said earlier, if you want to get fucked up, then go get some beer. If you are underage and cough syrup is the only thing available (which seems like it's always the case), then just go to sleep.

Many people have the notion that if something is mentally addicting, and not physically addicting, they will be able to stop at any time. This is the wrong idea to have. When something, namely DXM, is mentally addicting, it isn't easy to stop doing. If you find yourself addicted to DXM, then when you get a craving to try it, realize that you could be addicted and focus your mind on something else. Go out for a drive, or a walk. Go see a movie. With time, you'll realize that you can do other stuff to pass your time. In a few months, you might genuinely be ready to try DXM one time. Maybe you will never be truly ready to try DXM. That's what you get for doing DXM every night.

Differences in Active Ingredients

Well...there are only a small number of cough medicines that are perfect for taking DXM, ie have only DXM as an active ingredient. There is the classic Robitussin Maximum Stregnth Cough. Then there is Vicks 44 cough. And then you have generics. In finding what ingredients you don't want, look on the back of the box/label for the active ingredients. Here are some tips:

• Acetaminophen is a HUGE no-no! It will destroy your liver and will kill you in a slow, painful death. This means No Nyquil!
  
• Pseudoephidrine will make the trip feel a lot speedier. Some people wouldn't recommend this due to high blood pressure or heart problems. It is used to clear nasal passages in low doses. I'd say avoid this if you can.
  
• Guaifenisin (sp?) will make you vomit, usually before all the DXM has been absorbed into the system. It is an expectorant, which means that in low doses, it loosens flem. In higher doses, it loosens a lot more than flem.
  
• Diphenhydramine will make you fall asleep (refer to the dramamine/marezine connection at the bottom of the main page).
  
• chlorpheniramine maleate is an antihistamine. It is usually found in Coricidin Cough and Cold. It could make a trip feel edgy and jittery. Some have said that it destroys the quality of the trip and can even cause panic. Avoid this if you can.
  
• Dextromethorphan polystirex, found in Delsym, is okay to take. Polystirex is an edible plastic coating developed to make certain medicines time-released. The trip could be longer, but usually the hangover is longer, instead.
  
• Benylin has been known to contain castor oil, which is supposed to be an expectorant. It will cause a person to have his/her trip on the toilet with vomiting and diarrhea. Avoid Benylin at all costs.
  
• Usually the multi-symptom cough medicines have lots of bad stuff in them. Stick with the DM syrups, or the ones that concentrate on one thing.