Robotripping: A Guide for Parents About DXM Tripping

What is Robotripping?

Dextromethorphan is available as an over-the-counter formulation that can temporarily alleviate coughing triggered by flu, colds, or other ailments. DMX belongs to a class of medications called antitussives [1].

DXM is available by itself and in combination products with medications like decongestants and antihistamines. While the synthetic substance DXM is related to opioids, it does not cause analgesia, and it has minimal sedating effect.

When taken in high doses, the effects of dextromethorphan abuse are similar to the effects of ketamine and PCP (phencyclidine). Indeed, a slang term for DXM is poor man’s PCP. As a result, people, particularly young adults and teens, abuse dextromethorphan for its hallucinogenic and euphoric effects.

As a parent, understanding the risks and warning signs of DXM abuse can help you recognize if your child might be experimenting with this substance and take action before it escalates.

The misuse or abuse of DXM goes by many names, including:

• Robotripping
• Skittling
• Dexing

According to this DXM factsheet, [2] published by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the most abused products associated with robotripping are:

• Robitussin [3]
• Coricidin [4]

Both of these are over-the-counter cough and cold medicines.

The DEA states that four different plateaus [5] or levels can occur during a robotrip:

1. First plateau: Doses of DXM from 100mg to 200mg induce mild stimulation.
2. Second plateau: At doses between 200mg and 400mg, you will experience euphoria and/or auditory and visual hallucinations.
3. Third plateau: DXM doses between 300mg and 600mg can distort visual perceptions and cause problems with motor coordination.
4. Fourth plateau: The highest DXM plateau occurs at doses from 500mg to 1,500mg. DXM doses this high can bring about dissociative sedation [6].

The abuse of DXM for these recreational effects, known as robotripping, comes with some dangers that we’ll highlight below.

Research shows [7] that the effects of taking high doses of DXM take effect after 30 to 60 minutes, peaking between two and four hours. Your BMI (body mass index) and the dose of DXM will influence the speed at which it kicks in.

Robotripping effects typically wear off after around six hours. The following variables can impact the duration of effects:

• Dose of DXM
• Your size and weight
• Other active ingredients
• Amount of food in your stomach

Robotripping Symptoms

The physical effects induced by DXM abuse vary according to the individual and the dose, as well as the type of DXM – some DXM products contain various active ingredients, all producing their own effects.

Potential side effects of robotripping include:

• Nausea
• Hot flashes
• Sweating
• Itching
• Rash
• Increased body temperature
• Slurred speech
• Lethargy
• Dizziness
• Hyperactivity
• Slow breathing
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat
• Unconsciousness
• Involuntary eye movements
• Seizure
• Overdose

The Dangers of DXM and Robotripping

Substance abuse among young adults and teens often involves the misuse of over-the-counter medications like DXM, posing serious health risks, especially for frequent dextromethorphan users. If you suspect your child is robotripping, it’s crucial to understand the potential dangers associated with this risky form of recreational drug use.

• These dangers include:
• Engaging in risky behaviors
• Increased risk of overdose and toxicity in some people
• Can cause respiratory depression
• Possibility of liver damage
• Heatstroke

By staying informed, you can better identify warning signs and help your child avoid the severe consequences of robotripping.

1) Engaging in risky behaviors

Taken in high doses, DXM is linked with dangerous behaviors stemming from the following effects:

• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Psychosis

If your child is robotripping, the dissociative effects of DXM can cause them to lose touch with reality, increasing the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors they would normally avoid.

Research [8] has linked DXM misuse to serious outcomes, including assault, homicide, and even suicide.

2) Increased risk of overdose and toxicity in some people

According to DEA reports, between 5% and 10% of Caucasians struggle to efficiently metabolize DXM.

For this population, it takes longer for DXM to leave the system, heightening the risk of fatal overdose.

3) Can cause respiratory depression

As a CNS depressant [9], DXM depresses the central nervous system. The CNS is responsible for controlling your breathing.

If large doses of DXM prevent the lungs from exchanging carbon dioxide and oxygen, this can trigger respiratory depression [10]. When untreated, the resultant slow and shallow breathing can cause respiratory arrest, with deadly consequences.

4) Possibility of liver damage

Many OTC medications containing DXM also contain acetaminophen [11]. This can cause serious liver damage, possibly fatal when consumed in large doses.

5) Heatstroke

DXM has been associated with heat stroke and other heat emergencies. This is due to how the medication disrupts your body’s temperature regulation.

The risk of developing heatstroke when robotripping is magnified if you engage in physical exertion like dancing, as is common with young recreational DXM users. For this reason, the condition is sometimes called rave-related heatstroke.

• Note: If your child takes DXM with other substances, whether OTC medications, prescription medications, or illicit drugs, this can provoke serious interactions. Taking DXM in combination with other CNS depressants significantly increases the risk of overdose, respiratory arrest, and death.

How Long Does DMX Take to Kick In?

You may be worried that your child or a loved one may have taken a dangerous dose of DXM and are wondering, “how long does DXM take to hit?”.

While it should be noted that not all doses of DXM can cause overdose, a high dose can cause unwanted psychological and physical effects. In any case of ingesting DMX, it can start to take effect within 30 minutes to 2 hours after consumption.

This timeline can vary depending on the individual’s unique metabolism, the amount they took, and the form the drug is in.

DXM in different forms typically follows this timeline:

1. DXM Syrup or Liquid: 30 minutes-1 hour.
2. DXM Pills or Gel Capsules: Around 1-2 hours.
3. Extended-Release Formulations: Up to 2-4 hours.

If you have concerns that when DMX hits you or your child, or a loved one will have overdose symptoms, read on to learn more about what to do.

Dextromethorphan Overdose

While Dextromethorphan is generally safe when used as directed, DXM overdose can occur at high doses following misuse. When more than the recommended dosage is taken, several intense effects can occur, including:

1. Hallucinations (out-of-body experiences)
2. Confusion
3. Dizziness
4. Impaired mobility
5. Elevated heart rate
6. And Seizures

While some of these symptoms may not seem dangerous, in extreme cases, these hallucinations and confusion spells can lead to a serious dissociative state where the individuals lose touch with reality and experience delusions, becoming a danger to themselves and others.

When used recreationally, DXM is often combined with other drugs, which heightens the risk of severe or deadly overdose symptoms. Serious complications like difficulty breathing, organ failure, and even death can occur in a situation where more than one drug is being taken.

It is highly unadvised to take more than the recommended dosage of DMX for recreational purposes with the amount of risk associated with cold medicine abuse.

If your child or loved one is exhibiting DMX overdose symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately for medical intervention. 

In non-emergency situations, having someone drive the impaired individual to the hospital for care is recommended if health concerns arise.

How to Stop Robotripping

If you’re concerned that your child may be robotripping or struggling with a cough syrup addiction, our team at Renaissance Recovery is here to help. Learning to stop an addiction is not something you can do on your own, in fact the DXM withdrawal symptoms can lead to a number of physical and mental health problems that can even be life-threatening in certain situations.

Addiction is not something to be ignored and likely not something you can solve on your own. Addiction is a disease and, like other diseases, needs professional help to treat. Our team at Renaissance Recovery can provide you with the support and tools you need to fight back against addiction and learn how to stop robotripping.

Robotripping FAQs

What does robotripping mean?

Robotripping refers to the recreational use of cold medications and cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (DXM) to achieve dissociative and hallucinogenic effects. Users consume these medicines in large quantities, often exceeding recommended dosages, in order to experience altered perception, intense hallucinations, and a sense of detachment from reality.

How long does it take for DXM to kick in?

DXM generally takes 30 to 60 minutes to take effect after ingestion. However, individual factors like metabolism, dosage, and form of DXM used can influence the onset time. The effects of DXM can last for several hours, with peak intensity occurring around 2 to 3 hours after ingestion. It is important to consider these factors and the potential variability in onset and duration when using DXM.

How long does a DXM trip last?

The duration of robotripping, the recreational use of cough medicine containing dextromethorphan (DXM), can vary depending on factors such as dosage and individual metabolism. Generally, the effects of robotripping can last anywhere from 4 to 8 hours.

Stop DXM Addiction at Renaissance Recovery

While dextromethorphan (DXM) is legally available, its misuse in the form of “robotripping” can lead to serious and lasting effects on your child, including dependence and drug addiction. At Renaissance Recovery, we specialize in outpatient addiction treatment, offering the same services as residential rehab at a more affordable cost.

If your child is struggling with severe substance use disorders resulting from robotripping, we provide intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP). Our dual diagnosis treatment program addresses co-occurring mental health disorders alongside addiction.

Our evidence-based treatments include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), individual and group counseling, family therapy, and psychotherapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

After completing our program, you or your loved one can transition back to daily life or move to a less intensive outpatient program. In either case, they’ll leave with new coping skills, a relapse prevention plan, and ongoing aftercare support.

To take the first step, contact admissions at 866-330-9449.

Sources

[1] https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/antitussives.html

[2] https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/dextro_m.pdf

[3] https://www.robitussin.com/

[4] https://www.coricidinhbp.com/

[5] https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/dextro_m.pdf

[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21193552/

[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652430/

[8] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22537430/

[9] https://go.drugbank.com/categories/DBCAT000399

[10] https://www.healthline.com/health/respiratory-depression

[11] https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a681004.html

[12] https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery