Harm Reduction Tolerance to DXM, and DXM's effect on Tolerance

[ErgicMergic]

I've been using DXM daily to control dextroamphetamine tolerance for about a month now, usually at 60mg a day, but sometimes at 75mg.

I was wondering, since tolerance builds to the recreational, dissociative (NMDA antagonistic) effects of DXO, do they also build to DXO's ability to regulate amphetamine and opioid tolerance through NMDA antagonism and to DXO's ability to prevent amp neurotoxicity through preventing excititoxicity?

I ask this since my liver's CYP2D6 polymorphism converts more DXM into DXO than most people, and although I've never gotten "high" off of DXM and have never tried it recreationally, I might have felt that something was slightly off the first couple of days taking it in a row, which has either faded away now through tolerance or I have become accustomed to it.

I just wanted to know if using DXM for tolerance prevention requires ever-increasing dosages to retain effectiveness for this purpose.

 

[Alex000]

I wouldn't use that a high a dose for any prolonged period of time due to the fact DXM is neurotoxic itself. I wouldn't use DXM chronically at all, unless perhaps terminally ill and needed very strong pain-relief. I'd suggest at least cutting back to 30 mg daily, and even that is more than you think. I know it does not seem like much, but I can feel something off 30 mg, and I am not particularly sensitive (a little). It certainly doesn't get me feeling really good or anything, but something. But taking 75 mg, and I would be sure to feel more than a little off. I can go higher and be okay, but after having had experience with DXM, sometimes lower doses become more palpable. Perhaps reverse tolerance? But, I would suspect it is more psychological than anything. I don't know for sure.

 

[ErgicMergic]

Good point, I should include that 60mg is never taken all at once. Rather, if dosing with DXM HBr (instant release), I take 30mg, then redose with 15mg at t+3:00, then 7.5mg boosters from then on every 2 hours. So there's no massive spike of DXM to be converted in to DXO or anything. Is DXM neurotoxic due to 5-HT reuptake, or is it DXO that has neurotoxic NMDA antagonistic effects at higher dosages. I've also been taking 30-45mg daily, but have increased it to 60-75mg in the last 1.5 weeks.

I just bought some Delsym today, however, which includes DXM Polistirex (DXM HBr in a time released formulation), and I was surprised to see that it says not to exceed 20mL in a 24 hour period, which is 120mg DXM extended release, on the bottle. I doubt it would include that if it were knowingly neurotoxic.

From what I've researched, 90mg of DXM or less daily is not neurotoxic.

 

[adder]

^ Not neurotoxic when taken once in a blue moon, e.g. you've got cough so you can take 30mg every 6-8 hrs but definitely it's not indicated for prolonged use. Would you still use something that doesn't help you for something? I guess not. So if you took 3-4 doses throughout the day and it didn't help at all, then it's better to consult a physician. OTC drugs are to treat some light conditions short-term.

 

[ErgicMergic]

Adder, the DXM has been taken simply to prevent tolerance and neurotoxicity to amps, not for cough suppression.

 

[sekio]

DXM is non-neurotoxic in humans as far as I know. The whole Olneys Lesions drama that cropped up in the late 90s never seemed to pan out in humans or primates.

As far as I know the effetcs on tolerance development are mediated by the NMDA antagonism, and are highly variable between people. Of course DXM is a multifaceted drug that acts via a wide variety of effects, so just ecause you don't feel a headspace alteration doesn't mean you're not being effected.

 

[Alex000]

I would rather suspect the DXM itself is more neurotoxic than the DXO. This is purely speculation, and I have NO facts to back this up, but I do have a strong hunch. BTW, I don't know what it would say on a bottle of Tylenol, but I certainly would not take a dose near the upper daily limit of 3 g, knowing that it is a nasty hepatoxin, which is active in such toxicity even at very regular therapeutic doses, so I would be weary of dosing indications on the Delsym bottle.

 

[PinK~cloud]

I've found through personal use that DXM helps with prevention AND recovery from amps. Maybe it's placebo, but I seem to regain my energy back (both mental and physical), and lessen a lot of the WD's when I use DXM in the ~200 mg range here and there.