Whats with this weird head feeling after DXM binges + lyrica withdrawal?

[Greenonion76]

i've already posted something exactly like this to the forum before, not to burden anyone but i want more detailed proper explanations and advice

as context, i’d been abusing DXM recreationally (initially 200mg 2x per week, then 375mg 1-2x per week. but by october 2025 i suddenly got huge cravings so i was having way more of it than normal, probably like multiple bottles in one day day all of a sudden) for 1 year and pregabalin recreationally for 3 or 4 months (initially 300mg 1-2x per week, by october 5-8x a week) by this point in time (I have been sober since october 2025). by october 2025 i never spent a day sober, i was always taking either pregabalin or DXM, over time the intervals between either substance got shorter and shorter, and i started having more benders of DXM due to uncontrollable cravings. these felt a lot different than the normal 2nd plat dose. instead of the usual “nostalgic, pleasant, slightly dissocated feeling”i remember a lot of dread, dysphoria, hallucinations, more intense dissociation. on halloween, just before downing my final bottle, i already noticed my the sensations at the top of my head felt weird. upon administration i remember the worst panic attack i’ve ever had in my life, i could barely see what was going on around me, which was very unusual for me on DXM. the day after (november 1st) even long after the feelings of panic and terror had gone away the entire time my head had felt as though my brain had turned into stone, i could feel my brain in my head. it’s very hard to describe. i can’t tell if it really has improved or only my perception of it has evolved, but i feel as though it might be gradually getting better especially if i fast (and it worsens whenever anxious or sleep deprived). i have been sober since october because idk if drugs are safe because of how my head feels and i dont understand how exactly this happened. i am not condoning or encouraging creational drug abuse, i just cant seem to find any relevant info about this anywhere on the internet (doctors think it is anxiety or DP DR. i don’t think it’s either. all UK doctors have never heard of DXM anyway or at least recreational use of it) i think i might have non visual HPPD i’m not entirely sure. it might have something to do with both drugs depleting glutamate or something. as of march 2025, especially whenever fasting, sometimes all of my surroundings suddenly feel unuusally vivid and nostalgic (which feels more pleasant) or sloppy slimy gooey (unpleasant) out of nowhere i’ve never had this before.

• since october i've had no more DXM, pregabalin, or weed. only "drugs" i've touched ever since is mirtazapine, lorazepam, nicotine, valerian, CBD, and obv caffeine. i feel so cowardly by writing this, but because of what happened i'm too scared.
• the one time i had 2mg lorazepam in hospital (combined with 385mg valerian and 7.5mg mirt) just made me sleep very long lol.
• i'm convinced that intermittent fasting is helping my brain feel more "normal" but not entirely. i wonder if it would ever feel normal.
• i contemplated taking supplements e.g. NAC or glutamine.
• when i had valerian recently i was waking up every 1-2 hours the day after.
• i feel this constant "texture" on the top of my head, like a "band" around it but it doesnt hurt. it actually feels like my head has turned into the neck of a cough liquid DXM bottle lol.
• numbers and letters (and maybe also shapes) often have some kind of "systematic" quality to them.

 

[DeathIndustrial88]

I don't think anybody here is probably gonna be able to answer this... Sounds like a very weird situation to be in though, so I'll give ya some of my thoughts, even if they end up being irrelevant or not related to whatever is happening to you.

I would like to mention, as a veteran DXM abuser myself..... DXM is very unpredictable. You never know what type of trip you might get. Some times you get those nostalgic, fun, or even glorious feeling trips. And then some times DXM will decide to fuck with you & give you a fucked up, physically-uncomfortable, full of weird body sensations & such. I once had an unexpected out of body experience on high dose of DXM + some weed. I felt like I was on a "normal" DXM trip up until I smoked weed that morning. And within minutes of smoking it, I knew I had fucked up. The trip turned into totally something else. Many times I'd take DXM thinking I'd have a fun night, only to feel like I had died or was about to die because the trip just felt like some twisted near-death experience instead of a fun time.

I'd also some times get trips that just felt like straight up serotonin syndrome. Convulsion-like spasms, weird burning sensations in my head that felt like it was a "ring of fire" that would start in my head & twirl around & go down into my legs & feet & then work it's way back up to my head.

DXM really causes some insane bodily sensations. And I do think using it long term can mess with your head a little.

DXM is technically a weak SSRI/SNRI, so by taking high doses of it, even for those low platuea trips, you're sort of over-dosing on an SSRI, which probably isn't great for anyone in the long term.

Perhaps in your case, that last DXM trip you took, it decided it was gonna be a bad trip. And for whatever reason that weird physical sensation stuck even after stopping. Have you ever heard of "kundalini awakening"? Look it up. It can cause a weird sensation like that at the top of the head. DXM is also a very "mystical" drug IMO & I think it absolutely could induce weird states in people, that linger for awhile even after they've ceased use of the drug.


Maybe give it a few more weeks/months & if it's still there or worsens, see if you can get a cat-scan or somebody to look at your head.

How old are you? It's possible that DXM changed your perspective & maybe even your levels of consciousness. And now you might just have to deal with it. As I went through my 20's & abused the hell out of DXM (usually during opioid withdrawal), it would do all kinds of weird things to my mind for awhile after. Made me a bit delusional & gave me "magical thinking". I use to even drink vodka (straight) with my DXM. And some times I'd even done DXM, vodka & meth all in one night, on multiple occassions. And some how I survived. So I'm thinking you're gonna be alright too Stopping drugs (especially the DXM) while you figure it out, is a great step. Although don't be afraid of benzo drugs like ativan you had in the hospital. Benzos lower neurotransmitters in the brain & can stop overactive electricity in the brain (aka seizures). Maybe some benzos could actually help you by calming your nervous system. Just don't abuse those or get dependent on those. But used sparingly, benzos have saved me from serious mishaps like serotonin syndrome from taking too much DXM on an antidepressant. The DXM god is a very unforgiving one & she/he will definitely let you know when you need to stop, by throwing your mind for a loop instead of being fun.

Wish you all the best though! Keep us posted if you figure anything out or anything changes!
Cheers!


PS: If it makes you feel any better, I too have an unknown weird medical problem with DXM now. Every time I try to do a DXM trip, even a lite one, a couple days later I end up with a weird chest pain & fever for exactly 3 days. And I have no idea how in the hell DXM could suddenly be causing something like that in me. But I've noticed that it only ever happens a few days after doing DXM & I've had it going on for the past 5 years now. Stopped using DXM altogether for a year & a half & didn't have this problem the entire time. Went back to using it last year a couple times & it happened again like 3 times. So I'm convinced DXM is injuring or doing something to my chest wall or chest area. Even though I have no logical or scientific way to explain it. So I basically had to give up on DXM. It gave me some wonderful, magical times & beautiful memories, but I don't think it's a drug that you can continously do your entire life (even with breaks) without problems.

 

[Greenonion76]

I don't think anybody here is probably gonna be able to answer this... Sounds like a very weird situation to be in though, so I'll give ya some of my thoughts, even if they end up being irrelevant or not related to whatever is happening to you.

I would like to mention, as a veteran DXM abuser myself..... DXM is very unpredictable. You never know what type of trip you might get. Some times you get those nostalgic, fun, or even glorious feeling trips. And then some times DXM will decide to fuck with you & give you a fucked up, physically-uncomfortable, full of weird body sensations & such. I once had an unexpected out of body experience on high dose of DXM + some weed. I felt like I was on a "normal" DXM trip up until I smoked weed that morning. And within minutes of smoking it, I knew I had fucked up. The trip turned into totally something else. Many times I'd take DXM thinking I'd have a fun night, only to feel like I had died or was about to die because the trip just felt like some twisted near-death experience instead of a fun time.

I'd also some times get trips that just felt like straight up serotonin syndrome. Convulsion-like spasms, weird burning sensations in my head that felt like it was a "ring of fire" that would start in my head & twirl around & go down into my legs & feet & then work it's way back up to my head.

DXM really causes some insane bodily sensations. And I do think using it long term can mess with your head a little.

DXM is technically a weak SSRI/SNRI, so by taking high doses of it, even for those low platuea trips, you're sort of over-dosing on an SSRI, which probably isn't great for anyone in the long term.

Perhaps in your case, that last DXM trip you took, it decided it was gonna be a bad trip. And for whatever reason that weird physical sensation stuck even after stopping. Have you ever heard of "kundalini awakening"? Look it up. It can cause a weird sensation like that at the top of the head. DXM is also a very "mystical" drug IMO & I think it absolutely could induce weird states in people, that linger for awhile even after they've ceased use of the drug.


Maybe give it a few more weeks/months & if it's still there or worsens, see if you can get a cat-scan or somebody to look at your head.

How old are you? It's possible that DXM changed your perspective & maybe even your levels of consciousness. And now you might just have to deal with it. As I went through my 20's & abused the hell out of DXM (usually during opioid withdrawal), it would do all kinds of weird things to my mind for awhile after. Made me a bit delusional & gave me "magical thinking". I use to even drink vodka (straight) with my DXM. And some times I'd even done DXM, vodka & meth all in one night, on multiple occassions. And some how I survived. So I'm thinking you're gonna be alright too Stopping drugs (especially the DXM) while you figure it out, is a great step. Although don't be afraid of benzo drugs like ativan you had in the hospital. Benzos lower neurotransmitters in the brain & can stop overactive electricity in the brain (aka seizures). Maybe some benzos could actually help you by calming your nervous system. Just don't abuse those or get dependent on those. But used sparingly, benzos have saved me from serious mishaps like serotonin syndrome from taking too much DXM on an antidepressant. The DXM god is a very unforgiving one & she/he will definitely let you know when you need to stop, by throwing your mind for a loop instead of being fun.

Wish you all the best though! Keep us posted if you figure anything out or anything changes!
Cheers!


PS: If it makes you feel any better, I too have an unknown weird medical problem with DXM now. Every time I try to do a DXM trip, even a lite one, a couple days later I end up with a weird chest pain & fever for exactly 3 days. And I have no idea how in the hell DXM could suddenly be causing something like that in me. But I've noticed that it only ever happens a few days after doing DXM & I've had it going on for the past 5 years now. Stopped using DXM altogether for a year & a half & didn't have this problem the entire time. Went back to using it last year a couple times & it happened again like 3 times. So I'm convinced DXM is injuring or doing something to my chest wall or chest area. Even though I have no logical or scientific way to explain it. So I basically had to give up on DXM. It gave me some wonderful, magical times & beautiful memories, but I don't think it's a drug that you can continously do your entire life (even with breaks) without problems.

i get paranoid about how i'm perceived. did you write this with AI? i hope i dont write like an AI

i'm 20 years old btw. is drug history relevant? i had a microdose (150mg ish) of DXM age 15, but began using it regularly age 18 going on 19.

Anyway i wish i could get a neurologist but idk how. I live in UK. Private ones are so expensive. I could arrange a GP appointment but thats too inconvenient for my sleep schedule.

i miss drugs so badly, what's discouraging me from touching weed is that in the past whenever i smoked on a DXM afterglow i did NOT feel a "normal" kind of stoned, instead the DXM dissociation came back stronger but in a bad way and lasted for days and everything around me had this uncomfortable weird "robotic" quality that i'd never get from weed on its own.
i don't remember much about what happened in october, other than naively thinking DXM benders could compensate for cutting pregablin cold turkey (because i wanted to cut down on pregabalin intake), insatiable DXM cravings and having way more of it than normal, CEV's and these weird "hallucinations" that felt more like daydreams so vivid i was more or less "seeing" things rather than "actually seeing them" if ykwm, and then obviously that huge panic attack on halloween evening worse feeling of terror ever. my scalp feels different now to what i remember on 1st november (vague "zipper like" halo / cap and big fat heavy rock respectively) but maybe it's just my perception of it thats changed

sometimes when falling asleep i get random chest pains. or localised head/face pain.

 

[DeathIndustrial88]

did you write this with AI?

Absolutely not. lol Do I write like an AI? If so, then AI writes like me because I've always written this way. lol I don't use AI for anything. I don't like it personally. I think it makes people lazy. And I've caught Googles AI lying to me several times whenever searching for information on Google. lol So only a fool would trust or use AI for anything. I've just been typing on keyboards since I was 12 (well over 26 years ago now). So I'm pretty good at writing.

So you stopped Pregablin cold turkey? Have you looked into any kinds of problems that could arise from stopping a drug like that cold turkey? I know seizures & convulsions could happen, since Gabapentinoids are technically anticonvulsants.

Do you have any kind of psychosis problems in your family anywhere? Like schizophrenia or anything? It often doesn't show up in people until later in life, some times even as late as your 30's. My boyfriend became schizophrenic in his mid 30's. He had a lot of the same symptoms you describe, including physical sensations. He had to get on an antipsychotic & is 100x better now.

If there's a possibility that schizophrenia or psychosis issues run somewhere in your family, then using drugs like cannabis & DXM could cause it to come out earlier or exacerbate it in many ways. I love weed, but I can still acknowledge that it's not good for people with psychosis or schizo issues.

You could be having both some kind of mental issue on top of a physical one at the same time. Hard to say as this starts to kind of venture into medical advice & stuff. You should definitely check in with a neurologist if you're able to. I did years ago for my myoclonic jerks. They couldn't find anything wrong with my brain, so I just said "fuck it" and eventually with time, my body jerks became less & less.

The human body is resilient though & I think at your age, you have tremendous potential to reverse anything you might've done to yourself.
Your brain isn't even fully developed til age 25, so take it easy with the drugs for now I think. That's about all you can do, along with getting yourself checked out! Even if they find nothing wrong, it can give you some peace of mind knowing nothing serious is going on. Some times just hearing that you're okay can do wonders for your ailments. Mind over matter as they say!