3 ms·

Dextromethorphan is definitely not a placebo. Take enough and you'll go to space and meet God. Smaller doses produce euphoria and dissociation, which, even if t

by robobro 3mo ago

Dextromethorphan is definitely not a placebo. Take enough and you'll go to space and meet God. Smaller doses produce euphoria and dissociation, which, even if they don't make the cough go away, makes it easier to tolerate a cold -- same reason antitussives have historically contained alcohol, cannabis extract (which may incidentally work as bronchodilator but was not the reason I imagine it was in antitussives) Funny amphetamine used to be an over the counter cold medicine, which the article doesn't mention despite talking about the meth precursor? Fine article but these two details stuck out to me while reading it.

jona-f 3mo ago
Came here to say this, the author is hating on dextromethorphan like he never robotripped before. But then, overdosing dxm isn't all that healthy and I'd recommend ketamine if you want to experiment like that.
- MisterTea 3mo ago
  > But then, overdosing dxm isn't all that healthy and I'd recommend ketamine if you want to experiment like that. Ketamine is neurotoxic itself and can cause permanent brain damage. I can't find the info but there was someone in the tech industry who accidentally overdosed and suffered a two year bout of severe debilitating depression culminating in suicide.
  - sph 3mo ago
    Sorry to say, we shouldn't really base our opinion on drug safety from people who accidentally overdose or are generally reckless with drugs. There's people who drink for the first time and end up in the hospital. If you want to do it the smart way, just consult erowid.org and use a little common sense. https://erowid.org/chemicals/ketamine/ketamine_faq.shtml https://erowid.org/chemicals/ketamine/ketamine_faq.shtml
    - MisterTea 3mo ago
      The post I replied to stated that a DXM OD is dangerous then mentions ketamine without stating its OD dangers giving it the appearance of a safe alternative.
      - jona-f 3mo ago
        You need much higher doses of dxm to get the psychedelic effects compared to ketamine. Ketamine is a pretty safe drug when used responsibly and occasionally, especially because you can slowly dose to the required intensity and it wears off quickly. Like any drug there are risks involved. Most notably psychosis and addiction. Apart from the immediate toxicity, of course. And that is very much higher for dxm in my experience. It's also a very weird trip and it took me a while (2 weeks) for my brain to fully settle again, whereas with ketamine I would bounce right back feeling better than ever, which of course increases its addiction potential. What we didn't know back then is that ketamine is actual toxic to the kidneys in prolonged high doses, so yes, be careful.
  - fooglove34 3mo ago
    one off experience of someone in a stressful job. are we gate keeping?
    - jmalicki 3mo ago
      It is entirely reasonable to say that it should be RX-only to be monitored by a physician for these reasons.
  - john_strinlai 3mo ago
    >I can't find the info but there was someone in the tech industry who accidentally overdosed and suffered a two year bout of severe debilitating depression culminating in suicide. i believe you are referring to Felix Hill. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-jBoSEVlryiX1IaSzV4vKuihDfm_LgXUznvSpl1T1kg/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.vnjrknmu0cff https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-jBoSEVlryiX1IaSzV4vKuih... "On mental health, psychedelics and life This is a story about mental health, psychedelics, psychology and the mind. It is a story about the joy of family, the joy of friends, the joy of being in love, and the joy of doing scientific research. It is a story about life, the world, and how amazing they both are. After 18 months of intolerable torture, and after many months of consideration I have decided to end my life."
nerdsniper 3mo ago
The left enantiomer of methamphetamine (exact same chemical formula and structure, just mirror symmetry) is also an OTC decongestant.
- butlike 3mo ago
  Vicks
  - nerdsniper 3mo ago
    Only historically. No Vick's brand product has contained it since 2016. The only "brand" name I'm aware of currently is Benzedrex.
    - gavinray 3mo ago
      Benzedrex is not l-Methamphetamine, it is Propylhexedrine
      - nerdsniper 3mo ago
        Ah indeed, I misremembered. That is also a very similar compound, identical structure but more saturated carbon bonds (non-aromatic ring). It's always delightfully silly to get your own correction corrected! https://www.vumc.org/poison-control/toxicology-question-week/may-4-2021-what-new-old-drug-benzedrex https://www.vumc.org/poison-control/toxicology-question-week...
Sohcahtoa82 3mo ago
> Dextromethorphan is definitely not a placebo. It definitely works for me. It'd be wild if for all 44 years of my life, it's only worked because of the placebo effect. The article mentions phenylephrine, and that shit definitely doesn't work. Not even a placebo.
Melatonic 3mo ago
Very relevant username
EPWN3D 3mo ago
Yup. The only upside to being sick is that I get to take NyQuil before going to sleep and have trippy as fuck dreams.
deleted 3mo ago
[deleted]

by robobro 3mo ago

jona-f 3mo ago

Came here to say this, the author is hating on dextromethorphan like he never robotripped before. But then, overdosing dxm isn't all that healthy and I'd recommend ketamine if you want to experiment like that.

MisterTea 3mo ago
> But then, overdosing dxm isn't all that healthy and I'd recommend ketamine if you want to experiment like that. Ketamine is neurotoxic itself and can cause permanent brain damage. I can't find the info but there was someone in the tech industry who accidentally overdosed and suffered a two year bout of severe debilitating depression culminating in suicide.
- sph 3mo ago
  Sorry to say, we shouldn't really base our opinion on drug safety from people who accidentally overdose or are generally reckless with drugs. There's people who drink for the first time and end up in the hospital. If you want to do it the smart way, just consult erowid.org and use a little common sense. https://erowid.org/chemicals/ketamine/ketamine_faq.shtml https://erowid.org/chemicals/ketamine/ketamine_faq.shtml
  - MisterTea 3mo ago
    The post I replied to stated that a DXM OD is dangerous then mentions ketamine without stating its OD dangers giving it the appearance of a safe alternative.
    - jona-f 3mo ago
      You need much higher doses of dxm to get the psychedelic effects compared to ketamine. Ketamine is a pretty safe drug when used responsibly and occasionally, especially because you can slowly dose to the required intensity and it wears off quickly. Like any drug there are risks involved. Most notably psychosis and addiction. Apart from the immediate toxicity, of course. And that is very much higher for dxm in my experience. It's also a very weird trip and it took me a while (2 weeks) for my brain to fully settle again, whereas with ketamine I would bounce right back feeling better than ever, which of course increases its addiction potential. What we didn't know back then is that ketamine is actual toxic to the kidneys in prolonged high doses, so yes, be careful.
- fooglove34 3mo ago
  one off experience of someone in a stressful job. are we gate keeping?
  - jmalicki 3mo ago
    It is entirely reasonable to say that it should be RX-only to be monitored by a physician for these reasons.
- john_strinlai 3mo ago
  >I can't find the info but there was someone in the tech industry who accidentally overdosed and suffered a two year bout of severe debilitating depression culminating in suicide. i believe you are referring to Felix Hill. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-jBoSEVlryiX1IaSzV4vKuihDfm_LgXUznvSpl1T1kg/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.vnjrknmu0cff https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-jBoSEVlryiX1IaSzV4vKuih... "On mental health, psychedelics and life This is a story about mental health, psychedelics, psychology and the mind. It is a story about the joy of family, the joy of friends, the joy of being in love, and the joy of doing scientific research. It is a story about life, the world, and how amazing they both are. After 18 months of intolerable torture, and after many months of consideration I have decided to end my life."

nerdsniper 3mo ago

The left enantiomer of methamphetamine (exact same chemical formula and structure, just mirror symmetry) is also an OTC decongestant.

butlike 3mo ago
Vicks
- nerdsniper 3mo ago
  Only historically. No Vick's brand product has contained it since 2016. The only "brand" name I'm aware of currently is Benzedrex.
  - gavinray 3mo ago
    Benzedrex is not l-Methamphetamine, it is Propylhexedrine
    - nerdsniper 3mo ago
      Ah indeed, I misremembered. That is also a very similar compound, identical structure but more saturated carbon bonds (non-aromatic ring). It's always delightfully silly to get your own correction corrected! https://www.vumc.org/poison-control/toxicology-question-week/may-4-2021-what-new-old-drug-benzedrex https://www.vumc.org/poison-control/toxicology-question-week...

Sohcahtoa82 3mo ago

> Dextromethorphan is definitely not a placebo. It definitely works for me. It'd be wild if for all 44 years of my life, it's only worked because of the placebo effect. The article mentions phenylephrine, and that shit definitely doesn't work. Not even a placebo.

Melatonic 3mo ago

Very relevant username

EPWN3D 3mo ago

Yup. The only upside to being sick is that I get to take NyQuil before going to sleep and have trippy as fuck dreams.

deleted 3mo ago

[deleted]