Can You Get High From Over the Counter Medications?

Illegal drugs, prescription drugs, and alcohol can sometimes be in short supply. When that happens, many substance abusers will diligently search for a substitute. Sooner or later, most addicts will ask themselves, “Can you get high from over the counter medications?” A quick Google search will quickly reveal that there are indeed some OTC drugs with mind-altering properties.

Can You Get High From Over The Counter Medications?

Yes, you can get quite high on certain OTC drugs. Two of the most notorious OTC medicines are Robitussin (dextromethorphan) and Benadryl (diphenhydramine).

What Is Robitussin And Why Is It Used To Get High?

Robitussin is a cough suppressant that’s usually sold as a syrup, although you can also purchase it in gel caps. The preparation should contain no active ingredients other than dextromethorphan (DMX). Some preparations contain additional active ingredients like guaifenesin and chlorpheniramine. Those formulations should be avoided because, in high doses, they can cause death.

Desirable effects include euphoria, heightened awareness, elevated mood, drowsiness, visual and auditory distortions, a dream-like state, visual and auditory hallucinations, and out of body experiences. Some users report that a DMX high is like “finding God and seeing the future.” Negative effects include confusion, disorientation, dissociation, nausea, loss of muscle movement, impaired judgment, vomiting, seizures, rapid heart beat, high blood pressure, and impaired sexual performance. These effects can last for six hours.

Getting high on DMX is commonly referred to as “robo-tripping.” DMX is not physically addictive, but may be psychologically addictive. Although little is known about the long-term effects of DMX, it may damage bone marrow, nerve cells, brain cells, and the heart. It can also cause high blood pressure.

What Is Benadryl And Why Is It Used To Get High?

If you are asking yourself can you get high from over the counter medications, you might be wondering about Benadryl. This medication is an antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms. It’s also used as a sleep aid. Benadryl blocks the effects of histamine in the body and blocks the effects of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. This can cause a sort of delirium that some people find enjoyable.

The recommended dosage of Benadryl is 25-50 mg. every four to six hours. When the dosage is increased to 100 mg., you may experience mild auditory hallucinations and be unable to keep your eyes open. A dosage of 200 mg. increases sedation and may cause mild visual hallucinations. At 300 mg., there is obvious delirium and vivid hallucinations that frequently involve spiders and other bugs. There are perceptual distortions and an increase in auditory hallucinations. At 400 mg. you may start seeing and interacting with people who aren’t really there. You may see terrifying visual hallucinations, and it becomes impossible to know what’s real and what’s not.

You might feel like you are somewhere other than where you are, and you won’t know if you’re awake or dreaming. At 500-600 mg. there may be blackouts and excessive strain on the heart. One of the biggest dangers of Benadryl is that it is unpredictable. On one day, there may be only a minimal effect from a given dosage. On another day, the same dosage can be overwhelming.

The bottom line is that there are endless ways to get high, and many with a substance abuse disorder will sooner or later feel compelled to investigate the question of: can you get high from over the counter medications? To addicts and alcoholics, an altered state, even when unpleasant, can still be preferable to reality.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthcare/10-over-the-counter-medicines-abused-by-teens.html
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-commonly-abused-drugs
http://dxm.darkridge.com/text/beginners.html
https://drugs-forum.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=Diphenhydramine