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The combination of DXM and DPH is reported to produce potentially dangerous experiences both physiologically and mentally, especially at higher doses.
The deliriant and dissociative effects associated with recreational doses of this combination are highly unpredictable and may result in erratic behaviors, self-injury, physical side effects such as dangerously elevated heart rate or blood pressure, hospitalization, or (in extreme cases) death.
Please use harm reduction practices if using this combination (e.g. starting with low dosages and always having a trip sitter). Refer to this section for more details.
WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section.
DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.
The Dextromethorphan (DXM) and Diphenhydramine (DPH) combination experience (also known as counterflipping) is a substance combination, that when taken, produces an array of uniquely hallucinogenic, dissociative and powerful deliriant effects when administered.
This article is something that PsychonautWiki is documenting because although there are a huge variety of drug combinations, most of them simply induce the effects of the two separate drugs alongside each other in a very predictable manner. However, the combination of DXM and DPH does just the opposite of that, producing a very unique synergy when taken together, potentiating the positive aspects of the other substance whilst simultaneously suppressing its perceived negative or uncomfortable side effects; with distinct visual and hallucinatory effects that are sometimes not found in neither substance when taken on their own. Although, despite the unique and positive effects, this combination can readily also produce significantly dangerous physical and psychological effects, sometimes at relatively common dosages.
Typically, dosages for both DXM and DPH are both taken in equal amounts, for example, 300 milligrams of DXM with 300 milligrams of DPH, although some users prefer higher or lower amounts of either substance. This makes the spectrum of the combination very broad and the effects and dangers can vary significantly. It is strongly advised that users without extensive experience do not go over a light to common dose of both DXM and DPH alone when combining the two in recreational doses.
Both substances strongly amplify each other's effects; while DPH inhibits the metabolism of DXM and increases its concentration,[citation needed] DXM in turn suppresses the perceived dysphoric and anxiogenic effects of DPH and powerfully amplifying its hallucinations and deliriant properties.[citation needed] Even at common doses, some may be subject to extreme states of dissociation and delirium, possibly not being able to effectively perceive or respond to external events. This depends heavily on body chemistry, which is already a unique effect seen with DXM and one might respond completely differently from another person even with the same dosages.
This combination is very physically taxing, especially since the dangerous effects are suppressed and they can become unnoticed by the user. It is highly advised to use doses below the common range due to the risk of effects such as toxicity, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, rhabdomyolysis and agitated mental states such as delirium or panic attacks. People with preexisting cardiovascular problems should avoid this combination and further substances should not be taken during the experience. It is strongly advised to use harm reduction practices if using this combination.
When taken in combination, Diphenhydramine acts as a pharmologically significant CYP2D/CYP2D6 inhibitor[1] and thus inhibits the breakdown of DXM into DXO.[2]
Subjective effects
When taken in combination, DXM and DPH both lessen the perceived uncomfortable side effects of the other substance. For example, due to DPH’s nausea suppressing abilities, the nausea associated with DXM is almost entirely absent. In return, DXM’s dissociating and anesthetic-like qualities have an extremely positive effect on the physical dysphoria found within DPH. This completely eliminates the muscle cramps, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, restless leg syndrome, and extreme dehydration experienced when DPH is used by itself. This allows the unique delirium, hallucinations and visual effects of the DPH experience to become much more accessible to your average person.
Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWikicontributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.
It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.
Physical effects
Stimulation[3] & Sedation - At lower, recreational doses, this combination is predominantly stimulating. However, it can produce waves of tiredness, or the desire to lay down with the eyes closed in a sleep-like state. As higher dosages are approached, the experience generally turns very chaotic, sometimes with states of agitated delirium resulting in stimulation or moments of sedation where the user does not move at all.
Abnormal heartbeat - Diphenhydramine is able to prolong the QT interval, potentially leading to torsades de pointes, an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause sudden cardiac death.[4] This risk is greatly amplified by both DPH and DXM by increasing heart rate to dangerously high levels.
Physical autonomy - At very high dosages some find to awake in strange locations, sometimes while standing or performing actions with no recollection of events or how they got there. When approaching delirium, the experience generally turns stimulating and as a result, one may start to walk long distances.
Perception of bodily lightness & Perception of bodily heaviness - This creates the sensation that the body is floating and has become entirely weightless. This effect is stimulating and encourages physical activities by making the body feel light and effortless to move. This effects is amplified when compared with DXM alone. DPH however can also produce bodily heaviness and increase in percieved gravity, especially at the beginning of the experience or if higher dosages of DPH are used than DXM.
Spontaneous bodily sensations - The body high is a sharp, pleasurable tingling sensation which is location specific to the hands, feet and head. The second is a warm euphoric glow which emanates outwards from the centre of the body's torso. At lower dosages, it can produce an empowering stimulated sensation, at higher dosages a slight body load or none at all. It should be noted that it can also spontaneously transform into intense physical dysphoria.
Physical euphoria - This inconsistently results in feelings of physical euphoria which range between mild pleasure to powerful, all-encompassing bliss.
Motor control loss[3] - A loss of gross and fine motor control alongside balance and coordination is prominent and becomes especially strong at higher dosages. One should be sitting down before the onset to prevent falling over and becoming injured and have a trip sitter be watching over them.
Increased perspiration - This is the result of a combination of increased bodily temperature and temperature regulation suppression.[citation needed] Users should be monitored that they do not overheat.
Dehydration[citation needed] - Both substances can be extremely dehydrating. Users should drink plenty of water before and after an experience to avoid dangerous complications such as seizures.
Physical fatigue - This effect can become very strong during the comedown.
Tactile enhancement - This results in increased feelings of touch, pain, warmth and orgasms. It is usually only present at very low dosages.
Tactile suppression - This produces feelings of numbness throughout the body. This is attributed to DPH's ability to block sodium channels within the nerves[5] and DXM's NMDA antagonism. At higher dosages, this can lead to massive amounts of pain relief comparable to anesthesia.
Seizure - Both substances are known to significantly lower the seizure theshold and this may be dangerously amplified when taken in combination.
Visual effects
This combination does not enhance visual stimuli in the way that psychedelics do; instead they tend to degrade and decrease visual aptitude both increasing hallucination and degrading vision.
Double vision - This component is prevalent at moderate to heavy dosages and makes reading impossible unless one closes an eye.
Pattern recognition suppression - This effect generally occurs at higher dosages and makes one unable to recognize and interpret perceivable visual data. Examples can include an inability to recognize faces or motion.
Frame rate suppression - This is the so-called "flanging" effect, which at appropriately high doses can affect sight, sound and at higher levels phrases, faces and thinking.
Nystagmus - At very high dosages one may be incapable of recognizing things such as movement of objects or human faces.
Visual acuity suppression - Vision is reported to be very dream-like, frequently with a hazy or "static-like" overlay affecting the visual field. This effect can also result in blurry vision to the point of blindness. It sometimes can last for days after the experience itself.
Distortions
As for visual distortions and alterations, effects experienced are detailed below:
Drifting(melting, breathing, morphing and flowing) - In comparison to other hallucinogens, this effect can be described as intricate in complexity, jittery, slow and rigid in motion, static in their permanence, blurry in detail, realistic in believability, and interactive in plasticity.
Object alteration - The textures seen are described as transparent whirling lines and swirls which move at changing speeds and jitter uncontrollably. They only appear slightly above surfaces, walls and ceilings and can not be felt.
In terms of the specific style of geometry present within this combination, they can be described as intricate in complexity, slow in movement, dark in colour scheme and ominous in emotional vibe. They manifest themselves in a traditional psychedelic manner when the eyes are closed but appear as static, unmoving shapes and geometry which the external environment morphs into when the eyes are open and looking at any single point, always resetting once the person double takes. This is an unusual visual effect because both dissociative and psychedelic visuals do not do this, instead preferring to manifest themselves as a fast moving and flat translucent veil across the visual field which cannot be interacted with.
Hallucinatory states
The effects of this combination are extremely efficient at inducing delirious hallucinations which can be broken into the two categories described below:
External hallucination (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; perspective hallucinations and scenarios and plots) - In comparison to other classes of hallucinogens, this effect occurs more frequently than that of any other at moderate to heavy dosages and is the defining feature of the experience. It can be comprehensively described through its variations as delirious in believability, autonomous in controllability and solid in style. The most common themes for these hallucinations include those of both everyday occurrences such as smoking phantom cigarettes, talking to people who are not there, insects and sinister or nightmarish experiences. The person may experience sceneries of people which they know, have frequently been in contact with or play a significant role in one's head. Events may unfold similar to dream-like states where hallucinations are mixed into reality in despiclable or even realistic scenarios. A whole theather of possible imaginations can be experienced/hallucinated all while the user in unaware of what is happening.
Internal hallucination (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; perspective hallucinations and scenarios and plots) - In comparison to other classes of hallucinogen, this effect occurs briefly and spontaneously at moderate dosages but becomes progressively extended in its occurrence and duration proportional to dosage before eventually becoming all encompassing. It can be comprehensively described through its variations as delirious in believability, interactive in style, equal in new experiences and memory replays in content, autonomous in controllability and solid in style.
The emotional dysphoria, paranoia, anxiety, depression and feelings of impending doom usually found within DPH do not seem to present when taken in combination with DXM. This could be attributed to DXM's euphoric and calming effects. In total the subjective cognitive effects of DXM and DPH can be broken down into several components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. These components generally include:
Analysis suppression - At higher dosages, a person could experience a complete halt of external information processing, which can make the user unable to perform simple tasks or make decisions.
Anxiety suppression,Anxiety&Paranoia - Although this combination typically suppresses anxiety, it is also able to produce it in certain conditions. Extreme anxiety, paranoia or panic attacks may occur at heavy dosages.
Confusion[3] - States of delirium can become extremely confusing and uncomfortable. This can result in a complete inability to understand others' intentions, emotions, humor and even simple sentences.
Cognitive euphoria - While states of cognitive euphoria are commonly reported, this effect can unpredictably manifest itself as cognitive dysphoria for no apparent reason, particularly at higher doses.
Delirium - The threshold dose for full-blown delirium may be experienced already with common doses, which may necessitate hospitalization as this state can be extremely dangerous for an individual, especially if they are not accompanied by a trip sitter, as they can injure themselves or others. The user may not be able to differentiate percieved visual hallucinations from reality at all, in addition to mental delirium making the user's thoughts delirious and believeable which further contributes to the hallucinations.
Increased music appreciation - This effect can be very intense but steadily decreases as higher dosages are approached where sounds may be to chaotic or faint to be enjoyable.
Memory suppression - Short-term memory can be severely disrupted and one may not be able to hold on to thoughts for more than a few seconds.
Amnesia - This effect is present with higher dosages. It can range from partial to complete memory loss of the experience. Generally, more dull parts of the experience tend to not be remembered at all. Frequent use can also sometimes contribute to this, even for days after the experience.
The auditory effects of this combination are extremely consistent in occurrence in comparison to that of LSD and psilocin and exhibit a range of effects which commonly includes:
The afterglow is a feeling that can occur in the following day or weeks after the experience. At lower dosages, it can be described regarding its physical sensation as one of euphoria, rejuvenation, relaxation and a light bounciness.
Cognitive manifestations include a loss of anxiety, feelings of content, increased music appreciation and other sensory stimuli that are sometimes accompanied with mild derealization or depersonalization. As higher dosages are used, after effects typically consist of strong fatigue and sleepiness.
When taken in combination, it should be noted that enormous amounts of strain can be put on the circulatory system, as both substances increase one's heart rate and blood pressure. This can become dangerous in high dosages. The toxicity of both substances is also present. States of agitated delirium can pose a significant risk to the person as they are subject to confusion and a general inability to properly assess visual and audio stimuli.
↑Hiroi, T., Ohishi, N., Imaoka, S., Yabusaki, Y., Fukui, H., Funae, Y. (February 1995). "Mepyramine, a histamine H1 receptor antagonist, inhibits the metabolic activity of rat and human P450 2D forms". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 272 (2): 939–944. ISSN0022-3565.
↑Jacqz-Aigrain, E., Cresteil, T. (1992). "Cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of dextromethorphan: fetal and adult studies". Developmental Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 18 (3–4): 161–168. ISSN0379-8305.
