Everything You Need to Know About Robotripping

Robotripping refers to taking DXM to experience various psychological and physical effects. While it isn't illegal, that doesn't mean it's safe. In high doses, it can have serious and lasting effects.
DXM, short for dextromethorphan, is an over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressant that's found in some cough syrups and cold medications.
Robotripping, also known as dexing or skittling, refers to using DXM to experience a range of psychological and physical effects.
It may sound harmless, given that DXM is legal and readily available. However, robotripping usually involves higher than recommended doses, which can be dangerous. Plus, a lot of DXM-containing products have other active ingredients that can also be harmful in higher doses.
Healthline does not endorse the illegal use of any substances. However, we believe in providing accessible and accurate information to reduce the harm that can occur when using.
What does it feel like?
It depends on your dose.
The effects of robotripping can vary a lot depending on how much you take. DXM causes different stages (often referred to as plateaus) that vary with dosage.
What about physical side effects?
DXM produces several physical effects that vary from person to person and by dose. The product you take also matters. DXM products often contain other active ingredients that produce their own effects.
Potential side effects include:
hot flashes
sweating
nausea
dizziness
slurred speech
lethargy
hyperactivity
high blood pressure
slow breathing
irregular heartbeat
itching
rash
involuntary eye movements
unconsciousness
seizures
How long do the effects last?
The effects usually wear off within a day or so, but there are a lot of factors that influence how long you'll feel the effects.
These include:
the dosage
other active ingredients in the product
how much food is in your stomach
your body size
Users can also develop a substance use disorder, including addiction, around DXM. Users can develop a tolerance as well as a psychological and physical dependence to DXM.
Is there any way to end things sooner?
Nope. Once you've taken it, you pretty much need to let it run its course.
Your best bet is to try to sleep it off. If you're feeling really out of it and nauseous, sit upright in a comfortable chair instead of lying down in case you throw up.
Here are some other things that can help you ride out your trip:
Take some ginger or drink ginger tea if you're feeling sick to your stomach.
Put on some music or a movie to distract you and help you unwind.
Drink water to keep from getting dehydrated.
Remind yourself that all of this will be over eventually.
What are the risks?
Again, DXM is legal, but that doesn't mean the dosage used for robotripping is safe.
Here's a look at some of the risks.
Heatstroke
DXM interferes with your body's ability to regulate temperature and can cause your body temperature to spike dangerously high.
It's been linked to heat emergencies, including heatstroke. This is also sometimes called rave-related heatstroke because it's more likely to happen with physical exertion, like dancing.
Respiratory depression
DXM depresses the central nervous system (CNS), which controls your breathing. This can stop your lungs from exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide, which is medically known as respiratory depression.
This results in slow and shallow breathing. Left untreated, it could lead to respiratory arrest and death.
Dangerous behavior
High doses of DXM have been linked to dangerous behavior that stems from effects like hallucinations, psychosis, and agitation.
It can cause you to lose touch with reality, making you more likely to do things you wouldn't normally do.
Liver damage
Many OTC cough and cold medications that contain DXM also contain acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage when you take more than directed.
Does it interact with anything?
DXM can cause serious interactions when combined with other substances and OTC or prescription medications.
Taking it with other CNS depressants can intensify or prolong the effects of both and significantly increase your risk for respiratory arrest, overdose, and death.
Other substances
Mixing substances is never a good idea, but the following make for a particularly risky combo with DXM:
alcohol, which is sometimes combined with DXM to make lean
MDMA
ketamine
sassafras
heroin
cannabis
cocaine
PCP
LSD
OTC meds
DXM shouldn't be mixed with certain OTC meds, including some herbal remedies and supplements.
These include:
other cold or cough medications
acetaminophen
antihistamines
sleep aids, including natural sleep aids, like valerian root and melatonin
Prescription medication
There are quite a few prescription medications that shouldn't be combined with DXM. They include:
narcotics, such as oxycodone, morphine, and fentanyl
antidepressants
antibiotics
dopamine agonists
amphetamines
antiemetic drugs
Safety tips
Taking more than the directed dose of DXM — or any medication for that matter — comes with severe risks.
If you're going to do it, though, there are a few things you can do reduce some of the risk:
Know what you're taking. Read labels to make sure you're not ingesting other active ingredients, like acetaminophen, guaifenesin, and antihistamines. Same goes for DXM pills from randoms or the internet. They can be contaminated with other substances.
Stick with the lowest dose. Start with a very low dose. Be sure to give it time to kick in before you think of redosing.
Don't mix. Most fatal overdoses are the result of mixing substances. Don't combine DXM with alcohol or other substances.
Drink water. DXM can cause dehydration. Drink plenty of water before and after robotripping.
Don't do it alone. Robotripping by yourself isn't a good idea. Have someone with you who can help if things go south.
Choose a safe setting. Make sure you're at home or in another safe and familiar setting in case you experience hallucinations or pass out.
Remain seated. DXM can mess with muscle coordination and cause drowsiness, increasing your risk for falls and injury. Extreme sedation and a slowed breathing rate can increase your risk for passing out and choking if you happen to vomit. Moving around too much can also lead to overheating.
Overdose signs
If you're going to robotrip (or be around people who are), it's crucial to know how to recognize an overdose.
Call 911 if you or someone else experiences any of these signs or symptoms after taking DXM:
irregular breathing, especially slow or shallow breathing
high blood pressure
increased body temperature
vomiting
blurred vision
bluish skin, lips, or fingernails
paranoia
hallucinations
extreme drowsiness
muscle twitches
convulsions or seizures
loss of consciousness
If you're concerned about law enforcement getting involved, you don't need to mention the substances used over the phone. Just be sure to tell them about specific symptoms so they can send the appropriate response.
If you're caring for someone else, get them to lay slightly on their side while you wait. Have them bend their top knee inward if they can for added support. This position will keep their airways open in case they begin to vomit.

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Her love for him and their open discussions about her recovery resonated deeply with him. In one of our conversations, he sheepishly disclosed that he had begun attending a 12-step program with her. My parents had always denigrated my involvement in self-help and therapy, and I had learned to keep my recovery hidden so as not to face their disdain. Now he was speaking my language! He talked with me about believing in a higher power and beginning to work the 12 steps of recovery, which included taking an honest self-inventory and making amends. Rather than a wedge between us, itbecame a foothold for a spiritual place of healing and union. We could actually talk with each other. Dollie also began telling my father how close she and I were becoming and that we supported him in his relationships with both of us. Hearing this profoundly touched him. His anxiety about how my presence might undermine his new relationships seemed to disappear. This progress was amazing, but there was more. My father wrote me a letter stating that he wished he had been 'a different kind of dad, more outwardly caring and loving.' He said that facing his deficiencies as a parent was 'like looking into the abyss.' He wanted to make amends for his 'shortcomings and the hurt I had caused you.' I called him to thank him, tell him I loved him, and let him know that we could embark on a healing journey together. My half-sister's love for him, untainted by the past, coupled with my openness to his overture of amends, was a lifeline for him. Despite how far the three of us had come together, we were still apprehensive about meeting in person. What would happen? We weren't sure, but we agreed it was time to find out. We agreed to meet at my half-sister's house, which was located just outside the city where my father lived, and a seven-hour drive from my home. It would be Dollie and her partner, my husband and me... and my father. It was a most remarkable visit. Yes, it was awkward at times, but there was also a feeling of togetherness — that we were all trying our best to do something hard but important. At one point, the five of us were sitting at the dinner table when my father said he had something he needed to express. Then he turned and looked directly at me. 'I want to apologize to you for my over 60 years of abusive behavior toward you,' he said. He told me that he saw me, was proud of me, and loved me very much. He turned to Dollie and said that he loved her too. Tears streamed down my face. I could barely speak. There's a photo of the five of us from that weekend, and it looks like a photo of a family, which is exactly what we'd become. Of course, it's nearly impossible to heal from a lifetime of hurt in just a few years, and not all of my mistrust had simply evaporated. My father is now 98. We have a long way to go and a short amount of time, but we are both invested in each other and moving forward. We begin and end each phone call with 'I love you,' and that feels like the most important thing. This story could have ended so differently. Though I was still trying, my connection with my father had been degraded to the point that I had little expectation or hope for a reconciliation. My father and I had become accustomed to the coldness. I thought there would be nothing more for us to learn or gain. The sudden arrival of — and his quick attachment to — 16 new, charming, loving adult children felt like one more mortal threat to my years-long efforts to find a loving place with him. The miracle is that we all played our parts and dared to stay open to one another. I will always be grateful for that. Dollie and I continue to call each other. We update each other about our lives. We reflect on our remarkable journey. And we talk about our father. My father passed away as this article was being edited. As his condition worsened and he could barely speak, he would open his eyes and tell me that he loved me. In the days before his death, I was in touch with everyone to let them know he didn't have much time left. His loving family — including my brother, two of my new half-sisters and two of my new half-brothers — gathered at his bedside. What good fortune it is that I have so many more people in my life to love and with whom to share my sorrow. My grief has been complicated. I never expected to cry as much as I have. I'm surprised at my utter desolation. I wish I had had more time with my 'new' father. I forgive him — this flawed man whom I love — but what I hope for most is that he was able to forgive and love himself. Meryl Ruth has gained international recognition for achievement of high-quality, intricately detailed and imaginative ceramic and fiber art. Her work is on display on her website Meryl lives with her husband on a small lake in Maine, where she also has her art studio. She and her husband are currently collaborating on her memoir, from which this essay is drawn. When Meryl is not working in her studio, she is spending time with her children and grandchildren, practicing yoga, kayaking on the lake and cultivating orchids. She has a small Chihuahua, who is a certified therapy dog and accompanies her to hospice where she has volunteered on a weekly basis for the past ten years. She would like to acknowledge her husband, Fred Wolff, 'for helping me put my thoughts and feelings into words.' Do you have a compelling personal story you'd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we're looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@ My Husband And I Assumed We Would Have Kids. Then Something Incredible Happened That Changed Our Minds. My Patient Invited Me To Her Home To Watch Her Die. What I Saw When I Arrived Gave Me Goosebumps. People See Me And Think I'm Pregnant. They're Shocked When I Tell Them The Heartbreaking Truth.