This intensity scale breaks the subjective effects of DXM into seven distinct levels, in which each tier typically contains an expanding list of effects. These effects intensity proportionally relative to the dosage consumed. The approximate frequency of occurrence is also listed alongside each effect. For an explanation of the terms used within this frequency measuring system, please see the article

. Furthermore, it is important to note that the dosages provided here are average measurements that are comparable to recommendations made by

and

. The DXM dose required to reach a given range of effects seems to vary widely between individuals, depending on both body weight and neurochemistry. This variation in dosage sensitivity appears to be far more common among DXM users than almost any other hallucinogenic substance. For example, while some people may find themselves unusually sensitive to this compound, others will require a much higher dose than those recommended by this article and other reliable sources. It is therefore common for people within the psychonaut community to use

which predict the required dosage depending on body weight. These dosage calculators usually refer to a 5 tier plateau system that was popularised in 2002 by

. Although the levelling system documented on this page here is approximately—although not entirely—analogous to this plateau system, it is important to keep in mind that there are many subtle differences.

1. Subtle (100 - 200 mg)

At the lowest level, DXM frequently induces a small range of subtle

which may be beneficial for enhancing a person's

,

,

, and

. There may also be a sensation that the

, resulting in a sense of bounciness and ease of movement. However, these changes may be difficult to distinguish between that of genuine alterations and the placebo effect, unless the person is already familiar with the substance. This level of DXM intensity is roughly analogous to a state which is colloquially referred to as the "

". The specific subtle effects which generally occur at this level of intensity are described and documented within their own dedicated articles, listed below:

2. Mild (200 - 400 mg)

At this level, the effects of DXM can be generally described as a subtle dulling of the senses and a vague feeling of

from the external environment, which is accompanied by a distinct sense of

,

, and

. The

experienced at this dosage range is mildly entactogenic and can be described as forcibly induced feelings of love, empathy, and talkativeness. Although it is comparable in its style to the entactogenia induced by substances such as MDMA, it is much subtler in its intensity and forcefulness in a manner which is similar to that of 2C-B. In terms of its intensity, however, it is usually only present at these lower levels of intensity as when the dosage is increased, and eventually gives way to more typical dissociative effects. These effects are accompanied by mild but pleasurable spontaneous bodily sensations which is commonly referred to as a "body high." The specific details of which can be described through the

of feeling in motion, sporadic in consistency, sharp in sensation, euphoric, and localised in its position to the hands, feet, or head. At this point, the user may have to pay direct attention to the effects of the substance for them to be recognisable, or they may be noticeable but will not necessarily demand the user's attention. This level of DXM intensity is roughly analogous to a state which is colloquially referred to as the "

". The specific subtle effects that generally occur at this level of intensity are described and documented within their own dedicated articles, listed below:

3. Distinct (400 - 700 mg)

At this level, the environment starts to feel physically further away in distance and increasingly disconnected from a person’s sensory perception. Partially blurred and double vision sets in, and anaesthetic-like effects such as

begin to take place. Other physical faculties such as

become somewhat suppressed in a manner that is partially compensated for by a feeling of the body being in a state of "autopilot". Interestingly enough, this suppression of motor control is unique in its style as it frequently results in users moving around in a

that does not seem to present itself under the influence of other dissociative substances. Within the DXM community, this is colloquially referred to as a "robo walk". These physical effects are also accompanied by a pronounced feeling of

that begins to overtake the

that is felt at lower dosages, and is accompanied by other

such as

. However, this sedation should not be confused with a sense of actual

as it is more comparable to feeling extremely heavy and unable to move one's body. Alongside of this, the user will likely feel a sense of persistent

or

that often requires periodic sipping of water to keep it from reaching significant levels of discomfort. Various adverse effects such as itching and rashes may also occur at this dosage range and above. Although it is uncommon, it is worth noting that a certain percentage of people seem to experience

on DXM that is comparable to that which occurs on opioids such morphine, kratom, and heroin. This is colloquially referred to as a "robo itch" within the DXM community and is likely a result of histamine release. In terms of auditory perception, the clarity of sound itself may seem as if it has become

. Nonetheless, one's sense of

will have profoundly increased. Regarding visual effects, some inconsistent and brief distortions may also occur spontaneously during dissociative experiences. These distortions can include alterations in perceived distances between objects, visual segmentation of one's vision into

or

, and changes to the perceived size of one's body or the environment. During this level, if one allows themselves to relax while closing their eyes, they may find that they are fleetingly and partially drifting off into a

filled with vague

alongside simplistic

. This is usually a very brief and indistinct experience, which can quickly be interrupted by external stimuli such as noises or other distractions. With DXM in particular, it is worth noting that its

is typically much more distinct, colourful, pronounced, and psychedelic-esque in comparison to that of other more commonly used dissociatives. Although it does not usually extend beyond level 5 geometry and is not entirely on par with a typical psychedelic in terms of complexity, it can often come very close in terms of its intensity, colour palette, and vividness. This effect will typically begin to manifest at this level subtly, and its intensity increases proportional to the dosage consumed. It can be comprehensively described through its

as

intricate in complexity, algorithmic in style, synthetic in feel, unstructured in organization, brightly lit in lighting, multicoloured in scheme, glossy in shading, soft in edges, small in size, slow in speed, smooth in motion, equal in rounded and angular corners, immersive in-depth and consistent in intensity

. There is also a distinct possibility that the user may experience stereotypical psychedelic drifting which causes the environment to appear to warp, morph, bend, and flow. However, although this effect is more common on DXM in comparison to that of other more common dissociatives, it is still substantially less common in comparison to that of a traditional psychedelic. The

are simple in complexity, slow-moving, smooth in perceived framerate, constant throughout, and psychedelic in its appearance. Depending on the person's level of experience with this substance, these effects can be allowed to occupy a predominant role within the person's perception, or they may be partially ignored and made somewhat secondary to other chosen activities. This level of DXM intensity is roughly analogous to a state which is colloquially referred to as the "

". The specific distinct effects which generally occur at this level of intensity are described and documented within their own dedicated articles, listed below:

4. Strong (700 - 800 mg)

At this level, the

has begun to completely block out one's perception of the external environment. It is here where the person may find themselves undergoing an out-of-body experience as they float in a variety of directions and orientations through a "

", which can be described as an expansive darkened void containing a wide array of

and

. These structures are usually formed from solid materials which can take the form of any shape. Common examples include vast and monolithic pillars, columns, tunnels, blocks, buildings, slides, monuments, wheels, pyramids, caverns, and a variety of abstract or fractal shapes. The internal hallucinations that occur at this level will usually consist of vivid, ever-changing dream-like scenes and imagery. They can be comprehensively described through their

as a combination of lucid and delirious in awareness, fixed in style, primarily novel experiences over everyday or biographical content, autonomous in interactivity, and a combination of realistic and geometric appearances. Although they are substantially less common than

,

can also occasionally occur at heavy dosages of DXM. These are typically deliriant-like in nature and consist of solid hallucinations of objects or people blending seamlessly into the external environment. The most common theme seems to be the hallucination of conversing with other people in the environment who were not actually present throughout the trip. However, it is important to note that despite this effect being more common under the influence of DXM in comparison to that of other dissociatives, it is still quite rare and may never be experienced even by regular users. Alongside these disconnective hallucinatory effects, the user may experience feelings of altered cognition that feel as if they direct one's thought stream towards topics of

, an

, and a general sense of

. This is the level at which the effects become powerful enough to render the person undergoing them as

. At this level, the effects of the substance are apparent and can no longer be ignored in any capacity, leaving the user entirely engaged in the experience whether they wish to be or not. In terms of how this looks from an outsiders perspective, the person will usually appear to be either heavily sedated or even almost entirely unconscious. This level of DXM intensity is roughly analogous to the lower end of a state which is colloquially referred to as the "

". The specific distinct effects which generally occur at this level of intensity are described and documented within their own dedicated articles, listed below:

5. Heavy (800 - 900 mg)

At the highest level, the dissociation and detachment from the person's senses and consciousness has become intense enough for their

to cease functioning. This leads into a state which is commonly referred to as "

" due to the way in which the person completely loses their ability to recall and comprehend their own sense of identity. This state of ego loss is accompanied by extremely

, structures,

, sensory disconnection,

,

, and occasionally life-changing spiritual or

. It is worth noting that during this dosage range, feelings of sudden

, panic, or even an impending sense of doom can spontaneously occur at any point throughout the trip for no discernible reason. Although this is relatively uncommon, it can occur regardless of the users level of experience and can even suddenly manifest during the offset of the drug when the person has begun to feel almost entirely sober. This experience typically lasts any where from thirty minutes to a couple of hours, and seems more likely to manifest for people who use this substance on a regular basis. This level of DXM intensity is roughly analogous to the upper end of a state which is colloquially referred to as the "

". The specific distinct effects which generally occur at this level of intensity are described and documented within their own dedicated articles, listed below:

6. Extreme (900 - 1200 mg +)

The highest level of detachment occurs when a person

and normal cognitive functioning. This renders the person unconscious and consistently leaves extended gaps in a person’s memory with large periods of

which are generally impossible to recall once the experience is over. It is at this level of dissociation that drugs such as ketamine are used in medical procedures for their anaesthetic effects. At this dosage range, the person will experience the effects typically associated with the previously described level during the onset and offset of their trip. During the peak, however, they will black out and become unconscious for a prolonged period of time that is directly proportional to the dosage consumed. Although this extreme dissociative state may be attractive to certain individuals, it is worth noting that this level of intensity is not only potentially dangerous but also less therapeutic and exploratory than the previous levels. With DXM in particular, it is said by sites such as

that dosages between 2,500 mg and 20,000 mg are capable of resulting in death. However, this seems unusually high to me, and I would not personally be surprised if dosages closer to 1000mg were capable of causing a fatal overdose within certain individuals that have either a lower body weight or a higher sensitivity.

7. Prolonged

This state of DXM is not necessarily the highest level of the substances potential intensity but is qualitatively different from that of the previously listed levels. This state is induced by taking successive doses of DXM over several hours, instead of a single dose. It is reported to intensify many aspects of the DXM experience, and often produces more vivid and disorientating

,

contact,

,

,

,

and many other extremely unpleasant side effects. Within the DXM community it is colloquially referred to "plateau sigma" and was originally described in Erowid's 2002

. It is usually achieved using the following technique:

Take a weak “second plateau” dosage at approximately 200-400 mg. It is recommended to do this earlier in the day due to the lengthiness of this process, as sleep deprivation or fatigue can negatively impact the experience. After approximately three hours (or about one hour after the peak) take another weak “second plateau” dosage. After another three hours (or about one hour after the second peak) take either a strong “second plateau” or a weak “third plateau” dosage at approximately 400-600mg. During the offset of this third dosage, the user may find themselves experiencing plateau sigma instead of slowly returning to baseline.

However, it is important to note that within the DXM community, this experience is widely considered extremely unpleasant and potentially dangerous. There are seemingly very few cases of people who enjoy this state of mind. Because of these factors, it is universally advised that people avoid experimenting with it altogether.