# Hey! lets talk about the drug used in the movie "vertical limit"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lets-talk-about-the-drug-used-in-the-movie-vertical-limit/714274>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 5, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lets-talk-about-the-drug-used-in-the-movie-vertical-limit/714274 "2015-03-05T14:13:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![davidbanner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@davidbanner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidbanner)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lets-talk-about-the-drug-used-in-the-movie-vertical-limit/714274/1 "2015-03-05T14:13:38Z")

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what was the drug refered to as DEX in the movie vertical limit

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lets-talk-about-the-drug-used-in-the-movie-vertical-limit/714274/2 "2015-03-05T14:15:07Z")

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Reported for forum change.

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**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lets-talk-about-the-drug-used-in-the-movie-vertical-limit/714274/3 "2015-03-05T14:16:29Z")

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Almost certainly dexedrine, an upper common in pro sports.

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**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lets-talk-about-the-drug-used-in-the-movie-vertical-limit/714274/4 "2015-03-05T14:27:55Z")

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This is better suited to Cafe Society. I’ve moved it for you.

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**Author:** ![davidbanner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@davidbanner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidbanner)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lets-talk-about-the-drug-used-in-the-movie-vertical-limit/714274/5 "2015-03-05T17:37:23Z")

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cannot find in cafe

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**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-lets-talk-about-the-drug-used-in-the-movie-vertical-limit/714274/6 "2015-03-06T01:52:56Z")

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Probably [Dexamethasone](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexamethasone), given that I think _ **Vertical Limit** _ is about high altitude mountain climbing. I remember reading about it in books like Krakauer’s, [Into Thin Air](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_Thin_Air), and sites like [this about high altitude medicine](http://www.basecampmd.com/expguide/dexa.shtml). Evidently, [it’s pretty useful in treating HACE and HAPE.](http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/300716-treatment)