Dimethyltryptamine – DrugFacts

Also known as

Dimitri, ayahuasca, DMT, businessman’s trip, businessman’s special, fantasia, forty-five-minute psychosis.

Classification

Hallucinogen

Overview

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a hallucinogenic drug, which means you’re likely to experience a distorted view of objects and reality and it can cause hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind. It’s effects are similar to LSD and magic mushrooms. As with LSD, some people refer to using DMT as ‘tripping’, which can be a good or bad experience.

A number of indigenous people’s traditions and religions use drinks or food, such as ayahuasca, that contain DMT.

This has led some people to consider DMT as being ‘spiritual’ and ‘safe’ rather than seeing it as a chemical hallucinogen ¹.

The key effects and risks of DMT include –

A distorted view of objects and reality or actual hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind. These effects are normally pleasurable and can come on rapidly, can be very intense and may last for two hours.
Until you have taken DMT you can’t tell how strong it is or how it’s going to affect you. Once the trip has started, you can’t stop it.
Intoxication with DMT can cause nausea and vomiting ¹.

What does it look like?

Usually found as a yellow, sometimes waxy, crystal-like substance, occasionally as a powder ².

In its pure form, DMT is a white, crystalline powder or solid, however, pure DMT is rare and it’s more common to get impure DMT, which can be a yellow, orange or pink powder or solid.

DMT is normally sold in wraps, containing between an eighth and a half of a gram of DMT ¹.

It is a white powder, 5 – 10 times stronger than DMT ³. DMT is usually seen as a yellow, orange or pinky powder or crystals ⁴.

Source

Originally sourced from plants but now produced synthetically ⁵.

Street price

DMT and 5-MeO-DMT can usually be purchased at $10-30 per ‘hit’ or between $150 and $400 per gram ³.

Roughly £25 for a wrap containing an eighth to half a gram ⁴.

Prices start at £25, but increase as the purity of the DMT increases ¹.

Why take it?

Sought after effects

visual perception (seeing bright colours, geometric shapes, ‘soft edge’ to objects),
intense dreams,
change in self-perception and identity (disconnection from senses when sought) ²,
changes in consciousness,
distorted reality [5].

Undesired effects

hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind can become frightening (overly intense),
sense of disconnection from self,
effect/comedown can be rapid and abrupt [2].
disorientation,
increased heart rate,
increased blood pressure,
nausea,
vomiting ⁵.

How long do its effects last?

Onset of effects

smoked – 20 – 40 seconds ⁶.
smoked or vapourised – 0 – 2 minutes ⁷, 0 – 3 minutes ⁸.
oral-MAOI – 20 – 45 minutes ⁷.
nasal – 3 – 5 minutes ⁷, 1 – 15 minutes ⁸.
oral – 10 – 60 minutes ⁸.
intravenous – >1 minutes ⁸.

Come up

smoked – 1 – 3 minutes ⁶.

Peak

smoked – 2 – 8 minutes ⁶.
smoked or vapourised – 10 – 15 minutes ⁸.

Offset

smoked – 1 – 6 minutes ⁶.

Duration of effects

smoked – 5 – 20 minutes ⁶.
smoked or vaporised – 3 – 10 minutes ⁷, 15 – 30 minutes ⁸.
oral-MAOI – 180 – 420 minutes (3 – 7 hours) ⁷.
nasal – 45 – 60 minutes ⁷.
oral – 4 – 8 hours ⁸.
intravenous – 30 – 45 minutes ⁸.

After-effects

smoked – 10 – 60 minutes ⁶.
smoked or vaporised – 15 – 60 minutes ⁷.
oral-MAOI – 15 – 60 minutes ⁷.
nasal – 15 – 60 minutes ⁷.
oral – 2 – 3 hours ⁸.

Pharmacology

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) belongs to a class of chemical compounds called ‘tryptamines’ which mainly modulate amounts of serotonin (a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mood, appetite, sleep and memory) throughout the central nervous systembrain and spinal cord.

DMT has been found naturally in humans although it has yet to be confirmed whether it is actually made in the body.

The hallucinogenic effects of DMT reach their peak quickly when it is taken intravenously (around 2 minutes), take slightly longer to be reached following injection into muscle (between 10 – 15 minutes) and are slowest when the commonly-used oral route is used (1 – 2 hours). The time taken to reach peak effects following smoking of DMT is yet to be accurately measured.

A digestive enzyme present in the body called monoamine oxidase, breaks down DMT when it is taken orally. For this reason, when taken orally, DMT must be combined with an inhibitor of this enzyme – a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as the ayahuasca vine, found and widely used in South America. MAOIsMAOIs may be used to treat the symptoms of depression. More both prolong the duration and increase the intensity of DMTs pharmacological effects. They also interact with a host of other drugs and should be used with caution.

Once taken, DMT binds to several types of serotonin receptor and at a few of these; its stimulating action has been confirmed. DMT has a notably high affinity for one such receptor – the serotonin 2C receptor (or 5-HT2C receptor). Stimulationcan be defined as any changes in a person's energy levels which are interpreted as stimulating and encouraging when it comes to movement and physical activities such as running, walking, cleaning, socializing, dancing, and climbing More of this receptor is known to induce the hallucinogenic effects seen with DMT while serotonin produced inhibits both dopamine (a neurotransmitter involved in reward-seeking behaviour) and adrenaline (a neurotransmitter and hormone involved in stress regulation).

In addition to the intense but relatively short hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind, users may also experience effects including: dilated pupils; increased heart rate; increased blood pressure and euphoriafeelings of joy and happiness.

At particularly high doses, feelings of incapacitation can overwhelm the hallucinogenic effects of DMT ².

Half-life

10 – 20 minutes ⁷.

Lethal dosage

The median lethal dose or dosage at which 50% of participants die LD50the amount of a material, given all at once, which causes the death of 50% (one half) of a group of test animals. The LD50 is one way to measure the short-term poisoning potential (acute toxicity) of a material of DMT for human beings has never been reached in any setting ⁶.

Mode of use

DMT can be injected, smoked or snorted ¹.

Smoked – it can be inhaled through a pipe, and smoked in a jointa marijuana cigarette. More. This is the preferred method and usually easier to do in the ‘freebase’ form.
Injected – it can be injected only if it is in the acidic salt (fumarate) form, the other form (‘freebase’) cannot be as it does not mix with water.
Snorted – the crystals can be crushed and snorted, similar to other white powders.
Ingested – in some cultures, the ‘ayahuasca’ beverage contains some DMT. However, when ingesting DMT, an appropriate enzyme inhibitor must be taken (i.e. MAOIsMAOIs may be used to treat the symptoms of depression. More), otherwise the DMT will be inactive ².

NB. The fumarate form is water soluble (mixes with water), more stable and less likely to degrade, but is slightly less potent than the ‘freebase’ form. Both forms can look similar in appearance, although the ‘freebase’ form may have a stronger crystal-like appearance ².

Signs of usage

changes in the senses,
fluctuations in body temperature,
alterations in time perception,
pupil dilation,
feeling detached from one’s body,
lingering visual images after the trip has ended,
inability to discern reality from fantasy,
diminished ability to learn new concepts,
nausea and vomiting,
alterations in mood,
memory loss ⁹.

Effects

The effects of DMT include –

Hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind,
Feelings of time and movement speeding up or slowing down,
Distortion of colour, sound and even double vision,
Often a heightening of mood ¹.

Short-term effects

‘rushing’ sensation,
elevated mood,
increased energy,
boost in libido,
improved concentration,
heightened sense of empathy ¹⁰,
altered perception of time and space,
feelings of intense joy,
visual and auditory hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind,
out-of-body experience,
perception of bright, intensified colours,
perceived insights or epiphanies (often believed to have come from aliens, divinities or other mystical beings) ¹¹.

Long-term effects

disordered mood,
disorganised thought,
persistent paranoiasuspicion, distrust or fear of other people,
visual disturbances ¹¹.

HPPD effects

hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind and visual disturbances,
symptoms that would be present with other neurological problems such as brain tumours or cerebrovascular accident (i.e., stroke) ¹¹.

Physical effects

changes in gravitycan be described as feelings of gravity shifting in its direction. For example, during this state one may feel as if they are flying forwards, backwards, upwards, downwards, in multiple directions at once, or in a singular direction that doesn't make sense More,
physical euphoriaan intense feeling of pleasure and well-being More,
pupil dilation,
spontaneous tactile sensationsthese can be described as the physical experience of an activation of nerve endings across the body occurring without any obvious or immediate physical trigger. The experience of this results in feelings of distinct random tactile input and general tingling sensations. Depending on the psychoactive substance consumed, these vary greatly in their alternative styles of sensation, but can be broken down into three basic levels of intensity. These are described and listed here - 1. Mild - The lowest level of the sensation can be described as light and fleeting tingling sensations across the body that do not impair physical motor control and can essentially be ignored if one wishes to do so, and - 2. Distinct - At this level, the sensation becomes impossible to ignore. It can be described as distinct tingling sensations which are intense enough to partially impair a person’s motor control and cause a significant portion of mental focus to be directed towards these sensations, and - 3. Overwhelming - The highest level occurs when the tingling sensations have increased enough to become a powerful, uncontrollable focus point of attention. This feels completely overwhelming and impairs a person's motor control, consistently leaving them either lying or sitting down, incapable of standing up, or writhing in the all-encompassing sensations More,
temperature regulation suppression ⁶.

Cognitive effects

déjà vu,
ego replacement,
feelings of impending doom,
mindfulness,
subconscious communication,
time distortion,
analysis enhancementbest described as a subtle to distinct enhancement of one's overall ability to process information and logically or creatively analyse concepts, ideas and scenarios. The experience of this leads onto deep and complex states of contemplation which often result in an abundance of new and insightful ideas. This gives the person a powerful ability to dissect and rationally analyse concepts and problems, allowing them to gain insights and reach new conclusions, perspectives and solutions which would have been otherwise difficult to conceive of. More,
emotion enhancement,
increased music appreciation,
novelty enhancement,
rejuvenation,
memory suppression,
personal bias suppression,
existential self-realisation,
spirituality enhancement,
unity and interconnectedness ⁶.

Visual effects

acuity enhancement,
colour enhancement,
pattern recognition enhancement,
after images,
colour replacement,
colour shifting,
colour tinting,
drifting,
recursion,
scenery slicingbest described as an effect which only occurs spontaneously and rarely sustains itself for more than several seconds. The experience of this effect splits the visual field into separate sections. These individual slices then proceed to drift slowly away from their original position before disappearing and resetting to normality. More,
symmetrical texture repetition,
tracers,
geometrybest described as the experience of a person's field of vision being partially or completely encompassed by fast-moving, colourful and indescribably complex geometric patterns, form constants, phosphenes, shapes, fractals, structures and colour. These geometric forms can also become structured and organised in a way that presents genuine information to the person experiencing it far beyond the perception of meaningless, although complex, shapes and colours. This happens through the experience of innately understood geometric representations that feel as though they depict specific concepts and neurological components that exist within the brain in a manner that is extremely detailed. More,
autonomous entities,
external hallucinationsbest described as the experience of perceiving imagined visual concepts and occurrences which display themselves seamlessly into the external environment as if they were actually happening. More,
internal hallucinationsbest described as the perception of imagery and scenes which are experienced exclusively within a layer in front of one's open or closed eye vision and not seamlessly within the external environment around oneself. At lower levels, internal hallucinations begin with imagery which does not take up the entirety of one's visual field and is distinctively separate from its background. These can be described as spontaneous moving or still images of scenes, concepts, places, and anything one could imagine. They are manifested in varying levels of detail, ranging from ill-defined and cartoon-like in nature to completely realistic and beyond realism through seemingly impossible, non-euclidean geometric forms. They rarely hold their form for more than a few seconds before fading or shifting into another image. More,
perspective alterations,
scenarios and plots,
settings, sceneries, and landscapes,
transformations ⁶.

Auditory effects

auditory distortion,
auditory enhancement,
auditory hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind ⁶.

Side-effects

dilated pupils,
involuntary rapid eye movement,
increased heart rate,
high blood pressure,
coordination problems,
dizziness,
nausea and vomiting (typically when taken in oral forms such as ayahuasca),
coma and/or respiratory arrestRespiratory arrest is caused by airway obstruction, decreased respiratory drive, or respiratory muscle weakness. More (reported in high doses) ¹¹.

Positive effects

euphoriafeelings of joy and happiness,
feeling of awe,
realisations about one’s life ⁸.

Neutral effects

time dilation,
intense hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind,
dissociation,
loss of comprehension of basic concepts such as ego, language or one’s own body,
out-of-body experiences,
unconventional thought patterns ⁸.

Negative effects

panic attack,
bad tripa disturbing hallucinogenic experience that can cause users to feel extremely anxious and threatened More,
nausea – oral only,
vomiting – oral only ⁸.

After effects

a lasting perspective shift is likely to occur,
depersonalisationfeeling detached from yourself, observing yourself and your feelings and thoughts as if they belong to someone else More/derealisation can occur after an experience and may last up to several months,
some people experience long-term anxiety after an experience while others report a decrease in overall anxiety ⁸.

Risks

DMT can produce very random, and sometimes very frightening, effects, which feed off a person’s imagination.
If panic sets in, the experience can be scary and confusing.
Flashbacks sometimes happen. This is when part of the trip is subsequently re-lived after the original experience.
DMT could have serious implications for somebody who has a history of mental health problems. It may also be responsible for triggering such a problem in someone predisposed but unaware of this.
People have been known to harm themselves during a bad tripa disturbing hallucinogenic experience that can cause users to feel extremely anxious and threatened More from using hallucinogens – so it is probably best to avoid taking DMT if you’re in a bad or anxious mood.
Some people report unpleasant emotional effects lasting for days after taking DMT.
DMT can also raise blood pressure and heart rate and may harm those with a pre-existing heart condition ¹.

Short-term

Throat and lung irritation if smoked, once a trip starts it cannot be stopped, experiences will be random and will depend on the users state of mind, some experiences may be very frightening, flashbacks can occur days or weeks later and some users report unpleasant emotional effects lasting for days after taking DMT ⁵.

Long-term

Psychological and emotional difficulties for weeks afterwards, long-term effects are not yet known but may be similar to LSD and other hallucinogenic substances ⁵.

Purity

DMT is rare and there is little evidence on how pure it is ¹.

Addiction

Can you get addicted

As with LSD, there is no evidence that DMT is addictive but tolerancethis is the process by which the receptors in your brain become habituated to the action of a drug. When tolerance is reached, more of the drug is required to achieve the same effect. With benzodiazepines, and probably with many other classes of drugs as well, tolerance is virtually always associated with some degree of physical dependence. If you find that you are experiencing tolerance, this is a clear warning sign that you may have formed a dependence. More may develop rapidly so that with repeated use a higher dose is needed to get the same effects. The tolerancethis is the process by which the receptors in your brain become habituated to the action of a drug. When tolerance is reached, more of the drug is required to achieve the same effect. With benzodiazepines, and probably with many other classes of drugs as well, tolerance is virtually always associated with some degree of physical dependence. If you find that you are experiencing tolerance, this is a clear warning sign that you may have formed a dependence. More probably goes back to normal quite quickly after stopping taking it for a period ¹.

While DMT does not produce physical dependence, some individuals may abuse the drug to the point that they experience numerous problems as a result. This may be especially true in cases of polysubstance abuse, where the user is combining DMT with other psychoactive substances. A pattern of problematic hallucinogen use that causes significant problems or distress is characterised as ‘other hallucinogen use disorder’.

Symptoms include –

taking more DMT than intended,
unsuccessfully attempting to control or stop DMT use,
expending a lot of time and energy in obtaining and using DMT or recovering from its effects,
craving DMT,
ignoring personal obligations in favour of using DMT,
continuing to use DMT in spite of mounting negative interpersonal, social, or physical/mental health problems,
abandoning previously enjoyed habits or hobbies to use DMT ¹¹.

Dangerous interactions

Unsafe

Tramadol – well known to lower seizure threshold and psychedelics also cause occasional seizuresthe outward effect can vary from uncontrolled jerking movement (tonic-clonic seizure) to as subtle as a momentary loss of awareness More ⁷.

Caution

Cannabis – has an unexpectedly strong and somewhat unpredictable synergy with psychedelics.
Amphetamines – Stimulants increase anxiety levels and the risk of thought loops which can lead to negative experiences.
Cocaine – Stimulants increase anxiety levels and the risk of thought loops which can lead to negative experiences ⁷.

Withdrawal

flashbacks,
muscle spasms,
loss of coordination,
aggressive, hostile or violent behaviour,
zombie-like state,
high blood pressure,
rapid heart rate,
fear of going insane,
depression,
frank psychosis,
hyperthermiaThis is a condition in which the body's temperature is higher than normal More,
diarrhoeaWhere you frequently pass watery or loose faeces,
permanent post-hallucinogenic perceptual disturbance,
long-term psychosis ⁹.

Drug testing

Estimating how long DMT, a psychedelic compound, is detectable in the body depends on many variables, including which kind drug test is being used. DMT – also known as Dimethyltryptamine, businessman’s trip – can be detected for a shorter time with some tests, but can be ‘visible’ for up to three months in other tests.

The timetable for detecting DMT in the system is also dependent upon each individual’s metabolism, body mass, age, hydration level, physical activity, health conditions and other factors, making it almost impossible to determine an exact time DMT will show up on a drug test ¹².

The following is an estimated range of times, or detection windows, during which DMT can be detected by various testing methods –

How long does DMT stay in the urine?

DMT can be detected in the urine for 2 – 5 days ¹².

How long can DMT be detected in blood?

No current data is available concerning blood tests for DMT ¹².

How long can a saliva test detect DMT?

A saliva test can detect DMT for up to 1 – 5 days ¹².

How long can a hair test detect DMT?

DMT, like many other drugs, can be detected with a hair follicle drug test for up to 90 days ¹².

Legality

DMT is a class A drug which means that it’s illegal to have for yourself, give away or sell.
The maximum penalty for possession is seven years in jail and/or an unlimited fine.
Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you life and/or an unlimited fine ¹.

What if you’re caught?

If the Police catch you with DMT, they’ll always take some action. This could include a formal caution, arrest and prosecution ¹.
A conviction for a drug-related offence could have a serious impact. It can stop you visiting certain countries – for example the United States – and limit the types of jobs you can apply for ¹.

Did you know?

Like drinking and driving, driving while high on DMT is illegal – you can get a heavy fine, be disqualified from driving or even go to prison.
Allowing other people to supply drugs in your house or any other premises is illegal. If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a club they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any person concerned in the management of the premises ¹.

Harm reduction

Knowing your own body is essential to the use of any substance, so it is always safest when starting use of unknown substances to begin with small doses until you discover your own tolerancethis is the process by which the receptors in your brain become habituated to the action of a drug. When tolerance is reached, more of the drug is required to achieve the same effect. With benzodiazepines, and probably with many other classes of drugs as well, tolerance is virtually always associated with some degree of physical dependence. If you find that you are experiencing tolerance, this is a clear warning sign that you may have formed a dependence. More levels. DMT only requires very small (milligram) amounts to have an effect on an inexperienced user.

When smoked in a glass pipe, users should ensure it is clean and that the solutions used do not contain any harmful contaminants. The smoke produced is harsh and bitter and can produce a sensation of burning in the throat and lungs. Some crystals can remain in the bottom of the pipe after use and it is important to thoroughly clean these out before further use, as they will combine with the next quantity when heated, meaning the user gets a higher dose than they were anticipating. It is also advised however, that if you wish to smoke DMT, you try to use a vapourizer rather than a glass pipe.

If injecting, it is vital to use clean needles and equipment and not to share them, as blood borne viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis C are easily spread on used needles.

When using, it is always safest to have people you can trust around you (such as close mates) or at the very least knowing where you are. If using with other people, keep your own drugs to yourself (remember, the law considers sharing, even with mates, to be supplying) and keep an eye on each other. If possible, one of you should have some knowledge of First Aid, and you should always have a phone close to hand to call the emergency services if the worst happens ².

Do not smoke DMT or 5-MeO-DMT if you have any heart or blood pressure conditions, have a personal or family history of serious mental illness, feel as if you are in emotional or psychological turmoil, or if you are taking any medications.
MAOIsMAOIs may be used to treat the symptoms of depression. More are contraindicated with a variety of everyday foods and drugs such as soy sauce and Prozac, and are dangerous in combination with many other drugs. Although MAOIsMAOIs may be used to treat the symptoms of depression. More are a principal ingredient in Ayahuasca, you should not take DMT (or Ayahuasca) if you are already taking an MAOI.
Do not be fooled by their short duration, DMT and 5-MeO-DMT are some of the most powerful psychedelics known. Use in a positive mindset and in a safe environment. If you don’t have these, consider waiting until you do.
Users are advised to remain seated or lying down while smoking ³.

Paraphernalia

Pipe or bong if smoked. if snorted razor blade, hard level surface (such as a mirror or glass), tube or rolled banknote. If injected, needles, syringes, water ⁵.

History

The use of plants containing DMT is known to have occurred in the Americas as far back as the 8th century. It appears that it was taken in the form of ‘snuff’ – a fine powder to be snorted. As modern shamanic rituals also make use of it in the form of a brewed drink, known as ‘Ayahuasca’, it is possible that it was also consumed in this way in ancient times.

The arrival of Europeans in South America in the late 15th century exposed a new continent to many of the hallucinogenic substances known to native peoples for centuries. Friar Ramone Pane was one of the first to document the use of a snuff called ‘cohoba’ by the Taipo people of Hispaniola, which has been confirmed in recent years to contain (amongst other things) DMT.

The use of DMT as a synthetic substance did not occur until 1931 when it was synthesised by the British scientist Richard Manske. In the UK it was scheduled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 ².