25I-NBOMe
25I-NBOMe (2C-I-NBOMe) is an extremely potent psychedelic active in the microgram range and taken sublingually. It is dangerous: unlike classical phenethylamines it has a narrow margin of safety and has caused numerous deaths from seizures, severe vasoconstriction, hyperthermia and cardiac arrest. It is frequently mis-sold as LSD. Human data come mainly from clinical toxicology case series.
01 Overview
25I-NBOMe is an N-benzylphenethylamine, an N-(2-methoxybenzyl) derivative of 2C-I that dramatically increases 5-HT2A potency. It is not orally active in typical doses and is used sublingually or buccally, usually on blotter, which has led to it being sold as or mistaken for LSD. Active doses are measured in hundreds of micrograms.
Unlike classical serotonergic psychedelics, which have a wide margin of safety, 25I-NBOMe has repeatedly caused life-threatening toxicity: generalised seizures, extreme agitation, severe hypertension and vasoconstriction, hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis and cardiac arrest, with multiple confirmed fatalities. The gap between an active and a dangerous dose is small, and blotter distribution makes accurate dosing effectively impossible. This is stated plainly because the risk profile differs fundamentally from the 2C and LSD compounds it is often confused with.
02 Mechanism
Extremely potent, near-full agonist at serotonin 5-HT2A receptors; the N-benzyl group markedly increases receptor affinity and potency versus the parent 2C-I.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threshold | 50–100 mcg | Sublingual | Active in micrograms; blotter distribution makes accurate dosing impossible. |
| Common | 200–800 mcg | Sublingual | Narrow margin; overdose and seizures reported within and near this range. |
| Strong | 800–1200 mcg | Sublingual | High risk of life-threatening toxicity; not a safe recreational range. |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intense visual psychedeliaStrong open- and closed-eye visuals reported at active doses. | strong | Anecdotal | |
| StimulationMarked stimulant character compared with LSD. | Anecdotal | ||
| Metallic taste and body loadBitter/metallic taste and physical discomfort commonly reported, sometimes used to distinguish it from LSD blotter. | Anecdotal |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SeizuresGeneralised seizures are a hallmark of 25I-NBOMe toxicity and appear frequently in emergency case series. | Life-threatening | Common in toxicity presentations | Observational | |
| Severe vasoconstriction and cardiac eventsSevere hypertension, tachycardia, peripheral vasoconstriction and cardiac arrest have caused deaths. | Life-threatening | Common in toxicity presentations | Observational | |
| Hyperthermia and rhabdomyolysisExtreme agitation with hyperthermia and muscle breakdown, risking kidney failure. | Life-threatening | Reported in severe cases | Observational |