5-MeO-DMT (very potent, vaporised)
5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is an extremely potent, short-acting psychedelic tryptamine found in some plants and toad venom and produced synthetically. Vaporised or insufflated, it produces a rapid, overwhelming experience. Human data are mostly observational and anecdotal, with emerging clinical trials; the very steep dose-response and intensity make it high-risk.
01 Overview
5-MeO-DMT is distinguished by its extreme potency and very short, intense duration when vaporised. Effects can be near-total and ego-dissolving within seconds to a couple of minutes, and are frequently described as overwhelming. It occurs naturally (e.g. in Bufo alvarius toad secretions and some plants) and is used synthetically; it has recently been studied in early-phase clinical trials for depression.
Human pharmacology remains limited. The dose-response is steep, so a small increase in dose can dramatically change the experience, and the intensity carries real risks: loss of physical control, vomiting, and rarely serotonin toxicity, especially if combined with MAOIs or serotonergic drugs. Psychological difficulty and prolonged distress are reported. Because of the speed and intensity, physical safety (a sitter, a safe position) is a recurring harm-reduction theme.
02 Mechanism
Potent agonist at serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors; the marked 5-HT1A activity distinguishes it from most classical psychedelics.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threshold | 2–4 mg | Vaporised | Approximate; extremely potent, steep dose-response. |
| Common (insufflated) | 5–15 mg | Insufflated | Slower onset and longer duration than vaporised; still very intense. |
| Common | 5–10 mg | Vaporised | Onset seconds, peak minutes, total ~15-30 min. Small increases greatly intensify effects. |
| Strong | 10–15 mg | Vaporised | High risk of overwhelming, ego-dissolving effects and loss of physical control. |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid, overwhelming ego dissolutionNear-total dissolution of ordinary awareness within seconds to minutes when vaporised. | extreme | Observational | |
| Profound altered stateIntense, often ineffable experiences; sometimes described as mystical, sometimes terrifying. | Anecdotal | ||
| Potential mood benefitEarly-phase trials and observational data suggest possible antidepressant effects; not established. | Observational |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular stimulationMarked rise in heart rate and blood pressure during the acute phase. | Moderate | Common | Observational | |
| Overwhelming psychological distressPanic, terror, confusion and prolonged distress can occur given the extreme intensity and steep dose-response. | Severe | Common | Observational | |
| Loss of physical control / injury and aspiration riskUsers may collapse, become unresponsive, or vomit, with risk of injury or aspiration. | Severe | Common | Observational | |
| Serotonin toxicity (with interactions)Serotonin syndrome risk, particularly when combined with MAOIs (e.g. in some ayahuasca-style combinations) or serotonergic drugs. | Life-threatening | Rare but serious | Observational |