2C-B-FLY Stats & Data
[Cl-].NCCc1c2CCOc2c(Br)c2CCOc12.[H+]XHRNOQRXDGETTA-UHFFFAOYSA-NReceptor Profile
Receptor Actions
History & Culture
1995–present
2C-B-FLY was first described in the scientific literature in 1995 by Aaron Phillip Monte and David E. Nichols along with colleagues at Purdue University. Monte, a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, synthesized this novel compound as part of research into the phenethylamine class. Following its initial description, Alexander Shulgin subsequently evaluated the compound, contributing to the early characterization of its psychoactive properties.
2005–2016
By 2005, 2C-B-FLY had gained sufficient popularity within the research chemical community to warrant its own dedicated Erowid vault. However, its presence in the market was abruptly disrupted in October 2009 when two deaths occurred in Denmark and the United States. These fatalities were initially and erroneously attributed to 2C-B-FLY, but investigation revealed that the substance involved was actually Bromo-DragonFLY, which had been mislabeled as 2C-B-FLY by a small research chemical vendor. This mislabeling proved catastrophic because Bromo-DragonFLY is active in the microgram range while 2C-B-FLY requires milligram doses, resulting in massive overdoses when users took what they believed to be standard 2C-B-FLY doses. The incident led to the immediate withdrawal of 2C-B-FLY from the market for several years. The compound resurfaced in early 2016 when it was released by Lizard Labs, a research chemical supplier. At that time, it represented one of the few functional psychedelic compounds readily and legally available on the open market, at least until the United Kingdom's Psychoactive Substances Act came into effect in May 2016.
Effect Profile
Curated + 19 ReportsStrong visuals, body load, and auditory effects with moderate headspace
Strong sensory enhancement with moderate euphoria, stimulation, and empathy
Duration Timeline
BluelightTolerance & Pharmacokinetics
drugs.wikiTolerance Decay
Cross-tolerance with serotonergic psychedelics is expected; anecdotal decay to baseline ~2 weeks. Data quality is limited; space experiences to reduce variability.
Cross-Tolerances
Experience Report Analysis
ErowidDemographics
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Reports Over Time
Effect Analysis
ErowidEffects aggregated from 19 experience reports (19 Erowid)
Effect Sentiment Distribution
Confidence Distribution
Positive Effects 9
Adverse Effects 7
Dosage Distribution
Dose distribution from experience reports
Real-World Dose Distribution
62K DosesFrom 31 individual dose entries
Oral (n=30)
Form / Preparation
Most common forms and preparations reported
Body-Weight Dosing
Dose relative to body weight from reports with weight data
Redose Patterns
Redosing behavior across 13 reports
Legal Status
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Illegal (NPSG) | Controlled under the Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz (New Psychoactive Substances Act). Possession, production, and sale are prohibited. |
| Canada | Schedule III (CDSA) | Classified as a controlled substance under Schedule III of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act as of October 31, 2016. Scheduled as a derivative of 2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine. |
| Finland | Scheduled | Listed in the government decree on psychoactive substances banned from the consumer market. |
| Germany | Controlled (NpSG) | Regulated under the Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz (New Psychoactive Substances Act) since November 26, 2016. Production and importation with intent to distribute, administration to others, and trading are criminally punishable. Possession is prohibited but carries no penalty. |
| Italy | Schedule I | Listed as a Schedule I controlled substance. Possession, production, sale, and purchase are illegal. |
| Netherlands | Legal (research chemical) | Currently available as a research chemical when not sold for human consumption. However, pending legislation on New Psychoactive Substances may result in future scheduling. |
| Poland | Unscheduled | Not explicitly scheduled under Polish drug law. However, as a derivative of 2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, it could potentially be classified as a Group II-P substance under analogue provisions. |
| Sweden | Illegal | Controlled substance as of April 2018. Possession, sale, purchase, and use are prohibited under Swedish narcotics legislation. |
| Switzerland | Ambiguous | Legal status remains unclear. The compound's structural classification under Verzeichnis E point 130 is contested, as it does not clearly fit the definition of an alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenedioxy, or halide derivative of phenethylamine due to its fused ring system. |
| Turkey | Illegal | Classified as a controlled drug. Possession, production, supply, and importation are prohibited. |
| United Kingdom | Illegal (Psychoactive Substances Act) | Controlled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, which came into effect on May 26, 2016. Production, supply, and importation are criminal offenses. The compound was legally available on the open market prior to this blanket ban. |
| United States | Unscheduled | Not specifically scheduled or controlled under federal law. However, the Federal Analogue Act may apply if the substance is sold or possessed with intent for human consumption, given its structural and pharmacological similarity to the Schedule I substance 2C-B. |
Harm Reduction
drugs.wiki2C-B-FLY’s oral onset can be slow and variable (20–180+ minutes), so redosing early carries a real overshoot risk; wait at least 3 hours before considering any additional dose. Mislabeling events in 2009 involved Bromo-DragonFLY being sold as 2C-B-FLY; the former is far more potent, longer-lasting, and notably more vasoconstrictive—use reagent tests as a preliminary screen only and prefer GC/MS drug checking when feasible; treat unknown batches with allergy tests (≤1 mg) and conservative titration. Insufflation is commonly reported as extremely painful for 2C-x and specifically for 2C-B-FLY; it tends to shorten duration and roughen the come-up—oral is generally preferred for predictability. As with phenethylamine psychedelics, expect transient increases in heart rate and blood pressure; those with cardiovascular, seizure, or bipolar disorders should avoid or consult a clinician. Salt form affects mass: most references cite the HCl or HBr salts; HBr typically requires roughly 10–20% more mass than HCl for equivalent base—always calculate by salt and weigh accurately. Because of the slow come-up and moderate length, plan set/setting, hydration, and recovery time; avoid combining with stimulants, tramadol, or MAOIs. If effects escalate well past 12 hours with pronounced cold/numb extremities and severe vasoconstriction, suspect misidentification (e.g., Bromo-DragonFLY) and seek medical care; do not redose or take vasoconstrictors. As with all psychedelics, cross-tolerance with other 5-HT2A agonists occurs for several days; spacing experiences by 2+ weeks helps restore baseline sensitivity and reduces compulsive redosing pressure.
References
Data Sources
Cited References
- Drug Users Bible: 2C-B-FLY
- Greene, S. L. (2013). Benzofurans and benzodifurans. In Novel Psychoactive Substances
- Talaie et al. (2009). Dose-independent occurrence of seizure with tramadol
- TripSit Factsheet: 2C-B-FLY
- TripSit Factsheet: 2C-B-FLY
- Isomer Design: 2C-B-FLY Drug Status Report
- Drug Users Bible: Index
Drugs.wiki References
- Erowid 2C-B-FLY Vault (overview, articles, experiences)
- Erowid article: Survey Provides New 2C-B-Fly Data (onset/chronology)
- Erowid 2C-B-FLY images: Energy Control GC/MS on mislabelled batch (BD-FLY)
- Erowid: Shulgin draft entry with chemical identifiers (HCl salt CAS)
- Drug Users Bible: 2C-B-FLY (dose ranges, duration summary)
- Bluelight warning thread: Bromo-DragonFLY sold as 2C-B-FLY (Energy Control alert)
- Bluelight combo safety lists for psychedelics (MAOI, lithium, stimulants, tramadol)
- TripSit main site & combo chart announcements (general interaction guidance)
- Bluelight on 2C-B salt forms (HBr vs HCl potency by mass; general phenethylamine salt assumptions)
- Reddit r/2CB_FLY: community notes on intranasal pain/shorter duration