5-MeO-DMT Stats & Data
Pharmacology
DrugBankDescription
5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a tryptamine with psychedelic properties. It is found in a wide variety of plant species, and a single psychoactive toad species, the Colorado River toad. This drug, as well as dimethyltryptamine and bufotenin, have been registered to be used in South America in religious and spiritual rituals.
Receptor Profile
Receptor Actions
History & Culture
8th century–present
5-MeO-DMT has a lengthy history of human use spanning over a millennium. Archaeological evidence from a burial site in Northern Chile, dated to approximately the 8th century A.D., revealed snuffing paraphernalia alongside traces of N,N-DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and bufotenine. Additional archaeological sites from the same period have uncovered seeds from Anadenanthera species known to contain the compound. The substance appears as a common constituent in numerous plant species and has been employed traditionally in various psychoactive preparations across South America and the Caribbean. Indigenous groups have utilized it in intranasal snuffs including Yopo, prepared from Anadenanthera colubrina seeds, and Epena, derived from Virola sap. It has also been incorporated as an admixture in certain ayahuasca-type brews. In the early 1950s, researchers identified 5-MeO-DMT as one of the primary psychoactive components in cohoba snuffs used by peoples of the northern Amazon basin.
1936–1959
The compound was first synthesized in 1936 by Japanese chemists Toshio Hoshino and Kenya Shimodaira. Over two decades later, in 1959, it was isolated and identified as one of the psychoactive constituents of Anadenanthera peregrina seeds used in the preparation of Yopo snuff. While 5-MeO-DMT was initially believed to be a major contributor to the psychoactive properties of such snuffs, subsequent research has suggested this is unlikely due to its limited or sometimes negligible presence in the seeds, which instead appear to derive their effects primarily from bufotenine.
1968–present
The first published report identifying toad venom as a natural source of 5-MeO-DMT appeared in 1968. The Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius, also known as Bufo alvarius) was found to produce venom containing concentrations of up to 15% 5-MeO-DMT. This discovery established the species as the only known psychoactive toad and has since led to its venom becoming a sought-after source of the compound.
1980s–present
Recreational and non-traditional use of 5-MeO-DMT expanded throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Alexander Shulgin documented the synthesis and psychoactive effects of the compound in his 1997 book TiHKAL ("Tryptamines I Have Known and Loved"), which also described the use of Colorado River toad venom. In contemporary times, the substance is primarily obtained in its pure synthetic form through online research chemical vendors. Recent studies have investigated its capacity to induce mystical experiences, and there is growing scientific interest in exploring potential therapeutic applications.
Subjective Effect Notes
In comparison to its often relatively mild accompanying cognitive and visual effects, 5-MeO-DMT seems to have by far the most proportionally intense and overwhelming physical sensations found within the known psychedelic experience.
physical: The physical effects of 5-MeO-DMT can be broken down into ten components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage.
sensory: In comparison to its consistently overwhelming and intense accompanying cognitive and physical effects, 5-MeO-DMT seems to have some of the most proportionally underwhelming visual effects found within the known psychedelic experience.
Effect Profile
Curated + 432 ReportsStrong visuals, headspace, auditory effects, and body load
Duration Timeline
BluelightCommunity Effects
TripSitTolerance & Pharmacokinetics
drugs.wikiTolerance Decay
Users frequently report marked acute tolerance if re-dosed within the same session; effects are often blunted or dysphoric. Cross‑tolerance with other serotonergic psychedelics is plausible via 5‑HT2A down‑regulation, but quantitative data are limited; estimates here are conservative and anecdotal.
Cross-Tolerances
Demographics
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Reports Over Time
Effect Analysis
Erowid + BluelightEffects aggregated from 424 experience reports (374 Erowid + 58 Bluelight)
Effect Sentiment Distribution
Confidence Distribution
Positive Effects 55
Adverse Effects 54
Dose-Response Correlation
How effect frequency changes across dose levels
Smoked
View data table
| Effect | Light (n=15) | Common (n=49) | Strong (n=28) | Heavy (n=36) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Distortions | 93.3% | 75.5% | 57.1% | 55.6% |
| Anxiety | 53.3% | 63.3% | 75.0% | 69.4% |
| Euphoria | 40.0% | 46.9% | 39.3% | 47.2% |
| Music Enhancement | 46.7% | 32.7% | 32.1% | 19.4% |
| Color Enhancement | 33.3% | 30.6% | 42.9% | 30.6% |
| Auditory Effects | 0% | 30.6% | 42.9% | 13.9% |
| Empathy | 33.3% | 40.8% | 28.6% | 30.6% |
| Closed-Eye Visuals | 40.0% | 22.4% | 7.1% | 16.7% |
| Tactile Enhancement | 40.0% | 28.6% | 35.7% | 30.6% |
| Confusion | 26.7% | 36.7% | 32.1% | 16.7% |
| Stimulation | 20.0% | 36.7% | 35.7% | 33.3% |
| Dissociation | 33.3% | 28.6% | 28.6% | 30.6% |
| Introspection | 20.0% | 20.4% | 28.6% | 11.1% |
| Focus Enhancement | 13.3% | 28.6% | 28.6% | 8.3% |
| Increased Heart Rate | 26.7% | 24.5% | 10.7% | 5.6% |
Insufflated
View data table
| Effect | Common (n=23) | Heavy (n=22) |
|---|---|---|
| Music Enhancement | 69.6% | 31.8% |
| Visual Distortions | 65.2% | 50.0% |
| Anxiety | 52.2% | 63.6% |
| Nausea | 17.4% | 59.1% |
| Confusion | 34.8% | 45.5% |
| Time Distortion | 8.7% | 40.9% |
| Empathy | 34.8% | 36.4% |
| Euphoria | 34.8% | 36.4% |
| Focus Enhancement | 34.8% | 36.4% |
| Color Enhancement | 30.4% | 36.4% |
| Dissociation | 8.7% | 36.4% |
| Tactile Enhancement | 30.4% | 31.8% |
| Introspection | 21.7% | 31.8% |
| Hospital | 0% | 31.8% |
| Stimulation | 26.1% | 27.3% |
Subjective Effect Ontology
Experience ReportsStructured effect tags extracted from 432 Erowid & Bluelight experience reports using a controlled vocabulary of 220+ canonical effects across 15 domains.
Auditory
Cognitive
Emotional
Gastrointestinal
Motor
Tactile
Visual
Dose–Effect Mapping
Experience ReportsHow reported effects shift across dose tiers, based on 374 experience reports.
| Effect | Common (n=23) | Heavy (n=22) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| music enhancement | ↓ | ||
| visual distortions | ↓ | ||
| anxiety | ↑ | ||
| nausea | ↑ | ||
| confusion | ↑ | ||
| time distortion | ↑ | ||
| empathy | → | ||
| euphoria | → | ||
| focus enhancement | → | ||
| color enhancement | ↑ | ||
| dissociation | ↑ | ||
| tactile enhancement | → | ||
| introspection | ↑ | ||
| hospital | — | → | |
| stimulation | → | ||
| closed-eye visuals | ↑ | ||
| increased heart rate | ↓ | ||
| auditory effects | → | ||
| psychosis | — | → | |
| ego dissolution | — | → |
Showing top 20 of 27 effects
| Effect | Light (n=15) | Common (n=49) | Strong (n=28) | Heavy (n=36) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| visual distortions | ↓ | ||||
| anxiety | ↑ | ||||
| euphoria | ↑ | ||||
| music enhancement | ↓ | ||||
| color enhancement | → | ||||
| auditory effects | — | ↓ | |||
| empathy | → | ||||
| closed-eye visuals | ↓ | ||||
| tactile enhancement | ↓ | ||||
| confusion | ↓ | ||||
| stimulation | ↑ | ||||
| dissociation | → | ||||
| introspection | ↓ | ||||
| focus enhancement | ↓ | ||||
| increased heart rate | ↓ | ||||
| time distortion | ↓ | ||||
| body high | — | ↓ | |||
| nausea | ↑ | ||||
| hospital | — | ↑ | |||
| ego dissolution | — | → |
Showing top 20 of 31 effects
Risk Escalation
Sentiment AnalysisAverage frequency of positive vs adverse effects across dose tiers (Smoked)
View effect breakdown
Adverse Effects
| Effect | Light (n=15) | Common (n=49) | Strong (n=28) | Heavy (n=36) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | +30% | ||||
| Confusion | -37% | ||||
| Increased Heart Rate | -79% | ||||
| Nausea | +87% | ||||
| Memory Suppression | — | -57% | |||
| Pupil Dilation | — | — | -57% | ||
| Jaw Clenching | — | -37% | |||
| Motor Impairment | -57% | ||||
| Sweating | — | +102% | |||
| Seizure | — | — | +73% | ||
| Muscle Tension | — | — | — | 0% | |
| Headache | — | — | — | 0% |
Positive Effects
| Effect | Light (n=15) | Common (n=49) | Strong (n=28) | Heavy (n=36) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euphoria | +18% | ||||
| Music Enhancement | -58% | ||||
| Color Enhancement | -8% | ||||
| Empathy | -8% | ||||
| Tactile Enhancement | -23% | ||||
| Stimulation | +66% | ||||
| Introspection | -44% | ||||
| Focus Enhancement | -37% | ||||
| Body High | — | -46% | |||
| Creativity Enhancement | — | +102% |
Risk Escalation
Sentiment AnalysisAverage frequency of positive vs adverse effects across dose tiers (Insufflated)
View effect breakdown
Adverse Effects
| Effect | Common (n=23) | Heavy (n=22) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | +21% | ||
| Nausea | +239% | ||
| Confusion | +30% | ||
| Increased Heart Rate | -37% | ||
| Psychosis | — | 0% | |
| Memory Suppression | — | 0% | |
| Motor Impairment | 4% | ||
| Seizure | 4% | ||
| Muscle Tension | — | 0% |
Positive Effects
| Effect | Common (n=23) | Heavy (n=22) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Enhancement | -54% | ||
| Empathy | 4% | ||
| Euphoria | 4% | ||
| Focus Enhancement | 4% | ||
| Color Enhancement | +19% | ||
| Tactile Enhancement | 4% | ||
| Introspection | +46% | ||
| Stimulation | 4% | ||
| Body High | — | 0% |
Dosage Distribution
Dose distribution from experience reports
Smoked
Insufflated
Real-World Dose Distribution
62K DosesFrom 351 individual dose entries
Intramuscular (n=5)
Smoked (n=199)
Insufflated (n=73)
Intravenous (n=5)
Oral (n=7)
Common Combinations
Most co-occurring substances in experience reports
Form / Preparation
Most common forms and preparations reported
Body-Weight Dosing
Dose relative to body weight from reports with weight data
Smoked
Insufflated
Redose Patterns
Redosing behavior across 301 reports
Legal Status
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Schedule 9 | Classified as a prohibited substance under the Poisons Standard as a structural analog of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). No therapeutic use is recognized. |
| Austria | Illegal (SMG) | Prohibited under the Suchtmittelgesetz (Narcotics Act) as an ether of N,N-DMT. Possession, production, and sale are illegal without authorization. |
| Belgium | Uncontrolled (unconfirmed) | Reportedly not explicitly controlled under Belgian law, although DMT itself is scheduled under the 1971 UN Convention. This status remains unconfirmed. |
| Brazil | Illegal | Possession, production, and sale are prohibited under Portaria SVS/MS nº 344. |
| Canada | Unscheduled | Not scheduled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Possession and sale are not specifically prohibited under federal drug law. |
| China | Controlled | Classified as a controlled substance effective October 2015 under national drug regulations. |
| Czech Republic | Legal | Not listed in Government Regulation n. 463/2013 (Nařízení vlády č. 463/2013 Sb), making it legal to possess and sell. |
| Denmark | Restricted | Legally restricted to medical or scientific purposes since December 2004. General possession and sale are prohibited. |
| Finland | Illegal | Banned in December 2014 under a government regulation that prohibited over 100 psychoactive chemicals. |
| Germany | Anlage I BtMG | Listed in Schedule I of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (Narcotics Act) since 2000. Manufacturing, possession, import, export, purchase, sale, and distribution without a license are prohibited. |
| Greece | Controlled | Became a controlled substance on February 18, 2003, as recorded in the EU Legal Database. |
| Japan | Designated Substance | Controlled as a Shitei-Yakubutsu (Designated Substance) under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. Possession and sale are illegal without authorization. |
| Latvia | Schedule I | Listed as a Schedule I controlled substance under national drug legislation. Possession and distribution are prohibited. |
| Netherlands | Ambiguous (potentially List I) | While not explicitly named in the Opium List, it may be considered a List I controlled substance as an ether of bufotenin. Despite this legal ambiguity, it reportedly remains available through online research chemical vendors. |
| New Zealand | Class A (Schedule I) | Classified as a Class A controlled substance, carrying the most severe legal penalties for possession and distribution in New Zealand. |
| Romania | Illegal (Analogue Act) | Prohibited under the controlled substance analogue act since February 2010. Production and sale are illegal. |
| Russia | Controlled | Became a controlled substance in October 2011 under federal drug legislation. |
| South Africa | Ambiguous | Not explicitly listed under the Drug and Drug Trafficking Act No. 140 of 1992. However, it could potentially be controlled as an ether of bufotenin or DMT, since ethers and esters of listed substances are also considered controlled. |
| Sweden | Health Hazard | Classified under the Act on the Prohibition of Certain Goods Dangerous to Health (Lagen om förbud mot vissa hälsofarliga varor) via regulation SFS 2004:696 effective October 1, 2004. Sale and possession are prohibited. |
| Switzerland | Controlled (Verzeichnis E) | Specifically named as a controlled substance in Verzeichnis E (Schedule E) of Swiss narcotics legislation. |
| Turkey | Illegal | Classified as a controlled drug since December 2013. Possession, production, supply, and import are prohibited. |
| Ukraine | Controlled | Listed as a controlled substance under Ukrainian drug legislation. |
| United Kingdom | Class A (Schedule I) | Controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a Class A drug because it is an ether of 5-HO-DMT (bufotenin), which falls under the tryptamine catch-all clause. Buying or possessing without a license is illegal. |
| United States | Schedule I | Added to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act effective January 19, 2011. Manufacturing, buying, possessing, or distributing without a DEA license is illegal. Several states including Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota had independently scheduled it prior to federal action. |
Harm Reduction
drugs.wiki5‑MeO‑DMT is extremely potent and fast‑acting; vapourized breakthrough effects can occur from as little as 3–5 mg in some users, so pre-measuring on a 0.001 g scale and avoiding “eyeballing” is critical for safety. Acute, short-lived non‑responsiveness and loss of motor control are frequently reported above ~8–10 mg smoked/vaporized or ~15–20 mg insufflated; a sober sitter and a clear, padded space reduce injury risk during the 3–10 minute peak. Combining 5‑MeO‑DMT with MAO inhibitors (harmala alkaloids or pharmaceutical MAOIs) greatly elevates systemic 5‑MeO‑DMT and bufotenine exposure and has been implicated in severe toxicity; avoid this combination entirely. Serotonergic medications and agents (e.g., SSRIs/SNRIs, MDMA, tramadol, DXM, linezolid, 5‑HTP) can raise the risk of serotonin syndrome; spacing and medical advice are prudent if prescribed such drugs. Depressants like alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines add sedation and aspiration risk during peak non‑responsiveness; at least one fatality following insufflation involved concurrent heavy alcohol use. Nasal use is better suited to salt forms (HCl/fumarate); freebase burns and absorbs poorly, and onset is slower with a more extended after‑period. Oral 5‑MeO‑DMT is generally inactive without MAO‑A inhibition; because MAOIs substantially increase risk, oral/“pharmahuasca” approaches with 5‑MeO‑DMT are not recommended. “Bufo”/toad secretion contains additional, variably present compounds and has inconsistent potency; synthetic 5‑MeO‑DMT permits accurate dosing and avoids wildlife/ethical harms. Start with the lowest end of dose ranges, use a temperature‑controlled vaporization method (avoid direct flame charring), and pre‑arrange recovery position guidance with a sitter in case of vomiting. Individuals with cardiovascular disease, seizure history, or unstable psychiatric conditions should avoid use; prolonged anxiety or destabilization can occur in some users and may require integration support. Expect rapid tolerance within a session; redosing during the peak typically produces diminished or dysphoric effects, and spacing sessions by at least several days is prudent.
References
Data Sources
Cited References
- Barsuglia et al. 2018 - Mystical Experiences with 5-MeO-DMT
- Davis et al. 2018 - Epidemiology of 5-MeO-DMT Use
- Ermakova et al. 2022 - Narrative Synthesis of Research with 5-MeO-DMT
- Ott 2001 - Human Intranasal, Sublingual and Oral Pharmacology
- Reckweg et al. 2022 - Clinical Pharmacology of 5-MeO-DMT
- Shen et al. 2010 - Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Drug Interactions
- Shulgin & Shulgin 1997 - TiHKAL Entry #38
- Third Wave: 5-MeO-DMT Guide
- DrugBank: 5-MeO-DMT
- DrugBank Article: 5-MeO-DMT
Drugs.wiki References
- Erowid 5‑MeO‑DMT Basics (dose, onset, duration, ROAs)
- Erowid 5‑MeO‑DMT Health (MAOI contraindication, non‑responsiveness risk, lung irritation)
- Erowid 5‑MeO‑DMT Fatalities/Deaths (ayahuasca case; aspiration/asphyxiation risk; alcohol example)
- DrugBank DB14010 (mechanism, serotonergic risks, CYP2D6 substrate; synonyms)
- Isomer Design PiHKAL‑info (synonyms, identifiers)
- Bluelight Big & Dandy 5‑MeO‑DMT (freebase vs salt for sublingual/nasal; MAOI cautions)