Summary
6-MAM is the primary active metabolite of heroin and is responsible for heroin's characteristic rapid rush and intense euphoria. It crosses the blood-brain barrier more efficiently than morphine and appears in brain tissue at higher concentrations than heroin itself. Rarely sold in pure form; most encounters arise from black-tar heroin or deliberate synthesis. Approximately 30% more potent than heroin by weight. Extreme respiratory depression risk when combined with other CNS depressants.
Dose Information
Light
Common
Strong
Heavy
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Comeup | Peak | Offset | After Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intravenous | - | 1-2 min | 5-30 min | 1-2 hrs | 30-60 min |
| Insufflated | 1-5 min | 5-10 min | 10-45 min | 1-2 hrs | 30-60 min |
| Smoked | - | 1-3 min | 5-30 min | 1-2 hrs | 30-60 min |
Tolerance
Build-up
develops within days of regular use; analgesic tolerance faster than respiratory depression tolerance
Reset
7–14 days for partial reset; full reset may take weeks — tolerance loss greatly increases overdose risk
Effects
Positive
- Physical euphoria
- Pain relief
- Muscle relaxation
- Analgesia
Negative
- Respiratory depression
- Nausea
- Dry Mouth
- Sedation
- Itchiness
- Pupil constriction
Positive
- Cognitive euphoria
- Anxiety suppression
- Euphoria
- Mood lift
- Dream potentiation
- Cognitive Euphoria
Negative
- Thought deceleration
- Compulsive redosing
- Constipation
- Dizziness
Positive
Negative
- Appetite suppression
- Double vision
- Decreased libido
- Decreased Libido
- Appetite Suppression
- Orgasm suppression
- Cognitive dysphoria
- Dulled perception
- Internal hallucination
- Internal hallucinations