DMT: Side effects, facts, and health risks

For more information on when to seek mental health help, visit our article on when to seek mental health help. DMT plasma concentrations after administration of DMT fumarate IV bolus dose followed by constant-rate infusion at four dose levels (minutes 0–30). Plasma concentrations peak after bolus IV injection and before the end of the continuous IV infusion.

Subjective effects

DMT is a powerful substance that can cause several mental and physical effects. Generally, the effects of inhaled, snorted, or injected DMT last for about 15 to 60 minutes. It typically takes longer to feel the effects of DMT is drinking it in a brew.

Although there is no evidence of long-term negative effects or risk of addiction, it can still have side effects in the short term ranging from high blood pressure to seizures. If you are going to take DMT, it’s important to stay safe by being with someone you trust in a safe environment, starting with a low dose, and using sterile equipment. Understanding the origins of DMT provides insight into its availability and the various ways it can be obtained. However, it is crucial to approach the use of DMT with caution and comply with legal regulations. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or substance abuse related to DMT or any other substance, it is important to seek help from professionals specializing in addiction treatment. Long-term use of DMT may have implications for cardiovascular health.

• People who take DMT often say it transports them to an alternate reality.
• But a range of physical and mental side effects accompany this powerful trip, some of which can be pretty unpleasant.
• Pure DMT that’s been extracted in a controlled environment is a white, crystalline powder or solid.
• DMT can cause terrifying hallucinations and psychological distress, particularly for those with pre-existing mental health issues, such as schizophrenia.
• To keep infusion rates equal across doses, DMT was drawn into syringes for the bolus and slow-rate infusion, then saline was added to create a total of 5 ml and 15 ml, respectively.
• DMT is a white crystalline powder derived from certain plants found in Mexico, South America, and parts of Asia, such as Psychotria viridis.

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Notably, individuals with pre-existing psychological conditions or mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, may experience severe adverse effects. These risks can include terrifying hallucinations, which may lead to psychological dependency, highlighting the importance of informed decision-making when contemplating DMT use. If DMT is stored in synaptic vesicles,104 such concentrations might occur during vesicular release.

Participants in these studies received varying doses of DMT, including 7, 14, 18, or 20 mg intravenously. They completed questionnaires assessing multiple mental health outcomes, including depression, trait anxiety, well-being, and other psychological factors at multiple time points to evaluate DMT’s effects on these areas. Recent analyses focusing on the mental health outcomes resulting from N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) administration have revealed some promising results. In studies involving healthy volunteers, significant reductions in depression scores were observed 1-2 weeks after DMT administration compared to a placebo group. Additionally, a noteworthy decrease in trait neuroticism was found in the placebo-controlled sample, suggesting potential positive psychological impacts from DMT use.

Regarding its psychoactive effects, people have described feeling like they’re traveling at speed through a tunnel of bright lights and shapes. Others describe having an out-of-body experience and feeling like they’ve changed into something else. Practitioners traditionally prepare ayahuasca using two plants called Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis.

Serotonin syndrome warning

On one occasion, the participant requested to terminate the continuous infusion at minute 26. Once the acute drug effects had subsided (~30 min following the end of administration), participants completed the altered states of consciousness (ASC) Scale and the Mystical Effects Questionnaire (MEQ-30). The 30 items are sorted into four scale scores ‘Mystical’, ‘Positive mood’, ‘Transcendence of time and space’, and ‘Ineffability’ (Barrett et al., 2015). Beyond its recreational use, DMT and other psychedelic compounds are being explored clinically for potential therapeutic applications. Research suggests that psychedelic drugs, including DMT, primarily affect 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, which are typically activated by the neurotransmitter serotonin.

Scientific Studies on DMT

Immediate effects of DMT can also pose serious health concerns. Users might experience respiratory distress, coma, and even life-threatening outcomes in rare cases, particularly at higher doses or when combined with other substances. While the likelihood of overdosing on DMT is low, it is crucial for users to recognize signs of danger, such as trouble breathing or chest pain, which necessitate immediate medical attention.

Classification of DMT as a Controlled Substance

Having a sober, responsible sitter present can provide support and help manage any unexpected reactions. Additionally, staying hydrated and ensuring proper nutrition before and after use can aid in a safer experience. Users should always be aware of the legal status of DMT in their region, as this can affect access and safety. If you’re concerned about your drug use, there’s help available. Keep in mind that patient confidentiality laws will prevent them from reporting this information to law enforcement.

DMT produces effects similar to those of psychedelics, like LSD and magic mushrooms. Some people refer to the drug by other names including Dimitri and fantasia. LMM analyses were run in R (version 4.2.2) using the lme4 (Bates et al., 2015) package. Models included what are the effects of dmt on the body subjective intensity, anxiety, HR, plasma DMT concentration, ASC scores and MEQ-30 scores as the dependent variable, respectively.

Tolerance

Anecdotally, some folks report experiencing lingering mental effects for days or weeks after using DMT. As with the physical effects, the psychological effects of DMT vary from person to person and depend on the same factors. Known for its vivid but short trip, DMT can dramatically shift your perception and sense of reality. The first phase of the first clinical trial of DMT is complete, and it hasn’t seen any significant negative effects on well-being so far.

• Other names for DMT are Dimitri, businessman’s special, the spirit molecule, and elf spice.
• Importantly, although subjective ratings of intensity largely followed plasma concentrations of DMT during the first 20 min, a decoupling was observed from minute 20 onwards.
• As with any psychoactive substance, the long-term effects of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) on the body and mind are of significant concern.
• While physical dependence on or addiction to DMT is not likely according to current research, some individuals may experience psychological cravings for the substance 1.

The present study developed the first systematic protocol for the continuous IV infusion of DMT and tested its effectiveness in healthy volunteers. The main goal of the study was to provide first steps towards establishing infusion parameters for maintaining a steady state of DMT effects for a chosen length of time. DMT’s most well-documented and harmful interaction is its potential to cause serotonin syndrome. This is more likely in people taking antidepressants or other drugs that increase serotonin levels. Heavy use, or use along with other drugs that contain serotonin, can cause life threatening serotonin syndrome. People taking antidepressants may have a higher risk of this complication.

At the conception of this study, DMT plasma concentration data was only available from one previous study using bolus IV injections of DMT (Strassman and Qualls, 1994). Therefore, the pharmacokinetic model used for this study has scope for improvement. Our team has since collected further plasma DMT data, including a previous study (Timmermann et al., 2019), which has been used to model the relationship between DMT pharmacokinetics and effects (Eckernäs et al., 2022b, 2023).

Take one or two hits from a pipe or vape, or a small snort of powder, then hold off to see how it effects you. Ask a trusted friend or family member to stay near you when you try the drug. In an emergency, your trip sitter needs to be able to call 911 or get you medical help. While DMT is a naturally occurring substance, neither the organic nor the lab-made versions are approved for any legal use in the U.S. DMT hasn’t been widely studied, so the long-term effects aren’t well understood.