A study examining subjective experiences after intranasal application of 5-MeO-DMT found that its effects peak 8-15 minutes after application. Consciousness-altering effects typically ended after 45-60 minutes. The research was published in Scientific Reports.
5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine or 5-MeO-DMT is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound belonging to the tryptamine class. It is found in certain plants and in the venom of the Incilius alvarius (Sonoran Desert toad), as well as produced synthetically.
The substance is known for producing extremely intense and short-lasting altered states of consciousness. Its effects typically include profound changes in perception, a strong sense of ego dissolution, and altered awareness of time and self.
Compared to DMT, the effects of 5-MeO-DMT are less visual but more immersive and abstract. Users report the experience as emotionally powerful and sometimes overwhelming. Research interest in 5-MeO-DMT has increased due to its potential relevance for understanding consciousness and mental health. However, scientific evidence on its therapeutic effects and risks is still limited.
Study author Anna O. Ermakova and her colleagues wanted to understand the experiences of individuals participating in a study that involved taking 5-MeO-DMT intranasally to examine its pharmacological effects. The study focused on the psychoactive effects of 5-MeO-DMT.
While the broader clinical trial enrolled 50 healthy volunteers, this specific study analyzed interviews from 40 participants aged between 25 and 55 years. They had no prior experience of using psychedelics in their lifetime.
Thirty-two participants received doses of 5-MeO-DMT ranging from 1 mg to 12 mg (each participant was assigned a single dose). Eight participants received a placebo (i.e., had intranasal application of a substance that did not contain 5-MeO-DMT and produced no effects).
5-MeO-DMT used in the study was in the form of dry powder for intranasal application. In the dosing session, a participant would take his/her assigned dose and for up to 90 minutes after that provided ratings of overall subjective drug intensity.
As soon as possible after the dosing session, the participants took part in a guided interview discussing their psychedelic experiences. Study authors used natural language processing software and machine learning techniques to interpret transcripts of participants’ interview responses.
Results showed that psychedelic effects of 5-MeO-DMT started between 0 and 2 minutes after application. The effects peaked 8-15 minutes after intranasal application and gradually dissipated from 15 to 40 minutes. Some effects lingered up to 90 minutes in some participants. The peak was slightly longer with higher doses and dissipation also lasted longer. Consciousness-altering effects typically ended 45-60 minutes after application.
While the effects lasted, participants reported alterations in sensory and emotional experiences, cognition, metacognition, arousal, and perceived relationship between self, other, and the environment.
“5-MeO-DMT has a distinctive profile of subjective effects relative to published reports of other psychedelics, with a short duration of action, relative lack of visual effects, strong emotional or bodily experiences and the potential to elicit therapeutically relevant content, such as emotional breakthroughs and personal insights,” study authors concluded.
The study sheds light on the psychoactive effects of 5-MeO-DMT. However, it should be noted that the number of participants in the study was too small to draw definitive conclusions on the differences between 5-MeO-DMT doses.
The paper, “Mapping the phenomenology of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT in psychedelic-naïve healthy adults,” was authored by Anna O. Ermakova, Fiona Dunbar, Mathieu Seynaeve, and Raphaël Millière.