A narrative synthesis of research with 5-MeO-DMT

Summary & key facts

5-MeO-DMT is a naturally occurring, short-acting psychedelic found in some plants and animals and used historically in rituals. Researchers reviewed the lab studies, animal work, surveys of people who used it, and reports of harms and benefits. They found animal studies but very few controlled studies in people. Surveys suggest it can produce very intense changes in consciousness, including mystical or ego-dissolving experiences, and some users report longer-term mental health or well-being benefits. The authors say 5-MeO-DMT could be useful because its effects are brief and less visually focused than some other psychedelics, but more careful clinical research is needed and it should be studied with the same safety precautions used for other classic psychedelics.

Key facts:

• 5-MeO-DMT is a short-acting psychedelic chemical that occurs naturally in some plants and animals.
• It has been used historically for ritual and spiritual purposes in some cultures.
• Most scientific work so far has been in labs and animal studies; there are few controlled clinical studies in people.
• Surveys and reports from people who used it show it can cause very strong changes in consciousness, including mystical experiences and loss of the usual sense of self (called ego-dissolution).
• Some people who used 5-MeO-DMT report longer-term improvements in mental health and well-being, but these reports come from surveys and are not the same as controlled clinical proof.
• Researchers note 5-MeO-DMT stands out for its short duration and relatively fewer visual effects, and they say more careful human research is warranted using the same safety steps as other classic psychedelics.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: -dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a naturally occurring, short-acting psychedelic tryptamine, produced by a variety of plant and animal species. Plants containing 5-MeO-DMT have been used throughout history for ritual and spiritual purposes. The aim of this article is to review the available literature about 5-MeO-DMT and inform subsequent clinical development. METHODS: We searched PubMed database for articles about 5-MeO-DMT. Search results were cross-checked against earlier reviews and reference lists were hand searched. Findings were synthesised using a narrative synthesis approach. This review covers the pharmacology, chemistry and metabolism of 5-MeO-DMT, as well epidemiological studies, and reported adverse and beneficial effects. RESULTS: receptors. It was studied in a variety of animal models, but clinical studies with humans are lacking. Epidemiological studies indicate that, like other psychedelics, 5-MeO-DMT induces profound alterations in consciousness (including mystical experiences), with potential beneficial long-term effects on mental health and well-being. CONCLUSION: 5-MeO-DMT is a potentially useful addition to the psychedelic pharmacopoeia because of its short duration of action, relative lack of visual effects and putatively higher rates of ego-dissolution and mystical experiences. We conclude that further clinical exploration is warranted, using similar precautions as with other classic psychedelics.

Topics

Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Linguistics Medicine Narrative Philosophy Psychology

Substances

Other