The psychedelic community highly recommends any individual with a history of epilepsy or schizophrenia consult with a psychiatrist prior to using DMT. Healthcare providers must be aware of the potential for co-ingestion of other substances, which can complicate the clinical picture and necessitate additional treatments. Additionally, the substance can cause depersonalization, auditory distortions, and an altered sense of time and body image. In severe cases, long-term use may result in serious consequences, including flashbacks, coma, and even death. The hypothesis that the pineal gland produces DMT was popularized by Dr. Rick Strassman’s research in the 1990s.
If you consume DMT by way of ayahuasca, it has to pass through your digestive system first. When DMT is smoked or injected, you begin to feel the effects almost immediately. People report they start hallucinating within about 45 seconds. Sign up for the Reality Bites newsletter and embark on a journey into the world of psychedelics, mindfulness, and transformation. Cannabis Research Explains Sociability BehaviorsNew research by Dr. Giovanni Marsicano shows social behavioral changes occur as a result of less energy available to the neurons.
In severe cases, a person may experience seizures, lose consciousness or die. It can be dangerous to combine ayahuasca with certain types of medications, including common antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Mixing the hallucinogenic tea with these drugs may cause a dangerous spike in serotonin levels, according to a widely cited 1998 article in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. The risk of overdosing on DMT increases when a person takes it with other drugs or alcohol.
Potential for Addiction
HPPD is more commonly known as “flashbacks.” Both are rare and may be more likely to occur in people with preexisting mental health conditions. In some cases, the interaction of DMT with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, commonly used in ayahuasca preparations, may result in serotonin syndrome. This is characterized by high blood pressure and seizures, potentially leading to fatal outcomes. DMT effects on health can lead to several problems, including hypertension, seizures, loss of muscle strength and coordination, respiratory arrest, and coma. Other common conditions that can result from the use of hallucinogens like DMT include psychosis and hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD).
Substance Abuse Treatment
However, if you find a psychological need has developed, it’s best to consult with your doctor or a treatment center. Side effects like respiratory arrest – when a person stops breathing – and cardiac arrest or heart attack have been known to can you od on dmt occur when large doses of DMT are ingested. If you recognize these signs in yourself or a loved one, it’s time to get help. Our Massachusetts inpatient drug rehab separates patients from daily distractions, temptations, and triggers. This program is most beneficial to individuals struggling with a severe drug or alcohol addiction who need 24-hour care.
- One of the long-term effects of DMT use is hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD).
- It’s been linked to coma and respiratory arrest as well.
- 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.
What to Know Before Microdosing DMT
If you’re concerned about your drug use, there’s help available. If you feel comfortable, you can bring it up to a doctor. Keep in mind that patient confidentiality laws will prevent them from reporting this information to law enforcement. If curious about trying DMT, it’s important to take certain steps to reduce your risk for serious effects.
There aren’t any reports of toxicity from long-term use of DMT. But there is concern over the effects it might have on heart health, since it raises blood pressure. Like all drugs, DMT can cause side effects, both short-term and long-term. Some users have reported feeling like they’re going through a near death experience, and become very quiet and inward-looking as a result. As with any hallucinogenic drug, people can react unpredictably when they’re on DMT. Many people describe experiencing an abrupt comedown within 10 to 15 minutes of tripping.
Experimental knowledge suggests DMT users do not combine the substance with anything other than MAOIs. Most users recommend following an MAOI diet prior to consuming an MAOI. This does not mean taking an open flame to your DMT as it will burn and become inactive.
HPDD treatment can include antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs to control mood and treat psychosis. Behavioral therapies may help with the confusion or fear that comes from visual disturbances. Although it is not classified as an addictive substance, it has health risks, can create frightening hallucinations, and could cause psychological dependence. DMT is the main active ingredient in another substance called ayahuasca, which is a psychoactive brew. N, N-dimethyltryptamine usually comes in the form of a white, crystalline powder that can be smoked, injected, vaporized, or snorted.
