4-AcO-DMT Uses, Health Risks, Legality and Effects
4-AcO-DMT is a synthetically produced psychoactive drug used as an alternative to psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms which is used for pharmacological studies. The drug 4-AcO-DMT is also an acetylated form of the psilocybin mushroom alkaloid psilocin which was originally patented by Sandoz Ltd in 1963. The psilocybin-like effect produced by 4-AcO-DMT has been linked to the structural similarity of the latter to the former. As a result of its ability to elicit traditional entheogenic (spirituality-enhancing agent) effects. 4-aco-dmt is usually insufflated, snorted or taken orally. In all cases, users experience the effects of the drug and most report having significant trouble sleeping. The safety of 4-AcO-DMT has never been studied in detail, due to the controlled status of the drug but its chemical similarities to psilocybin and psilocin provides an insight to the likely risks of 4-AcO-DMT and possible guides.
Despite having a purely synthetic origin, this hitherto unknown drug has gained worldwide prominence and has become one of the grey area research chemicals since appearing online. 4-AcO-DMT is also a lower homolog of 4-AcO-MET, 4-AcO-DET, 4-AcO-MiPT and 4-AcO-DiPT, the other names of 4-AcO-DMT include O-Acetylpsilocin, Psilacetin and 4-acetoxy-DMT.
Effects, Uses and Side Effects of 4-AcO-DMT
The effects of 4-AcO-DMT are often compared to those of psychedelic tryptamines like psilocybin mushrooms and DMT. In general, 4-AcO-DMT is used as an alternative to psilocybin for pharmacological studies as both drugs are thought to act as prodrugs for psilocin (4-HO-DMT), the primary active component of psilocybin mushrooms and are typically taken orally. Also See DMT Trip
The administration of 4-AcO-DMT in whatever form produces a wide range of subjective effects such as:
- Feelings of disorientation
- Lethargy, giddiness, euphoria
- Joy and depression.
- Feeling of anxiety or paranoia.
- Hallucinatory effects.
- Closed-eye hallucinations may also occur with 4-AcO-DMT use
- Open-eye visual hallucinations are common with 4-AcO-DMT use
- Synesthesia, such as tactile sensations when viewing colors.
- Sedation often accompanied by compulsive yawning.
- Higher doses of 4-AcO-DMT can lead to intensification of affective responses, total immobilization, enhanced ability for introspection, regression to primitive and childlike thinking, activation of vivid memory traces, and pronounced emotional undertones
Individuals allergic to 4-aco-dmt reported the following symptoms following the administration of a 5mg- 20mg dose of 4-AcO-Dmt:
–Clogged up nasal passages for several hours and difficulty in breathing
–Persistent nausea for many hours.
–Loss of muscular control and being unable to get up and move around much.
–Swelling in different parts of body (toes, cheeks).
–Flu-like symptoms and heavy sedation.
Health Risks of 4-AcO-DMT
The use of 4-AcO-DMT or its derivatives have a far reaching effects on mental and behavioral health. Most of the effects produced by 4-AcO-DMT and its derivatives undermine the body’s normal functions, making affected individuals become extremely anxious, confused, agitated, or disoriented. Accidents, self-injury, or suicide attempts often result from serious cases of acute psychotic episodes related to the use of 4-AcO-DMT and similar drugs. Depression, one of the major side effects of 4-AcO-DMT is the leading cause of disability measured by Years Lived with Disability (YLDs).
Existing research findings has already linked depression to a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and sudden cardiac death, especially in women. A recently published study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal conducted by researchers from across U.S. and Canadian institutions, including the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (of the National Institutes of Health) in Bethesda, MD, and the School of Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada points to major depressive episodes as a significant risk factor of early death for both men and women.
Analysis of the Effects and Side Effects of 4-AcO-DMT
Spontaneous Sensations – 4-AcO-DMT use is characterized by bodily sensation and heaviness. Once the peak of the experience or sensation is reached, it can produce feelings of pronounced physical and cognitive euphoria along with tranquility, a sense of lethargy or sedation, or total immobilization depending on dose. The general “body high” of 4-AcO-DMT can be described as a pleasurable, warm, soft and all-encompassing tingling sensation. This explains why you can easily get addicted to the drug.
Increase sense of touch and awareness of physical sensations– 4-AcO-DMT increases both the intensity of your sense of touch, and the awareness of physical sensations. This feeling is characterized by itchy or even ticklish feeling of hairs on the your arms or legs. This effect is less prominent when compared with LSD or 2C-B but is still present and unique in its character.
Changes In Felt Bodily Form – This physical effect of 4-AcO-DMT is often characterized by a sense of warmth. During this stage, users can feel as if they are physically part of, or conjoined with other objects in a seamless continuity. This often occurs around or directly after the peak of the experience.
Body Temperature Fluctuation- The use of 4-AcO-DMT is also characterized by temperature regulation suppression. 4-AcO-DMT can cause internal sense of temperature to fluctuate uncontrollably leading to sudden bouts of coldness or warmth. Your body regulates its temperature by increased sweating and maintaining adequate body temperature by preserving heat during hot and cold temperatures respectively. However, huge variations caused by 4-AcO-DMT can confuse your body and increase physiological stress. The body during this period is unable to regulate fluid intake resulting in dehydration, muscle cramps, fatigue, etc. Decreased fluid intake can cause toxins and other dangerous metabolites to build up in the body leading to serious illness. The associated stress also causes the release of excess cortisol which has a bearing on the body’s metabolism. It causes fluctuations in blood pressure and sugar levels. Your immunity is also decreased under these conditions making you more prone to diseases and infections.
Muscle Contractions and Relaxation – Muscle contractions and relaxation can occur following the use of 4-AcO-DMT. Although they tend to be transient and benign in nature when compared to many other tryptamines, phenethylamines and lysergamides, 4-aco-dmt induced muscle relaxation and contractions can be very uncomfortable and unsettling.
Sedation and Compulsive Yawning – The mild sedative effect of 4-AcO-DMT is viewed by most to be relaxing and stoning according to 4-aco-dmt trip reports. This sense of sedation is accompanied by compulsive yawning. Excessive yawning is one of the major features of 4-AcO-DMT. This effect is often accompanied with watery eyes, pupil dilation, frequent urination, increased salivation, gustatory enhancement, increased sense of smell, teeth grinding and olfactory hallucination.
Brain Vibration and Tremor – The use of 4-AcO-DMT is sometimes characterized by sudden shake, vibration, or tremor in the brain. Some people describe the head and brain zaps symptoms as if the brain has been suddenly jolted by electricity or strong electric charge. Although there is no scientific evidence supporting any claims that these jolt-like sensations cause any brain damage or interfere with the health of neurons, they are highly-uncomfortable to experience.
Seizures – Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain as a result of 4-aco-dmt use, may produce a physical convulsion, minor physical signs, thought disturbances, or a combination of symptoms resulting in seizures especially among individuals carrying out physically tasking activities and persons predisposed to seizure due to underlying conditions.
Enhanced Visual Capabilities- Data gathered from users of 4-aco-dmt indicates that the use of the drug is accompanied by clarity of vision manifested by colour enhancement, pattern enhancement, and object magnification.
Hallucinations- Hallucinations are sensations that appear real but are created by your mind. They can affect all five of your senses. 4-AcO-DMT produces a full range of high level hallucinatory states in a fashion that is more consistent and reproducible than that of many other commonly used psychedelics. According to Kathleen Smith, PhD Hallucinations and delusions are among the most common symptoms of schizophrenia. Both are considered positive symptoms, meaning they are not seen in healthy people.
Cognition Effects – 4-AcO-DMT produces a full range of high level cognitive effects which is one of the major reasons it is used by many recreational drug users. The most prominent psychedelic cognitive effects of 4-aco-dmt include: Analysis enhancement – This effect is consistent in its manifestation with a tendency to be outrospective in nature, but may also manifest as introspection depending on one’s set and setting. Others are personal bias suppression, creativity enhancement, conceptual thinking and multiple thought stream. This explains why many entertainers, artists and creative industry specialists have become trapped in drug abuse and addiction.
Cacophony of Emotions– The administration of 4-aco-dmt consistently produces heightened empathy, affection, sociability enhancement, enhanced music appreciation and increased sense of humor. It also creates a general unwillingness to talk aloud despite feeling perfectly capable of formulating coherent thoughts within one’s internal narrative(language suppression). Other emotional effects of 4-aco-dmt include: Feelings of impending doom, time distortion, confusion, thought organization, rejuvenation, mindfulness and personality regression.
What Happens When you Combine 4-aco-dmt With other Drugs and Substances?
Although the combination of 4-AcO-dmt with other psychedelics, enhances each substance’s physical, cognitive and visual effects due to strong synergy, it is often accompanied with potentially deadly consequences due to the toxic nature of such interactions. In this section, we will look at the interaction between some commonly used drugs and 4-Aco-dmt.
Marijuana [Cannabis] and 4-aco-Dmt
The use of this drug with other drugs have far reaching effects on physical , mental and behavioral health. The Use of Marijuana [Cannabis] and 4-aco-Dmt extend and intensify both the visual and cognitive effects of 4-AcO-DMT. However, this dangerous combination amplifies the anxiety, confusion and psychotomimetic producing aspects of cannabis due to the severity of the mind-altering qualities of THC and psilocybin synergy. Users who smoked 20mg of 4-Aco-Dmt and weed (Cannabis) reported getting getting full blown open eyed visuals and low thrumming noise. They also reported muscular impairment, inability to move and burning sensation in the lungs which lasted till the next day after smoking 4-Aco-Dmt with marijuana. See: 1P-LSD
MDMA and 4-aco-Dmt
When 4-aco-dmt is used in conjunction with MDMA, the visual, physical and cognitive effects of both drugs are significantly amplified, sometimes to the point of overwhelming euphoric bliss manifested through uniquely pleasurable body highs and headspaces. However, the toxic effects of this combination often leaves a sore taste in the mouth of many. A recent pre-clinical study on the combination of MDMA titled: MDMA, methamphetamine and their combination: possible lessons for party drug users reported that MDMA combinations may produce greater adverse neurochemical and behavioral effects than either drug alone.
Alcohol and 4-aco-Dmt
The combination of alcohol and 4-AcO-dmt causes dehydration, nausea, and physical fatigue. The combination also dulls the psychedelic effects of 4-aco-dmt and has a broad range of interactions that are deleterious to human health. A study in the Journal of psychological medicine published by the University of Cambridge Press titled Alcohol and illicit drug dependence among parents: associations with offspring externalizing disorders reported that both parental alcohol and drug dependence are independently associated with an increased risk for a broad range of externalizing psychopathology among late-adolescent offspring.
Benzodiazepines and 4-aco-Dmt
Benzodiazepines are generally viewed as safe and effective for short-term use, although cognitive impairment and paradoxical effects such as aggression or behavioral disinhibition can occur. However, combining or mixing benzodiazepine with 4-Aco-dmt often produces unwanted consequences and significantly reduce the intensity of the cognitive, physical and visual effects of a 4-AcO-DMT experience. This is further complicated by the addictive nature of benzodiazepine which often leads to dependence.
How Long Does 4-AcO-DMT Take?
Many users of the drug have reported little difference between 4–AcO–DMT and Psilocybin mushrooms other than the rapid onset of action of the former. O-Acetylpsilocin or 4–AcO–DMT takes roughly 15-20 minutes, while psilocybin mushrooms build up over an hour. Psilocybin tends to reach the blood stream within 20 to 40 minutes. The drug’s effects hit their peak when the blood’s concentration of psilocybin is at its highest. Usually, a peak happens about 90 minutes into the experience. The “peak” usually lasts no more than an hour, and then the feeling begins to subside from there.
How Long Does 4-aco-dmt Stay in Your System?
AcO–DMT and Psilocybin Mushrooms are very similar and share many characteristics. The average half-life of psilocin is roughly 50 minutes. Therefore, half of what you ingest will be eliminated or excreted from the body in a little under an hour. In general, psilocin should clear out of one’s system in about 4 hours and 40 minutes.
Certain factors can alter the original half-life of the drug by about 64 minutes in either direction, so how long mushrooms stay in your system can vary. What may clear one person’s system in seven hours, may take another person 15 hours.
AcO–DMT Tolerance and Addiction
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), addiction is characterized by:
–Inability to consistently abstain from the substance or rewarding experience
– Impairment in behavioral control
–Craving for the substance or rewarding experience
Psychedelics are not generally addictive but this does not mean that there are no cases of psychedelic drug addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, when people do become addicted, they generally don’t suffer from any major physical side effects as majority of the addictive effects of psychedelic drugs are psychological in scope. Psychedelic drug addiction may occur as a result of a user’s decision to use drugs over and over again. Usually, the only significant sign of addiction is the cravings for the drug that come when the user is no longer high, but depression and anxiety are also common in those who are addicted to psychedelic drugs.
4-AcO-DMT can be highly addictive, principally because of the enhanced euphoric effect which makes users return for more. The reason why people engage in activity that can become addictive in the first place is either to achieve a feeling of euphoria, or to relieve an experience. Tolerance to the effects of 4-AcO-DMT is built almost immediately after introduction of the drug into the body. After that, it takes about 3 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 7 days to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). 4-AcO-DMT presents cross-tolerance with all psychedelics, meaning that after the consumption of 4-AcO-DMT all psychedelics will have a reduced effect. Most often drug users return to the same drug to experience same “high”.
Warning On The Dangerous interactions Of 4-AcO-dmt With other Drugs
A drug interaction occurs when the effects of one drug are altered by the prior or concurrent administration of another. Apart from 4-aco-dmt microdosing drug users have been reported to be using the following combination kratom and 4 aco dmt, 4-aco-dmt and adderall, mushrooms and 4-aco-dmt mix, etizolam and 4 aco dmt, Xanax and 4 aco dmt and many others. Combining certain medications and substances with 4-AcO-dmt could be safe in low doses of each but still increase the potential risk of death. The combination of 4-AcO-dmt with the following substances have been found to be potentially life threatening:
- Tramadol and 4-Aco- Dmt – Tramadol is a synthetic opioid drug used to treat moderate to severe pain. However, tramadol lowers the seizure threshold and psychedelics often act as triggers for seizures, particularly in those who are predisposed to them. Seizures can cause changes in your behavior, movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness and can also lead to sudden death due to the effect they have on the brain .
- Lithium and 4-Aco- Dmt – Lithium is often used as treatment for bipolar disorder, it helps reduce the severity and frequency of mania. It may also help relieve or prevent bipolar depression. Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) can dangerously amplify the intensity of psychedelics such as 4-AcO -dmt, and has been strongly linked with psychosis and seizures.
- Stimulants and 4-Aco- Dmt – Stimulants, sometimes called “uppers,” temporarily increase alertness and energy. The most commonly used street drugs that fall into this category are cocaine and amphetamines. Stimulants affect many parts of the brain. Combined with psychedelics, stimulation can turn into uncontrollable anxiety, panic, thought loops and paranoia. This interaction may cause elevated risk of psychosis.
4-AcO-DMT Legality
The legal status of 4-AcO-DMT varies from country to country. In the United states including the state of Texas, 4-AcO-DMT is an unscheduled drug under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA), because it is considered a research chemical. However, sale, being in possession, or buying 4-AcO-DMT for human consumption can be illegal under the Federal Analogue Act, under which any substance “substantially similar” to an illegal substance listed in Schedule I or II is treated like those in the schedules. 4-AcO-DMT is illegal in the UK, Brazil, Italy and Sweden. See: How Long Does DMT Stay In Your System
