Users may develop a psychological reliance on the drug’s effects, seeking repeated experiences to escape reality or achieve a sense of euphoria. Because of the potential for these adverse effects to occur, some underlying conditions could cause a greater risk of physical or psychological harm from DMT use. For example, people with mental health conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, or psychotic disorders may be at more risk of experiencing adverse psychological effects. People with conditions related to heart function, breathing, or seizures, may be at risk of exacerbating these conditions.
These experiences may exacerbate underlying mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders or depression. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) plays a crucial role in compiling data on drug use and offering resources for addiction recovery. Mental health professionals play a key role in addressing the psychological effects of DMT use. Therapy can help individuals process their experiences, manage anxiety or depression, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
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The duration of DMT effects depends on how much one consumes and how they used it. For individuals who use psychoactive drugs, DMT may be the go-to choice because of its short-lasting effects. While taking DMT, a person may experience a range of side effects. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even unconsciousness. Asphyxiation is possible if someone becomes unconscious after taking DMT and begins vomiting.
Short-Term Effects
If someone is overdosing on DMT, they need emergency medical intervention to recover. Unlike opioid overdoses, there is not a medication like Naloxone to reverse a DMT overdose. Instead, treatment focuses on managing specific symptoms and ensuring the patient remains stable. If you or someone else experiences any of the symptoms of DMT overdose, it is important to seek medical help immediately. In its natural form, DMT is smoked, used as snuff, and brewed into tea. The synthesized white powder is usually vaporized or smoked, though some people inject or snort it.
There are deaths linked to DMT use, but they primarily involve cases where a person combined DMT with another drug. With that said, DMT does not have to be combined with an illicit drug to be fatal. DMT has led to fatalities amongst people who combined it with alcohol or pain medications, even in small amounts.
- In high doses or with other substances, DMT can cause strong effects.
- The comedown is a phase of drug withdrawal where the drugs are leaving the body.
- The experts at The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health are able to identify and treat substance use disorders as well as other co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Even though an overdose on DMT isn’t likely, it is nonetheless a powerful hallucinogenic drug.
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The physical changes of DMT, like how it increases the heart rate, can also lead to cardiac arrest (i.e., a heart attack). The risk of a heart attack is greater for those with heart-related conditions. Those taking medications for chronic pain or depression are also at a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack after taking DMT.
If a person is experiencing anxiety or has in the past, these changes can lead to the onset of an anxiety attack. Like other hallucinogenic substances, DMT can alter a person’s perception. Drugs like DMT are known for inducing effects similar to those of psychosis. Paranoia and hallucinations are the most common of DMT’s side effects. At Alamo Behavioral Health our mission is to offer readers the most precise and up-to-date information on addiction and behavioral health as possible.
If you use DMT in combination with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor like ayahuasca, you are at a higher risk of overdosing. While some people have positive experiences when taking DMT, it is also possible to have a bad trip. Bad trips are characterized by scary or intense hallucinations, confusion, feelings of fear or panic, and being unable to distinguish fantasy from reality. While DMT does not have any known strong physical withdrawal symptoms, it can produce emotional dependence. The change in perception and mental state that occurs when a person comes off DMT can lead to a form of dependence on the drug.
Medically Reviewed: February 15, 2025
Contact us today to learn more about treatment programs that can work well for you. DMT is a hallucinogenic tryptamine drug that acts on serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor. It is typically either smoked or injected and causes an intense but short-lived “trip” lasting anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes.
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However, the length of a DMT experience depends on how the substance was taken, as well as the dosage. Ayahuasca preparations, featuring DMT-containing plants alongside a source of MAOI, an enzyme inhibitor that blocks the stomach’s breakdown of DMT, can lead to DMT being detectable for somewhat longer. Additionally, Some people also metabolize and clear DMT much quicker than others. If you or someone else is experiencing concerning side effects from DMT, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Some say the comedown experience is harsh and abrupt, leaving you feeling a bit unsettled, anxious, and preoccupied by what you just experienced. There’s also synthetic DMT, which comes in the form of a white, crystalline powder.
To detect DMT in urine, blood, saliva, or hair follicles, you must specifically test for it. Most DMT tests have been developed just recently and aren’t commonly performed. With the exception of hair follicle testing, the short half-life of DMT makes testing useless unless it’s done within hours of use. You could have a bad trip with your first exposure to DMT or your 10th time using.
One of the most common and notable effects of taking DMT is anxiety. The anxiety induced by DMT can occur during an episode (i.e., while the drug is active in the system) and even after the drug wears off. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) describes DMT (N-dimethyltryptamine) as a potent hallucinogenic. DMT is also simply called, “N.” The use of DMT dates back centuries as certain South American religious groups use DMT in ceremonies. However, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) warns that all recreational users should know that DMT is incredibly powerful and dangerous.
What are the physical side effects?
Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. It’s important to tell emergency responders what drugs were taken so they can choose the best treatment option. Anecdotally, some folks report experiencing lingering mental effects for days or weeks after using DMT. Limited data on the effects of DMT suggest that the drug doesn’t produce any significant comedown effects. How much you use, any other substances you take with it (which isn’t recommended, by the way), and even your weight and body composition influence how it will affect you.
These hallucinations can be extremely realistic and may cause a person to take unsafe actions. DMT use can be especially dangerous for people with existing heart problems or high blood pressure. The Drug Enforcement Administration also reports that DMT can cause respiratory arrest and coma. DMT first became widely popular in the 1960s and was quickly classified as a Schedule I drug because of its high potential for misuse and potential psychological dependence. While the idea of DMT as the chemical behind NDEs is compelling, it’s just one part of a much larger puzzle.
Some people who use classic hallucinogens may not experience severe withdrawal symptoms, but they may feel an uncomfortable comedown. A bad trip is a negative experience someone has while under the influence of a hallucinogenic drug, often featuring fear, paranoia, disorientation, confusion, and panic attacks. People with a history of mental health issues seem to have a higher risk, but it can happen to anyone, even after a single exposure.
DMT can interact with other substances in complex and unpredictable ways, increasing the risk of adverse effects. Combining DMT with other hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD or psilocybin, can amplify the intensity of the experience, potentially leading to a bad trip or other negative outcomes. These interactions can heighten the risk of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), where users experience flashbacks and can u od on dmt altered perceptions long after the drug has left their system.