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Review
. 2022 Mar;36(3):273-294.
doi: 10.1177/02698811211050543. Epub 2021 Oct 19.

A narrative synthesis of research with 5-MeO-DMT

Anna O Ermakova  1   2 , Fiona Dunbar  1 , James Rucker  2 , Matthew W Johnson  3
Affiliations
Review

A narrative synthesis of research with 5-MeO-DMT

Anna O Ermakova et al. J Psychopharmacol. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Background: 5-Methoxy-N,N-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: 5-MeO-DMT is serotonergic agonist, with highest affinity for 5-HT1A 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.

Keywords: 5-MeO-DMT; 5-methoxy-N; N-dimethyltryptamine; classic psychedelic; hallucinogen; tryptamine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: A.O.E., J.R., F.D., and M.W.J. provide paid consulting services to Beckley Psytech. M.W.J. also provides paid consulting services to AJNA Labs, AWAKN Life Sciences, Entheogen Biomedical, Field Trip Psychedelics, MindMed, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization and Silo Pharma. M.W.J. is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. M.W.J. engaged in this research as a private advisor and not in his capacity as a Johns Hopkins faculty member. M.W.J. was compensated for the advising service in income and stock options. J.R. leads the Psychedelic Trials Group at King’s College London. King’s College London receives grant funding from Compass Pathways and Beckley Psytech to undertake clinical trials with psychedelics. This work presents independent research part-funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA flow diagram.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Metabolism of 5-MeO-DMT.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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