DMT

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

DMT or Dimethyltryptamine is a powerful psychedelic compound of the tryptamine family. It is a naturally occurring substance, found in various plants and animals, and in small quantities in the human brain, where its function is unknown. DMT is famous for its power and, although the psychedelic trip it induces is brief, it is particularly intense.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The term "Dimethyltryptamine" has its origins in the chemical structure of the compound: it is a tryptamine molecule with two methyl groups attached at the nitrogen atom.

Chemistry[edit | edit source]

DMT is a derivative of tryptamine with two additional methyl groups at the amine nitrogen atom. DMT was first synthesized in 1931 by British chemist Richard Manske. Its natural occurrence was discovered in plants independently by American microbiologist Oswaldo Gonçalves de Lima and Brazilian chemist and microbiologist Gonçalo Alves de Lima in 1946.

Pharmacology[edit | edit source]

DMT is a powerful hallucinogenic drug that is used in many different cultures for ritual and spiritual purposes. It is usually consumed in the form of a drink or smoked. When ingested, DMT acts as a psychedelic drug, causing a rapid onset of intense, vivid hallucinations that are often described as more real than reality itself.

Effects[edit | edit source]

The effects of DMT are much shorter than those of other psychedelics, typically lasting only an hour. The onset after inhalation is very fast (less than 45 seconds) and peak effects are reached within a minute. In the 1960s, DMT was known as a "businessman's trip" because of the relatively short duration of its effects.

Legal status[edit | edit source]

DMT is classified as a Schedule I drug under the UN 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, meaning its use is heavily restricted worldwide. However, some countries have exceptions for religious use.

See also[edit | edit source]

DMT Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD