Mapping the phenomenology of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT in psychedelic-naïve healthy adults
5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a naturally occurring psychedelic tryptamine. Plants containing 5-MeO-DMT have been used throughout history, and in recent years both synthetic and toad-derived 5-MeO-DMT use is being increasingly reported in naturalistic settings as well as clinical research.
5-MeO-DMT use is being increasingly reported in naturalistic settings as well as clinical research. However, its subjective effects are not well characterised, and no qualitative research studies have been published to date.
In this study, 32 psychedelic-naïve healthy participants from a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 1 trial of the escalating doses of a proprietary formulation of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT (BPL-003) were interviewed using the microphenomenology method shortly after dosing sessions.
Microphenomenology is a qualitative research method well-suited to elucidating how subjective effects of this short-acting psychedelic unfold over time. Detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of interview transcripts revealed a generic time-course of subjective effects, with rapid onset peaking at 8–15 min and gradual return to baseline over 45–60 min.
The overall intensity of effects increased with dose and the doses tested were generally well tolerated. 5-MeO-DMT has a distinctive profile of subjective effects relative to published reports of other psychedelics, with a short duration of action, relative lack of visual effects, strong emotional or bodily experiences and the potential to elicit therapeutically relevant content, such as emotional breakthroughs and personal insights. These findings inform therapeutic applications, participant preparation, and future research on 5-MeO-DMT.
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Although this study is exploratory and qualitative, and based on a relatively small sample, its findings suggest that the combination of a short action window, strong emotional and somatic effects, and relatively low visual content may make 5-MeO-DMT a potentially useful candidate for therapeutic settings. These features could support rapid yet meaningful psychological experiences within a manageable timeframe.
The results also highlight the importance of participant preparation: understanding the typical timeline and nature of effects may help individuals anticipate the onset, peak, and emotional intensity of the experience, and better navigate challenging moments.
For future research, the authors emphasise the value of integrating microphenomenology with neurophysiological methods (such as EEG) to more precisely map how specific experiential components correspond to underlying brain activity.
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