This open-label (naturalistic) study (n=42) with 5-MeO-DMT (smoked) found that it significantly reduced ratings of depression, anxiety, and stress. It also increased scores on mindfulness and life satisfaction. These effects correlated with higher ego dissolution and oceanic boundlessness during the acute experience.
Background 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (hereinafter referred to as 5-MeO-DMT) is a psychedelic substance found in the secretion from the parotoid glands of the Bufo alvarius toad. Inhalation of vapor from toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT has become popular in naturalistic settings as a treatment of mental health problems or as a means for spiritual exploration. However, knowledge of the effects of 5-MeO-DMT in humans is limited.
Aims
The first objective of this study was to assess sub-acute and long-term effects of inhaling vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT on affect and cognition. The second objective was to assess whether any changes were associated with the psychedelic experience.
Methods
Assessments at baseline, within 24 h and 4 weeks following intake, were made in 42 individuals who inhaled vapor from dried toad secretion at several European locations.
Results
Relative to baseline, ratings of satisfaction with life and convergent thinking significantly increased right after intake and were maintained at follow-up 4 weeks later. Ratings of mindfulness also increased over time and reached statistical significance at 4 weeks. Ratings of depression, anxiety, and stress decreased after the session, and reached significance at 4 weeks. Participants that experienced high levels of ego dissolution or oceanic boundlessness during the session displayed higher ratings of satisfaction with life and lower ratings of depression and stress.
Conclusion
A single inhalation of vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT produces sub-acute and long-term changes in affect and cognition in volunteers. These results warrant exploratory research into therapeutic applications of 5-MeO-DMT.
Papers in Blossom that reference this study
Suay, D., Aicher, H. D., Singer, B. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2025)
Reckweg, J. T., Mason, N. L., Theunissen, E. L. et al. · Frontiers in Psychology (2025)
Sloshower, J. A., Zeifman, R. J., Guss, J. et al. · Scientific Reports (2024)
Neumann, J., Dhein, S., Kirchhefer, U. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2024)
Dourron, H. M., Nichols, C. D., Simonsson, O. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2023)
Ragnhildstveit, A., Khan, R., Seli, P. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2023)
Xin, Y., Armstrong, S. B., Averill, L. A. et al. · Psychology of Consciousness Theory Research and Practice (2023)
Lawrence, D. W., Timmermann, C. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2023)
Reckweg, J., van Leeuwen, C., Theunissen, E. L. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2023)
Azmoodeh, K., Thomas, E., Kamboj, S. K. · Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology (2023)
Luke, D., Gandy, S., Irvine, A. et al. · Psychoactives (2023)
Michael, P., Luke, D., Robinson, O. · Frontiers in Psychology (2023)
Brasher, T., Rosen, D., Spinella, M. · International Journal of Wellbeing (2023)
Ortiz Bernal, A. M., Raison, C. L., Lancelotta, R. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022)
Prugger, J., Derdiyok, E., Dinkelacker, J. et al. · Scientific Data (2022)
Madsen, M. K., Ozenne, B., Armand, S. et al. · Frontiers in Psychology (2022)
Ornelas, I. M., Cini, F. A., Wießner, I. et al. · Experimental Neurology (2022)
Kałużna, A., Schlosser, M., Gulliksen Craste, E. et al. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2022)
Dourron, H. M., Strauss, C., Hendricks, P. S. · Pharmacological Reviews (2022)
Radakovic, C., Radakovic, R., Peryer, G. et al. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2022)
Costa, M. A. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2022)
Kiraga, M. K., Kuypers, K. P. C., Uthaug, M. V. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022)
Hartong, V., van Emmerik, A. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2022)
Lerer, L., Reynolds, E., Varia, J. et al. · Biorxiv (2022)
Wießner, I., Olivieri, R., Falchi, M. et al. · European Neuropsychopharmacology (2022)
Orłowski, P., Ruban, A., Szczypiński, J. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)
Gandy, S. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2022)
Reckweg, J., Uthaug, M. V., Szabo, A. et al. · Journal of Neurochemistry (2022)
Wießner, I., Falchi, M., Maia, L. O. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2022)
Reckweg, J., Mason, N. L., van Leeuwen, C. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2021)
Ermakova, A. O., Dunbar, F., Rucker, J. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)
van Oorsouw, K., Uthaug, M. V., Mason, N. L. et al. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2021)
Torregrossa, M. M., Lu, J., Lukasiewicz, K. et al. · Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience (2021)
Kiraga, M. K., Mason, N. L., Uthaug, M. V. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2021)
Hübner, S., Haijen, E. C. H. M., Kaelen, M. et al. · Journal of Medical Internet Research (2021)
Kočárová, C., Horacek, J., Carhart-Harris, R. L. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021)
Mayer, C. E., LeBaron, V. T., Acquaviva, K. D. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2021)
Wießner, I., Falchi, M., Palhano-Fontes, F. et al. · Psychological Medicine (2021)
Mans, K., Kettner, H., Erritzoe, D. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021)
Uthaug, M. V., Davis, A. K., Davis, D. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)
Mason, N. L., Kuypers, K. P. C., Reckweg, J. T. et al. · Translational Psychiatry (2021)
Kettner, H., Rosas, F. E., Timmermann, C. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2021)
Payne, J. E., Chambers, R., Liknaitzky, P. · ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science (2021)
Uthaug, M. V., Mason, N. L., Toennes, S. W. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2021)
Aday, J. S., Davis, A. K., Mitzkovitz, C. M. et al. · ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science (2021)
Lawrence, D. W., Sharma, B., Griffiths, R. R. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2021)
Nichols, D. E., Walter, H. · Pharmacopsychiatry (2020)
Gandy, S., Forstmann, M., Carhart-Harris, R. L. et al. · Health Psychology Open (2020)
Kadriu, B., Greenwald, M., Ba et al. · International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology (2020)
Zeifman, R. J., Wagner, A. C., Watts, R. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2020)
Davis, A. K., Averill, L. A., Sepeda, N. D. et al. · Chronic Stress (2020)
Kangaslampi, S., Hausen, A., Rauteenmaa, T. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2020)
Aday, J. S., Mitzkovitz, C. M., Bloesch, E. K. et al. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2020)
Uthaug, M. V., Lancelotta, R., Szabo, A. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2019)