Mapping the phenomenology of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT in psychedelic-naïve healthy adults

Nov 6, 2025Scientific reports

Experiences of first-time users of inhaled 5-MeO-DMT

AI simplified

Psychedelic Science on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Abstract

Participants experienced subjective effects of 5-MeO-DMT peaking at 8-15 minutes after dosing.

The study involved 32 healthy participants in a phase 1 trial of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT.
Subjective effects returned to baseline over 45-60 minutes after dosing.
Effects intensified with higher doses, which were generally well tolerated.
5-MeO-DMT may have a unique profile, featuring strong emotional experiences and few visual effects.
Participants reported potential therapeutic insights and emotional breakthroughs from the experience.

AI simplified

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. 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 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.

Key numbers

8–15 min

Peak Effect Timing

Time to peak subjective effects after intranasal administration.

45–60 min

Duration of Effects

Time taken for effects to return to baseline after peak.

Full Text

We can’t show the full text here under this license. Use the link below to read it at the source.

View full text (PDF) ↗View full text (HTML) ↗

Mapping the phenomenology of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT in psychedelic-naïve healthy adults

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the psychedelic science brief

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the psychedelic science brief