4-AcO-DMT
Psilacetin (also known as O-Acetylpsilocin, 4-Acetoxy-DMT, or 4-AcO-DMT) is a synthetically produced psychoactive drug and has been suggested by David Nichols to be a potentially useful alternative to psilocybin for pharmacological studies as they are both believed to be prodrugs of psilocin.[1]
In the body, psilacetin is deacetylated to psilocin by deacetylases during first pass metabolism and subsequent passes through the liver (evident as psilacetin is also active via parenteral routes of ingestion).
There are however claims of subjective differences in effect between the acetylated and non-acetylated forms of psilocin.[2] Some users report that psilacetin lasts slightly longer than psilocin while others report that it lasts for a considerably shorter time. Many users report less body load and nausea compared to psilocin. Some users find that the visual distortions produced by psilacetin more closely resemble those produced by DMT than those produced by psilocin. These differences could be possible if psilacetin is active itself and not merely as a prodrug. Most users, however, can not tell the difference between these two compounds when ingested.
Chemistry
Psilacetin is made up of a tryptamine backbone with an acetoxy group attached to carbon R4 of the indole ring, and two methyl groups substituted onto the nitrogen RN1 and RN2.
Pharmacology
Psilacetin acts as a 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C and 5-HT1A partial agonist. The psychedelic effects are believed to come from psilacetin's efficacy at the 5-HT2A receptors. At high doses, there is some efficacy to noradrenaline receptors.
Subjective effects
The physical effects of psilacetin can be broken down into two components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. These are described below and generally include:
- Spontaneous tactile sensations - The body high of psilacetin can be described as a pleasurable, warm, soft and all encompassing tingling sensation. This maintains a consistent presence that steadily rises with the onset and hits its limit once the peak has been reached.
- Sedation - In terms of its effects on the physical energy levels of the tripper, psilacetin is considered by most to be relaxing, stoning and mildly sedating. This sense of sedation is accompanied by compulsive yawning, a runny nose and watering eyes.
The head space of psilacetin is described by many as extremely relaxing, profound and stoning in its style when compared to other commonly used psychedelics such as LSD or 2C-B which tend to be energetic and stimulating. It contains a large number of psychedelic typical and unique cognitive effects.
The most prominent of these typical effects generally include:
- Enhancement of current mind state
- Connectivity of thought
- Feelings of fascination, importance and awe
- Time distortion
- Outrospection
- Deja-Vu
- Removal of cultural filter
- Feelings of predeterminism
- Conceptual thinking
- Direct communication with the subconsious
- Ego suppression, loss and death
- Feelings of interdependent opposites
- Delusions
- States of unity and interconnectedness
- Enhancement and suppression cycles - This can be described as constant waves of extremely stimulated and profound thinking which are spontaneously surpassed in a cyclic fashion by waves of general thought suppression and mental intoxication. These two states seem to switch between each other in a consistent loop once every 20 - 60 minutes.
psilacetin presents a full and complete array of possible visual enhancements which generally includes:
As for visual distortions and alterations, effects experienced are detailed below:
- Drifting (Melting, Flowing, Breathing and morphing) - In comparison to other psychedelics, this effect can be described as highly detailed, realistic, slow and smooth in motion and static in appearance.
- Tracers
- After images
- Texture repetition
- Colour shifting
- Scenery slicing
The visual geometry that is present throughout this trip can be described as more similar in appearance to that of psilocin, ayahuasca and 2C-E than that of LSD. They can be comprehensively described as structured in their organization, organic in geometric style, intricate in complexity, large in size, fast and smooth in motion, colourful in scheme, glossy in colour, blurred in their edges and rounded in their corners. They have a very "natural" feel to them and at higher dosages are significantly more likely to result in states of Level 7B visual geometry over Level 7A.
Psilacetin and its various other forms produce a full range of high level hallucinatory states in a fashion that is more consistent and reproducible than that of many other commonly used psychedelics. These effects generally include:
- External hallucinations
- Internal hallucinations - This particular effect commonly contains hallucinations with scenarios, landscapes, settings, concepts and autonomous entity contact. They are more common within dark environments and can be described as internal in their manifestation, lucid in believability, interactive in style and almost exclusively of religious, spiritual, mystical or a transcendental nature in their overall theme.
The auditory effects of psilacetin are common in their occurrence and exhibit a full range of effects which commonly include:
Toxicity and Harm Potential
Lethal Dosage
The LD50 of psilacetin has been extrapolated from animal results to 800mg for an adult human. Human testing has determined the most likely cause of death in overdose to be hypothermia.
Tolerance and Addiction Potential
Psilacetin tolerance lasts for approximately a week, meaning that it is very difficult to form an addiction to this substance. It also has a high cross-tolerance, affecting the potency of other tryptamines.
Legal Issues
Possession and sale of Psilacetin is unscheduled in most countries.
- USA: O-Acetylpsilocin is unscheduled in the United States. It may be considered an analog of psilocin, which is a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act of the USA, and as such sale for human consumption or possession to ingest or use for illicit non-medical or industrial intents and purposes could be prosecuted as crimes under the Federal Analog Act.
- UK: O-Acetylpsilocin could also be considered illegal in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Ester derivatives of prohibited substances also hold criminal penalties. O-Acetylpsilocin is an ester of psilocin, to which it metabolizes. This means that it potentially carries the same penalty as any Class A drug, such as heroin or cocaine.
See Also
References
- ↑ Improvements to the Synthesis of Psilocybin and a Facile Method for Preparing the O-Acetyl Prodrug of Psilocin | http://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodium/pdf/nichols/nichols-psilocin.pdf
- ↑ http://www.erowid.org/experiences/subs/exp_4AcODMT.shtml