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WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section.
DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.
α-Methyltryptamine (also known as αMT, AMT, aMT, and Indopan) is a synthetic entactogenic substance of the tryptamine chemical class that produces long lived entactogenic, stimulant and psychedelic effects when administered.[1] It was originally developed as an antidepressant by workers at a Michigan pharmaceutical manufacturing company known as Upjohn in the 1960s.[2]
In the 1960s αMT was prescribed in 5 - 10 milligram doses as an antidepressant in the Soviet Union under the trade name Indopan.[3]
Erowid has received "a handful of unverifiable reports of hospitalization after high-dose (over 60 mg oral) αMT ingestion."[4] There were 22 deaths linked to αMT in England and Wales where the drug became popular as a legal high from 2012 until it was banned in early 2015.[5]. One widely reported fatality involved an 18 year old male who was believed to have taken just under a gram - a large overdose.[6] There is also an earlier reported death from αMT which was reported in February 2003 by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department, but it is unknown how much was taken.[7]
αMT, or α-Methyltryptamine is a synthetic indole alkaloid molecule of the tryptamine class. Tryptamines share a core structure comprised of a bicyclic indole heterocycle attached at R3 to an amino group via an ethyl side chain. AMT is substituted at the alpha carbon Rα of its tryptamine backbone with a methyl group.
AMT is found in freebase form as a racemate of its (R-) and (S-) enantiomers.[8]
However, the role of these interactions and how they result in the psychedelic experience continues to remain elusive.
Subjective effects
Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWikicontributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.
It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.
Physical effects
The physical effects of this substance may be overly intense for those who are not already experienced with hallucinogens.
Spontaneous physical sensations - AMT's "body high" can be described as an intense and constant all-encompassing sensation. In comparison to other psychedelics, this sensation does not manifest itself in the form of a continuously shifting tingling sensation that travels up and down the body spontaneously; it is instead felt like an extended, unchanging activation of every nerve ending on the body that lasts throughout the entire duration of the experience. This continuous sensation is immensely pleasurable but can become overwhelmingly intense and almost a burden at higher levels.
Stimulation - Regarding its effects on the physical energy levels of the user, AMT tends to be very stimulating, resulting in jaw clenching and a shakiness and unsteadiness of the hands. The stimulation encourages the user to move around, run, dance, climb or engage in physical activities. In comparison, other more commonly used psychedelics such as psilocybin are sedating and relaxed.
Nausea - Given the physical discomfort experienced on this substance, moderate to extreme nausea is almost consistently reported when consumed at any dosage. This either passes once the user has vomited or gradually fades by itself as the peak sets in.
The visual effects of AMT are mostly present only when large doses have been consumed and are proportionally mild in comparison to the intensity of its accompanying cognitive and physical effects when compared to substances such as LSD and psilocin.
Drifting(melting, flowing, breathing and morphing) - In comparison to other psychedelics, this effect can be described as highly detailed, slow and smooth in motion, static in appearance and unrealistic/cartoon-like in style.
Symmetrical texture repetition - In comparison to more commonly used psychedelics such as LSD and psilocin, this effect is significantly less intricate and complex although it is still very distinct in its presence.
The visual geometry that is present throughout this trip can be described as more similar in appearance to that of Psilocin, and 2C-E than LSD. At lower levels it can appear to be bland and simplistic in complexity but becomes equal regarding intricacy and depth to that of any of the classical psychedelics at higher dosages. It can be comprehensively described with its variations as intricate in complexity (at heavy dosages), abstract in form, organic in feel, structured in organization, brightly lit, multicoloured in scheme, glossy in shading, equal in soft and sharp edges, small in size, fast in speed, smooth in motion, equal in round and angular corners, non-immersive in depth, and consistent in intensity. At higher dosages, the visual geometry is significantly more likely to result in states of Level 8B geometry over Level 8A.
Internal hallucinations (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; alterations in perspective and scenarios and plots) - This particular effect is uncommon during the first half of the trip but capable of manifesting itself towards the end of the experience, particularly if sleep deprivation starts to take its toll due to the abnormally long duration. The internal hallucinations are more common within dark environments and can be comprehensively described through their variations as lucid in believability, fixed in style, new experiences in content, autonomous in controllability, geometry-based in style and almost exclusively of a personal, religious, spiritual, science-fiction, fantasy, surreal, nonsensical or transcendental nature in their overall theme.
Cognitive effects
In comparison to more traditional psychedelics such as LSD, DMT and Psilocin, the AMT head space is described as not nearly as deep, insightful or profound.
The total sum of these cognitive components regardless of the setting generally includes:
Empathy, affection, and sociability enhancement - This component is consistently manifested only in the context of social settings in which one is within the company of others. These feelings of sociability, love and empathy are a little weaker and less sharp than with MDMA but still prove strong enough to provide long-lasting therapeutic effects.
Analysis enhancement - This component is introspection dominant and consistently manifested only in the context of a non-social setting in which the user is alone.
This toxicity and harm potential section is a stub.
As a result, it may contain incomplete or even dangerously wrong information! You can help by expanding upon or correcting it. Note: Always conduct independent research and use harm reduction practices if using this substance.
As a powerful monoaminereuptake inhibitor, αMT can be dangerous when taken in excessive doses or when combined with substances such as MAOIs, RIMAs, stimulants and any substance which act as a releasing agent or reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and dopamine. There is one reported death from AMT, but it is not known how much of the substance was taken.[7] Erowid states that they have received "a handful of unverifiable reports of hospitalization after high-dose (over 60 mg oral) AMT ingestion."[4]
The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational αMT use do not seem to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dose is unknown. This is because AMT is a research chemical with very little history of human usage. Anecdotal evidence from people who have tried AMT within the psychedelic community suggests that there are no negative health effects attributed to simply trying the substance by itself at low to moderate doses and using it very sparingly (but nothing can be completely guaranteed). Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.
It is worth noting that αMT's analogue αET has been shown to produce long-lasting serotonergic neurotoxicity at very high doses.[13] It is possible that AMT could cause the same neurotoxicity at high dosages or with repeated long-term use.
Tolerance to the effects of αMT are built almost immediately after ingestion. After that, it takes about 14 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 1 month to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). AMT presents cross-tolerance with [[Cross-tolerance::all psychedelics]], meaning that after the consumption of αMT all psychedelics will have a reduced effect.
↑Studies of Monoamine Oxidase and Semicarbazide-Sensitive Amine Oxidase II. Inhibition by α-Methylated Substrate-Analogue Monoamines, α-Methyltryptamine, α-Methylbenzylamine and Two Enantiomers of α-Methylbenzylamine | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jphs1951/41/2/41_2_191/_article
