
ΑMT
α-Methyltryptamine (αMT, AMT, Indopan), is a psychedelic, stimulant, and entactogen drug of the tryptamine class.[1] [2] It was originally developed as an antidepressant by workers at a Michigan pharmaceutical manufacturing known as Upjohn in the 1960s.[3]
Chemistry

AMT is made up of a tryptamine backbone, and one methyl group substituted onto the monoamine chain at carbon Rα. It is closely related to serotonin, explaining its mechanism of action.
Pharmacology
AMT acts as releasing agent of serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine,[4] and as a non-selective serotonin receptor agonist.[5] It acts as a very weak, non-selective RIMA, but this is unlikely to be very significant if at all with typical doses.
Subjective effects
The physical effects of AMT can be broken down into five components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage. These are described below and generally include:
- Spontaneous tactile 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, instead being felt as an extended unchanging activation of every nerve ending on the body that lasts throughout the entire duration of the trip. This everlasting droning is immensely pleasurable but can become overwhelmingly intense and almost a burden at higher levels
- Stimulation - in terms of its effects on the physical energy levels of the tripper AMT is very stimulating, resulting in jaw clenching and a shakiness and unsteadiness of the hands but encouraging trippers to move around, run, dance, climb and generally engage in physical activities. In comparison, other more commonly used psychedelics such as psilocybin are generally sedating and relaxed.
- Nausea - in terms of 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 tripper has vomited or gradually fades by itself as the peak sets in.
- Difficulty urinating - a slight difficulty urinating is occasionally present.
- Head aches - many people report head aches towards the end of the experience
- Loss of temperature regulation
The head space of AMT is described by many as one which is both insightful and relatively normal in its thought processes even at moderate to high dosages. This manifests itself as two different styles of head space that depend entirely on the setting. For example, when taken alone these effects manifest themselves as psychedelic introspection but present strong Entactogenic effects when taken with others. These feelings of sociability, love and empathy are a little weaker and less sharp than those found on substances such as MDMA but still prove strong enough to provide long lasting therapeutic effects.
In comparison to more traditional psychedelics such as LSD, DMT and Psilocin the AMT head space is not nearly as deep or profound.
The total sum of these cognitive components regardless of the setting generally includes:
- Introspection - this component is consistently manifested only in the context of a non social setting in which the user is alone.
- Acceleration of thought
- Connectivity of thought
- Increased empathy, love and sociability
- Enhancement of current mind state
- Euphoria
- Conceptual thinking
- Ego suppression, loss and death
- Time distortion
- Increased empathy, love and sociability - 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 those found on substances such as MDMA and 2C-B but still prove strong enough to provide long lasting therapeutic effects.
AMT 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, slow and smooth in motion, static in their appearance and unrealistic/ cartoon like in style.
- Tracers
- After images
- Texture repetition - in comparison to more commonly used psychedelics such as LSD and Psilocin this effect is significantly less intricate and complex although still very distinct in its presence.
- 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, and 2C-E than LSD. At lower levels they appear to be bland and simplistic but become equal in terms of intricacy and depth to that of any of the classical psychedelics. 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 "natural" feel to them and at higher dosages are significantly more likely to result in states of Level 7B visual geometry over Level 7A.
At high dosages AMT can 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 psychedelic. These effects include:
- Transformations
- Internal hallucinations - this particular effect commonly contains hallucinations with scenarios, 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 AMT are common in their occurrence and exhibit a full range of effects which commonly includes,
Toxicity and Harm Potential
Lethal Dosage
In rats, the median lethal dose or dosage at which 50% of participants die (LD50) of AMT for mice when administered orally is 22 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and in mice it is 38 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). This means that for a 60-kilogram (130 lb) person to reach the LD50 value of rats they would have to take 1320 mg or 2280 mg to reach the LD50 of mice. This is between 44 and 76 times the active dosage of 30 mg.
Tolerance and Addiction Potential
AMT use leads to approximately a week tolerance, affecting other tryptamines also. Addiction potential has not been studied, but is considered by users to be relatively low.
Legal issues
- Australia: Sale and possession of AMT is illegal.
- Germany: Sale and possession of AMT is illegal.
- Greece: Sale and possession of AMT is illegal.
- Japan: Sale and possession of AMT is illegal.
- Russia: Sale and possession of AMT is illegal.
- Sweden: Sale and possession of AMT is illegal.
- USA: AMT is a Schedule I drug.
See Also
References
- ↑ Erowid Online Books : TIHKAL - #48 a-MT | http://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/tihkal/tihkal48.shtml
- ↑ Erowid AMT (alpha-methyltryptamine) Vault | http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/amt/amt.shtml
- ↑ US Patent 3296072 - Method of Treating Mental Depression
- ↑ The effects of non-medically used psychoactive drugs on monoamine neurotransmission in rat brain | http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0014-2999(06)01381-1
- ↑ In vitro screening of psychoactive drugs by [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding in rat brain membranes | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/30/12/30_12_2328/_article