This is an unofficial archive of PsychonautWiki as of 2025-08-08T03:33:20Z. Content on this page may be outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate. Please refer to the original page for the most up-to-date information.
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.
3,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethoxyamphetamine (commonly known as 3C-E or 3C-Escaline) is a synthetic psychedelic compound of the amphetamine chemical class. Although it's name suggests it may be related to the 2C-x family, this is not the case. 3C-E has the structure of escaline, a mescaline analogue, with an additional carbon rendering it a substituted amphetamine.
Today, 3C-E is used for recreational and research purposes, and exclusively distributed as a gray area research chemical by online vendors. Very little is known about its effects besides its strong body high and weak visuals.
3C-E or 3,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethoxyamphetamine, is a molecule of the substituted amphetamine class. Amphetamines are substituted phenethylamines containing a phenyl ring bound to an amino (NH2) group through an ethyl chain and a methyl group bound to the alpha carbon Rα. 3C-E contains methoxy functional groups OCH3 attached to carbons R3 and R5 and an ethoxy chain OCH2CH3 attached to carbon R4 of the phenyl ring.
Although its name suggests it may be related to the 2C-x family, this is not the case. 3C-E is actually the 3-Carbon analog of escaline, thus the name.
Its pharmacology can provide strong interaction with 5-HT2A receptors, which could potentially help to prevent cluster headaches or give the compound the possibility to ease the psychological suffering associated with end-stage cancer.
3C-E's psychedelic effects are believed to come from its efficacy at the 5-HT2A receptor as a partial agonist. 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
Stimulation - In terms of its effects on the physical energy levels of the user, 3C-E is usually considered to be moderately to extremely stimulating. In comparison, other more commonly used psychedelics such as psilocin are sedating and relaxed.
Spontaneous physical sensations - The "body high" of 3C-E is manifested as somewhat intense in comparison to most classical psychedelics such as LSD. The sensation itself can be described as a constantly present yet somewhat mild energetic pins and needles sensation that encompasses a person’s entire body. It is usually felt over every square inch of the skin but occasionally manifests itself in the form of a continuously shifting tingling sensation that travels up and down the body in spontaneous waves.
Physical euphoria - It should be noted that this effect is not as reliably induceable as it is with substances like stimulants or entactogens, and can just as easily manifest as physical discomfort without any apparent reason.
Seizure - This is likely a rare effect but may occur in those who are predisposed to them, especially while in physically taxing conditions such as being dehydrated, undernourished, overheated, or fatigued.[citation needed]
Visual effects
The visuals of 3C-E are generally not that apparent and consist more so of distortions than colors and drifting.
The visual geometry that is present throughout this trip can be described as more similar in appearance to that of DOC or mescaline than that of 2C-B, psilocin or LSD. It can be comprehensively described through its variations as intricate in complexity, abstract in form, synthetic in feel, structured in organization, brightly lit, multicolored in scheme, glossy in shading, sharp in edges, large in size, fast in speed, smooth in motion, equally rounded and angular in its corners, non-immersive in-depth and consistent in intensity.
Hallucinatory states
3C-E and other substituted amphetamines 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. This holds particularly true in comparison to other substances within the phenethylamine family. These effects include:
Internal hallucination (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; Alterations in perspective and scenarios and plots) - In comparison to other psychedelics such as LSD, 3C-E is extremely high in internal hallucinations. They are more common within dark environments and can be comprehensibly described through its variations as lucid in believability, interactive 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
The cognitive effects of 3C-E are described as primarily stimulating than psychedelic. Higher dosages can lead to a more likely occurence of confusion.
The total sum of these cognitive components regardless of the setting generally includes:
Anxiety & Paranoia - This effect is not as common at low to moderate doses and is less likely to occur when the basic rules of set and setting are taken into account. It should be noted that this inconsistently induced effect is seemingly more likely to manifest when used with cannabis. This combination should be used with extreme caution if one is not experienced with psychedelics, meaning that the user should adequately pace themselves with a fraction of their usual amount. It is commonly reported that psychedelics can to a certain extent counteract some of the perceived mental cloudiness or intoxicating effects of THC causing the user to in turn use more cannabis than is needed which can often lead to an overwhelmingly anxious and paranoid headspace which can trigger a "bad trip".
Empathy, affection, and sociability enhancement - This component is typically manifested only in the context of social settings in which one is within the company of others, and only at lower, non-impairing doses. These feelings of sociability, affection, and empathy tend to be weaker and less consistent than those produced by substances such as MDMA and 2C-B, but can still prove strong enough to provide long-lasting therapeutic effects.
Synaesthesia - In its fullest manifestation, this is a very rare and non-reproducible effect. Increasing the dosage can increase the likelihood of this occurring, but seems only to be a prominent part of the experience among those who are already predisposed to synaesthetic states.
There are currently 0 experience reports describing the effects of this substance in our experience index. You can also submit your own experience report using the same link.
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.
The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational 3C-E use do not seem to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dose is unknown. This is because 3C-E is a research chemical with very little history of human usage.
Anecdotal evidence from people within the community who have tried 3C-E suggests that there are no negative health effects attributed to simply trying it 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.
3C-E is not habit-forming, and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating.
Tolerance to the effects of 3C-E is built almost immediately after ingestion. After that, it takes about 3 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 7 days to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). 3C-E presents cross-tolerance with [[Cross-tolerance::all psychedelics]], meaning that after the consumption of 3C-E all psychedelics will have a reduced effect.
Dangerous interactions
Warning:Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).
Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.
[[Wikipedia:Lithium_(medication)|DangerousInteraction::Lithium]] - Lithium is commonly prescribed for the treatment of bipolar disorder. There is a large body of anecdotal evidence that suggests taking it with psychedelics significantly increases the risk of psychosis and seizures. As a result, this combination is strictly discouraged.
"[[UncertainInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - Cannabis may have an unexpectedly strong and unpredictable synergy with the effects of 3C-E. Caution is advised with this combination as it can significantly increase the risk of adverse psychological reactions like anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, and psychosis. Users are advised to start off with only a fraction of their normal cannabis dose and take long breaks between hits to avoid unintentional overdose.
"[[UnsafeInteraction" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]] - Tramadol is well-documented to lower the seizure threshold[2] and psychedelics may act to trigger seizures in susceptible individuals.[citation needed]
As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it.
Germany: 3C-E is controlled under the NpSG (New Psychoactive Substances Act) as of November 26, 2016.[3][4] Production and import with the aim to place it on the market, administration to another person and trading is punishable. Possession is illegal but not penalized.[5]
Japan: 3C-E is a controlled substance in Japan effective March 25th, 2015.[6]
Switzerland: 3C-E can be considered a controlled substance as a defined derivative of a-methylphenethylamine under Verzeichnis E point 130. It is legal when used for scientific or industrial use.[7]
United Kingdom: It is illegal to produce, supply, or import this drug under the Psychoactive Substance Act, which came into effect on May 26th, 2016.[8]
United States: 3C-E is technically not scheduled in the United States, but could be considered an analog of mescaline and may, therefore, be considered a Schedule I drug under the Federal Analogue Act.
↑Talaie, H.; Panahandeh, R.; Fayaznouri, M. R.; Asadi, Z.; Abdollahi, M. (2009). "Dose-independent occurrence of seizure with tramadol". Journal of Medical Toxicology. 5 (2): 63–67. doi:10.1007/BF03161089. ISSN1556-9039.
↑"Anlage NpSG" (in Deutsch). Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
↑"§ 4 NpSG" (in Deutsch). Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
↑危険ドラッグの成分１６物質を新たに指定薬物に指定 (in japanese), 厚生労働省 [Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)], retrieved 2 May 2022CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
