A single inhalation of vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in a naturalistic setting is related to sustained enhancement of satisfaction with life, mindfulness-related capacities, and a decrement of psychopathological symptoms

Abstract

Background 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (hereinafter referred to as 5-MeO-DMT) is a psychedelic substance found in the secretion from the parotoid glands of the Bufo alvarius toad. Inhalation of vapor from toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT has become popular in naturalistic settings as a treatment of mental health problems or as a means for spiritual exploration. However, knowledge of the effects of 5-MeO-DMT in humans is limited. Aims The first objective of this study was to assess sub-acute and long-term effects of inhaling vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT on affect and cognition. The second objective was to assess whether any changes were associated with the psychedelic experience. Methods Assessments at baseline, within 24 h and 4 weeks following intake, were made in 42 individuals who inhaled vapor from dried toad secretion at several European locations. Results Relative to baseline, ratings of satisfaction with life and convergent thinking significantly increased right after intake and were maintained at follow-up 4 weeks later. Ratings of mindfulness also increased over time and reached statistical significance at 4 weeks. Ratings of depression, anxiety, and stress decreased after the session, and reached significance at 4 weeks. Participants that experienced high levels of ego dissolution or oceanic boundlessness during the session displayed higher ratings of satisfaction with life and lower ratings of depression and stress. Conclusion A single inhalation of vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT produces sub-acute and long-term changes in affect and cognition in volunteers. These results warrant exploratory research into therapeutic applications of 5-MeO-DMT. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00213-019-05236-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment

“…It should be highlighted that the ratings in affect (depression, anxiety, and stress) were subtle which introduces the possibility that the reduction in affect can be interpreted as betterment in well-being. However, the present findings are in line with previous research on use of synthetic 5-MeO-DMT in ceremonial settings (Davis et al 2019), as well as a naturalistic observational study investigating the effects following use of toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT (Uthaug et al 2019). Additionally, prior research showed that consumers of ayahuasca displayed significant reductions in ratings of depression and stress that persisted for 4 weeks after intake (Uthaug et al 2018).…”

“…These ratings are qualitatively similar but lower in magnitude than reported after inhalation of vaporized toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT from the Incilius alvarius toad (Uthaug et al 2019). Inhalation of vaporized synthetic 5-MeO-DMT primarily induced experience of unity, a blissfull state, and elementary imagery whereas inhalation of vaporized toad secretion induced experience of unity, spiritual experience, and a blissfull state (Uthaug et al 2019). However, in the latter study, the magnitude of ratings was 20-30% higher than in the current study.…”

“…5-MeO-DMT was first synthesized in 1936 (Hoshino and Shimodaira 1936), but can also be found naturally in plants such as the Dictyoloma incanescens (Pachter et al 1959), or in the milky-white secretion, also known as bufotoxin, which is produced in the skin and the parotid glands of the Incilius alvarius toad, also known as Bufo alvarius (Weil and Davis 1994). A recent lab analysis revealed that about 25-30% of the bufotoxin, used in a naturalistic setting, consisted of the primary component 5-MeO-DMT, as well as (very) low amounts of additional tryptamines such as bufotenine (0.08-0.18%), DMT, and N-methylserotonin (0.01-0.03%) (Uthaug et al 2019).…”

“…Interestingly, people who reported having had a psychiatric condition described that following the use of 5-MeO-DMT, they experienced improvement in depression (77%), anxiety (69%), post-traumatic stress disorder (79%), and substance use disorders (60%) (Davis et al 2018). A recent field study (Uthaug et al 2019) replicated such reports and showed that a single inhalation of vapor from dried toad secretion containing 5-MeO-DMT produces sub-acute and long-term improvements in affect and cognition in 42 undiagnosed participants in naturalistic ceremonies.…”

“…Whether mental health changes produced by tryptamines are also associated with changes in stress and immune response is presently unknown. However, we hypothesized that salivary stress and immune biomarkers would allow further exploration of the association between anti-inflammatory (Szabo 2015;Szabo et al 2014), and mental health effects related to the inhalation of 5-MeO-DMT (Uthaug et al 2019).…”