DMT vs 5-MeO-DMT
DMT and 5-MeO-DMT have similar names but are different substances. This page compares sources, how they act, what trials show, and how US federal law lists each one.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
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This page is education only. DMT and 5-MeO-DMT are different substances and must never be treated as one. No amounts, sourcing, extraction or preparation are given here.
Names and sources
| DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine) | 5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An indole alkaloid found widely in plants and animals [1] | A naturally occurring, short-acting psychedelic tryptamine made by a variety of plant and animal species [2] |
| Notable natural source named in the sources | Amazonian plants, some used to make the tea ayahuasca [3] | Secretion of the Sonoran Desert toad, Incilius alvarius, among other sources [4] |
| Lab-made form | Yes. NIDA describes a lab-made white crystalline powder [3] | Given in early clinical trials, see below [5] |
The toad is the only animal known to secrete 5-MeO-DMT as a chemical defense. [4] An analysis of toad secretion samples found 5-MeO-DMT as the main tryptamine and also detected DMT and bufotenine in smaller amounts. [6] The accepted GBIF name for the toad is Incilius alvarius. [7] Sourcing from living animals is not covered here, and an isolated compound is not the same as any traditional practice. See indigenous traditions, ethics and conservation.
How they act
- DMT is thought to alter perception, mood and cognition mainly through serotonin 1A, 2A and 2C receptors. [8] It is nearly inactive by mouth because of rapid first-pass metabolism, unless taken with MAO inhibitors, which greatly increase its availability and duration. [8]
- 5-MeO-DMT is a serotonin agonist with its highest affinity at the 5-HT1A receptor. [2] Reviews describe a short duration, relatively little visual effect and, putatively, higher rates of ego-dissolution. [2]
One review proposes that 5-MeO-DMT effects resemble epileptiform activity and notes "reactivations", sudden re-experiencing of effects, common after 5-MeO-DMT but not after typical psychedelics. [9] That is a hypothesis paper, so treat it as preclinical or theoretical rather than established.
What human trials show
Evidence labels: promising but limited, insufficient evidence.| Substance | Study | Findings |
|---|---|---|
| DMT, intravenous | Open-label pilot, 10 people (7 with treatment-resistant depression, 3 healthy) | Tolerated, depression scores fell the next day in the depression group; effects like raised blood pressure and anxiety resolved within 20-30 minutes [10] |
| DMT, intravenous | Randomized placebo-controlled phase IIa, 34 adults with major depression, single study dose with psychotherapeutic support | Larger fall in depression scores than placebo at 2 weeks; no serious adverse events [11] |
| 5-MeO-DMT | Systematic review of 3 early trials, 78 participants | No serious adverse events reported, but data limited [5] |
An earlier review stated that clinical studies of 5-MeO-DMT in humans were lacking at the time. [2] All of the above are small, early studies: promising but limited.
Risks
A meta-analysis of classic psychedelic studies including DMT and 5-MeO-DMT found serious adverse events in about 4% of participants with pre-existing neuropsychiatric disorders and none in healthy participants, with uneven monitoring. [12] Only 3 DMT and 2 5-MeO-DMT studies were found in a review of drug-drug interactions, so interaction data are thin. [13]Legal status
Not legal advice; laws change. In the United States, 21 CFR 1308.11 lists dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine separately in Schedule I (eCFR, read 2026-10-22). [14] Other countries: not verified. See psychedelic legal status by country.No winner
They differ in source, pharmacology and evidence base. For each alone see DMT and 5-MeO-DMT.Frequently asked questions
Is 5-MeO-DMT just a stronger DMT?
No. They are different compounds. DMT is thought to act through serotonin 1A, 2A and 2C receptors, while 5-MeO-DMT has its highest affinity at 5-HT1A. We do not compare strength. [2][8]
Do they both come from the same sources?
Not exactly. DMT is widely found in plants and animals, while the sources name the Sonoran Desert toad for 5-MeO-DMT. [1][4]
Is ayahuasca the same as DMT?
No. Ayahuasca is a brew; DMT is one compound in it. See DMT vs ayahuasca.
Are they approved medicines?
We found no approval in the sources read. The trials above are early and experimental. [11][5]
References
- Carbonaro TM, Gatch MB. Neuropharmacology of N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Brain Res Bull. 2016;126:74-88. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Ermakova AO et al. A narrative synthesis of research with 5-MeO-DMT. J Psychopharmacol. 2022;36(3):273-294. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs. Read 2026-10-22.
- Luccioni MD et al. Diet and chemical defenses of the Sonoran Desert toad. PLoS One. 2025;20(11):e0335661. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Kwasny A et al. Short-term safety and tolerability profile of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in human subjects: a systematic review of clinical trials. Front Psychiatry. 2024;15:1477996. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Schwelm HM et al. Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Tryptamines in the Poison of Incilius alvarius. J Anal Toxicol. 2022;46(5):540-548. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- GBIF Secretariat, Incilius alvarius (Girard, 1859), GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Read 2026-10-22.
- Egger K et al. Neurobiological research on N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and its potentiation by monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition: from ayahuasca to synthetic combinations of DMT and MAO inhibitors. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2024;81(1):395. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Dourron HM et al. 5-MeO-DMT: An atypical psychedelic with unique pharmacology, phenomenology and risk? Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2025;242(7):1457-1479. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- D'Souza DC et al. Exploratory study of the dose-related safety, tolerability, and efficacy of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in healthy volunteers and major depressive disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2022;47(10):1854-1862. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Erritzoe D et al. A short-acting psychedelic intervention for major depressive disorder: a phase IIa randomized placebo-controlled trial. Nat Med. 2026;32(2):591-598. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Hinkle JT et al. Adverse Events in Studies of Classic Psychedelics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2024;81(12):1225-1235. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Halman A et al. Drug-drug interactions involving classic psychedelics: A systematic review. J Psychopharmacol. 2024;38(1):3-18. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- US Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule I. Read 2026-10-22.