Skip to main content
Psychedex
Article

25C-NBOMe Facts

Psychedelic; Substituted phenethylamine; Serotonin 2A receptor agonist

Description

25C-NBOMe — known as N-bomb or Smiles — is a synthetic psychedelic of the phenethylamine class. It activates serotonin receptors in the brain,[1] disrupting sensory filtering and producing intense visual and perceptual changes.

Subjective effects include geometric visual patterns, brightened colors, accelerated thinking, emotional intensification, and strong physical stimulation. The experience has a sharp, electric visual quality — more angular and saturated than tryptamine psychedelics, and more physically intense, with less cognitive depth.

25C-NBOMe produces no physical dependence,[2] but its acute toxicity is severe — fatal outcomes have been documented at recreational doses.[3] The dose-response curve is steep and poorly characterized, and combining it with stimulants or serotonergic drugs dramatically amplifies the risk of life-threatening toxicity.

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Sublingual(µg)
Threshold< 50 µgLight100 – 300 µgCommon300 – 700 µgStrong700 – 1000 µgHeavy1000+ µg

Starts in 5 – 15 minLasts 8 – 10 hoursAfter-effects 4 – 12 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Critical
Chronic toxicity
Moderate
Physical dependence
None
Psychological dependence
Low
Withdrawal
None recorded
Compulsive redosing
Negligible

Tolerance

Builds
Rapid
Fully resets after
14 days
Carries over to
LSD; psilocybin; DMT; mescaline; 25I-NBOMe; 25B-NBOMe; DOI; 2C-B

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
Tracers; Music enhancement; Color enhancement; Visual drifting; Color alteration; Brightness alteration; Environmental patterning; Geometry; Light sensitivity; Peripheral vision distortion; Perspective distortion; Visual breathing; Visual morphing; +23 possible, including Vestibular distortion, Spatial disorientation, Visual haze / noise
Body
Wakefulness; Stimulation; Muscle tension; Vasoconstriction; Appetite suppression; Dry mouth; Pupil dilation; Body high; Body scan awareness; Heart rate perception changes; +27 possible, including Excessive sweating, Insomnia, Nausea
Thinking
Novelty enhancement; Immersion enhancement; Pattern recognition enhancement; Aesthetic enhancement; +29 possible, including Memory suppression, Cognitive impairment, Decision impairment
Feeling
Emotional enhancement; +9 possible, including Emotional lability, Anxiety, Dysphoria
Self
none likely · 11 possible, including Derealization, Depersonalization, Communication suppression
Time
Time alteration; +2 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Transpersonal
none likely · 1 possible
Awareness
none likely · 2 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Cardiovascular disease; Epilepsy; Psychotic disorders; Bipolar disorder; Pregnancy; Concurrent serotonergic medications; Concurrent stimulant use

Combinations61 recorded

Lethal (1)
MAOIs
Dangerous (18)
MDMA, MDA; NRIs; Buspirone; Dopamine agonists; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ibogaine; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; Lithium; Local anesthetics; MDMA, Amphetamines; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); Psychedelics; Salvia, Ibogaine; SNRIs; SSRIs; Stimulants; Synthetic cannabinoids
Caution (37)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/25c-nbome
Not graded (5)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

Most difficulty is psychological (intense fear, panic, confusion) and passes with calm support — the signs below mean seek emergency help:

  • Very high body temperature; hot, dry skin
  • Seizures
  • Chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat
  • Severe muscle rigidity, tremor, or twitching (possible serotonin syndrome)
  • Cold, pale, or blue fingers/toes — severe vasoconstriction (notably NBOMe / DOx)
  • Persistent vomiting; unconsciousness; uncontrollable agitation or risk of self-harm

What to do

  1. Stay calm and reassure — remind them they took a drug and the effect will pass
  2. Move to a calm, quiet, safe space with low light; reduce noise and sensory input
  3. Keep them from harm — they may act on fear or confusion; stay with them, don't leave them alone
  4. Talk them down gently; don't grab or restrain unless they're in danger
  5. For the medical signs above (overheating, seizure, chest pain, vasoconstriction, unresponsive) call emergency services
  6. If overheating, cool the body; be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR

The experience is time-limited and usually resolves with calm reassurance in a safe setting — psychological first aid, not medication. Serious physical harm is uncommon for classic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin) but real for some potent phenethylamines (NBOMe, DOx), where hyperthermia, seizures, and vasoconstriction warrant emergency care.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Elmore JS, Decker AM, Sulima A, Rice KC, Partilla JS, Blough BE, Baumann MH (2018) Comparative neuropharmacology of N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (NBOMe) hallucinogens and their 2C counterparts in male rats — Neuropharmacology doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.02.033
  2. [2]
    ^Luethi D, Liechti ME (2020) Designer drugs: mechanism of action and adverse effects — Archives of Toxicology doi:10.1007/s00204-020-02693-7
  3. [3]
    ^Andreasen MF, Telving R, Rosendal I, Eg MB, Hasselstrøm JB, Andersen LV (2015) A fatal poisoning involving 25C-NBOMe. — Forensic Science International doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.03.012
Print version
Report an issue