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25E-NBOMe Facts

Psychedelic; Substituted phenethylamine; Serotonin 2A receptor agonist

Description

25E-NBOMe is a synthetic psychedelic of the phenethylamine class. It activates serotonin receptors in the brain, producing the visual distortions and altered cognition characteristic of psychedelics.[1]

Subjective effects include geometric visual patterns, brightened colors, euphoria, and a buzzing physical energy. The experience is physically pronounced and stimulating — shorter and more body-heavy than LSD, with an intensity that rises steeply with dose.

No physical dependence develops; tolerance builds quickly after use,[2] but the NBOMe class has caused confirmed fatalities via closely related compounds.[3][4] The core danger is dosing unpredictability — microgram potency and uneven blotter distribution can deliver far more than intended in a single tab.[5]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Sublingual(µg)
Threshold< 100 µgLight100 – 300 µgCommon300 – 500 µgStrong500 – 800 µgHeavy800+ µg

Starts in 15 – 30 minLasts 4 – 10 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 6 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
High
Chronic toxicity
Low
Physical dependence
None
Psychological dependence
Low
Withdrawal
None recorded
Compulsive redosing
Low

Tolerance

Builds
Rapid
Fully resets after
10 days
Carries over to
LSD; Psilocin; 25I-NBOMe; 25B-NBOMe; 25C-NBOMe; DOI; Mescaline

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
Geometry; Visual drifting; Color enhancement; Color alteration; Environmental patterning; Symmetrical texture repetition; Brightness alteration; Tracers; Visual breathing; +21 possible, including Spatial disorientation, Visual haze / noise, Vestibular distortion
Body
Stimulation; Pupil dilation; Wakefulness; +24 possible, including Muscle tension, Heart rate perception changes, Excessive sweating
Thinking
none likely · 31 possible, including Cognitive impairment, Confusion, Decision impairment
Feeling
none likely · 9 possible, including Anxiety, Emotional lability, Paranoia
Self
none likely · 7 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; Seizure disorders / epilepsy; Psychotic disorders; Pregnancy; Concurrent SSRI/SNRI use; Concurrent MAOI use; Concurrent lithium use
Relative
Bipolar disorder; Severe anxiety disorders; Hepatic impairment

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/25e-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]
    ^Eshleman AJ, Wolfrum KM, Reed JF, Kim SO, Johnson RA, Janowsky A (2018) Neurochemical pharmacology of psychoactive substituted N-benzylphenethylamines: High potency agonists at 5-HT2A receptors. — Biochemical Pharmacology doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2018.09.024
  2. [2]
    ^de la Fuente Revenga M, Jaster AM, McGinn J, Silva G, Saha S, Gonzalez-Maeso J (2022) Tolerance and Cross-Tolerance among Psychedelic and Nonpsychedelic 5-HT2A Receptor Agonists in Mice — ACS Chemical Neuroscience doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00170
  3. [3]
    ^Zawilska JB, Kacela M, Adamowicz P (2020) NBOMes-Highly Potent and Toxic Alternatives of LSD — Frontiers in Neuroscience doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00078
  4. [4]
    ^Shanks KG, Sozio T, Behonick GS (2015) Fatal Intoxications with 25B-NBOMe and 25I-NBOMe in Indiana During 2014. — Journal of Analytical Toxicology doi:10.1093/jat/bkv058
  5. [5]
    ^Lützen E, Holtkamp M, Stamme I, Schmid R, Sperling M, Pütz M, Karst U (2020) Multimodal imaging of hallucinogens 25C- and 25I-NBOMe on blotter papers. — Drug Testing and Analysis doi:10.1002/dta.2751
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