Skip to main content
Psychedex
Article

4-HO-DET Facts

Psychedelic; Substituted tryptamine; Serotonin 2A receptor agonist

Description

4-HO-DET (4-hydroxy-N,N-diethyltryptamine) — also known as CZ-74 — is a synthetic psychedelic of the tryptamine class. It activates serotonin receptors in the brain, producing the visual and cognitive shifts characteristic of classical psychedelics.

Subjective effects include geometric visual patterns, emotional intensification, time alteration, and shifts in thought.[1] The experience is close to psilocin — warm, moderately paced, and emotionally saturating — with reports of a slightly lighter physical sensation.[2]

4-HO-DET does not produce physical dependence, and rapid tolerance limits compulsive use.[3][4] The primary risks are psychological — panic, paranoia, and psychosis in predisposed individuals — and combining it with MAOIs or tramadol risks dangerous overheating and seizures.

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 5 mgLight10 – 15 mgCommon15 – 25 mgStrong25 – 35 mgHeavy35+ mg

Starts in 20 – 45 minLasts 4 – 6 hoursAfter-effects 2 – 6 hours

Body and dependence

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

Tolerance

Builds
Rapid
Fully resets after
7 days
Carries over to
psilocybin; psilocin; LSD; mescaline; DMT; 4-AcO-DMT; 4-HO-MET; 4-AcO-DET

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
Color enhancement; Visual drifting; Color alteration; Depth perception distortion; Perspective distortion; Symmetrical texture repetition; Music enhancement; Tracers; Brightness alteration; Geometry; Holotropic state; Visual breathing; +23 possible, including Visual haze / noise, Spatial disorientation, Vestibular distortion
Body
Spontaneous body sensations; Pupil dilation; Body high; Body scan awareness; +28 possible, including Temperature dysregulation, Muscle tension, Dizziness
Thinking
Pattern recognition enhancement; Conceptual thinking; Immersion enhancement; Novelty enhancement; Thought connectivity; Aesthetic enhancement; Cognitive euphoria; Cognitive flexibility; Introspection enhancement; Openness enhancement; +20 possible, including Memory suppression, Thought loops, Cognitive impairment
Feeling
Emotional enhancement; Emotional lability; Euphoria; +6 possible, including Anxiety, Dysphoria, Paranoia
Self
Emotional susceptibility; +8 possible, including Derealization, Depersonalization
Time
Time alteration; Present-moment absorption; +1 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Transpersonal
none likely · 1 possible
Awareness
none likely · 4 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Psychotic disorders; Bipolar disorder; Pregnancy; Concurrent MAOI use; Concurrent tramadol use; Concurrent lithium use
Relative
Cardiovascular disease

Combinations61 recorded

Lethal (1)
MAOIs
Dangerous (17)
Dopamine agonists; Lithium; MDMA, MDA; NRIs; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ibogaine; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; Local anesthetics; MDMA, Amphetamines; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); Psychedelics; Salvia, Ibogaine; SNRIs; SSRIs; Stimulants; Synthetic cannabinoids
Caution (37)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/4-ho-det
Not graded (6)
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]
    ^Halberstadt AL, Koedood L, Powell SB, Geyer MA (2011) Differential contributions of serotonin receptors to the behavioral effects of indoleamine hallucinogens in mice — Journal of Psychopharmacology doi:10.1177/0269881110388326
  2. [2]
    ^Gatch MB, Hoch A, Carbonaro TM (2021) Discriminative Stimulus Effects of Substituted Tryptamines in Rats — ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science doi:10.1021/acsptsci.0c00173
  3. [3]
    ^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
  4. [4]
    ^Nichols DE (2018) Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationships of Psychedelics. — Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences doi:10.1007/7854_2017_475
Print version
Report an issue