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5-APB Facts

Stimulant; Entactogen; Benzofuran; Serotonin releasing agent

Description

5-APB (5-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran) — Benzofury — is a synthetic entactogen-stimulant of the benzofuran class. It floods the brain with serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, combining entactogenic warmth with mild psychedelic effects.[1]

Subjective effects include emotional warmth, empathogenic openness, sensory enhancement, mild geometric visuals, and cognitive euphoria. The experience sits between MDMA and MDA — more perceptually active and introspective than MDMA, warmer and more sociable than a classical psychedelic.

Dependence is moderate, comparable to MDMA; the lethal dose is unknown, with only two documented human deaths to bracket the range.[2][3] The greatest long-term risk is heart valve damage from sustained serotonin receptor activation,[4][5] and a triple serotonergic mechanism makes poisoning easier to trigger than with MDMA.[1]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 20 mgLight25 – 50 mgCommon50 – 80 mgStrong80 – 100 mgHeavy100+ mg

Starts in 20 – 45 minLasts 5 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 12 – 72 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
High
Chronic toxicity
High
Physical dependence
Low
Psychological dependence
Moderate
Withdrawal
Mild
Compulsive redosing
Low

Tolerance

Builds
Moderate
Fully resets after
10 days
Carries over to
MDMA; MDA; 6-APB; 5-MAPB; 6-MAPB

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
Music enhancement; Touch enhancement; +9 possible
Body
Stimulation; Wakefulness; Appetite suppression; Body high; Body scan awareness; Pupil dilation; Spontaneous body sensations; Tactile euphoria; +19 possible, including Insomnia, Muscle tension, Bruxism
Thinking
Cognitive euphoria; Aesthetic enhancement; Introspection enhancement; Openness enhancement; +21 possible, including Compulsive redosing urge, Suggestibility enhancement
Feeling
Empathy enhancement; Emotional enhancement; Euphoria; +9 possible, including Depression, Anhedonia, Anxiety
Self
Communication enhancement; Disinhibition; Sociability enhancement; Social connection; Trust enhancement; +3 possible, including Craving
Time
Present-moment absorption; +1 possible
Transpersonal
none likely · 1 possible
Awareness
none likely · 3 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Valvular heart disease; Cardiac arrhythmia; Psychotic disorders; Hepatic impairment; Pregnancy and breastfeeding; Concurrent MAOI therapy; Concurrent SSRI or SNRI therapy
Relative
Epilepsy

Combinations61 recorded

Lethal (2)
MAOIs; Tramadol
Dangerous (32)
Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Anticholinergics; Atypical antipsychotics; Caffeine; Dopamine agonists; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Local anesthetics; MDMA, Amphetamines; MDMA, MDA; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); NRIs; Opioids; SNRIs; SSRIs; Stimulants; 5-HTP, Tryptophan; Antihistamines; Antipsychotics; Buspirone; Clonidine, Guanfacine; DXM; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ibogaine; and 8 more, see full page
Caution (24)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/5-apb
Not graded (3)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

  • Overheating / very high body temperature — heavy sweating, then hot dry skin (the leading cause of MDMA deaths, worse when dancing in hot venues)
  • Muscle rigidity, jaw clenching, tremor, or twitching (possible serotonin syndrome)
  • Fast, pounding heartbeat; chest pain
  • Agitation, confusion; seizures
  • Hyponatremia (water intoxication) — headache, confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, and seizures from drinking too much water
  • Nausea/vomiting; collapse or unconsciousness

What to do

  1. Move them somewhere cool and help them cool down — overheating is the main danger
  2. Sip water to stay hydrated but DO NOT overdrink — roughly a cup (250 ml) per hour if active; too much water can be deadly (hyponatremia)
  3. Get them to rest and stop dancing
  4. For overheating, seizures, chest pain, muscle rigidity/tremor, confusion, or unresponsiveness, call emergency services
  5. Recovery position if drowsy or vomiting; stay with them
  6. Be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR

Most resolve with cooling, rest, sensible hydration, and time. The life-threatening dangers are hyperthermia, serotonin syndrome, and hyponatremia (too much water) — each a medical emergency, not something to wait out.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^abShimshoni JA, Winkler I, Golan E, Nutt D (2017) Neurochemical binding profiles of novel indole and benzofuran MDMA analogues — Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology doi:10.1007/s00210-016-1297-4
  2. [2]
    ^Krpo M, Luytkis HC, Haneborg AM, Høiseth G (2018) A fatal blood concentration of 5-APB — Forensic Science International doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.08.044
  3. [3]
    ^Adamowicz P, Zuba D, Byrska B (2014) Fatal intoxication with 3-methyl-N-methylcathinone (3-MMC) and 5-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (5-APB) — Forensic science international doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.10.016
  4. [4]
    ^Iversen L, Gibbons S, Treble R, Setola V, Huang XP, Roth BL (2013) Neurochemical profiles of some novel psychoactive substances — European Journal of Pharmacology doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2012.12.006
  5. [5]
    ^Rickli A, Kopf S, Hoener MC, Liechti ME (2015) Pharmacological profile of novel psychoactive benzofurans — British Journal of Pharmacology doi:10.1111/bph.13128
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