5-MeO-DALT
5-methoxy-N,N-diallyltryptamine
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5-MeO-DALT (5-methoxy-N,N-diallyltryptamine) — also known as Foxtrot — is a synthetic psychedelic of the tryptamine class. It is a close relative of 5-MeO-DMT, distinguished by its muted visual profile. It activates serotonin receptors, but a second receptor pathway fires simultaneously and dampens the hallucinogenic response — making the experience more physical than visual.[1]
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LSD, psilocybin, mescaline +2 moreLSD, psilocybin, mescaline, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT show less
Alexander Shulgin synthesized 5-MeO-DALT in May 2004 and shared it with a small research circle.[2] Chinese laboratories began commercial production within weeks, making it one of the first designer tryptamines sold online. The WHO reviewed it in 2020 and placed it under surveillance without recommending international scheduling; national controls vary widely.[3]
Subjective effects include euphoria, physical stimulation, sensory sharpening, wakefulness, and mild visual alterations.[4] The experience is predominantly physical — a buzzing, alert activation without the visual depth or introspective weight of psilocybin or DMT.[1] Agitation, rapid heart rate, and nausea are characteristic unwanted effects.
No physical dependence has been documented, and no lethal dose has been established in any species.[3] Serious adverse events — delirium, muscle breakdown, and cyclic involuntary movements — appear in case reports, and combining it with MAOIs or other serotonin-raising drugs greatly amplifies risk.[5][6][7] No clinical trials exist; current understanding rests on animal pharmacology and a handful of emergency case reports.[8]
History[edit]
Discovery
5-MeO-DALT was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin in May 2004 and shared with a researcher known as "Murple."[2] Shulgin's self-experimentation found oral psychoactivity at 12–20 mg, with effects lasting 2–4 hours and featuring positive mood changes, closed-eye visuals, and enhanced music enhancement.[9] Reports appeared on Erowid by August 2004; Chinese labs began selling it commercially by approximately June that year, making it one of the first designer tryptamines to reach the online market.
Emergence and monitoring
Finland reported 5-MeO-DALT to the EMCDDA in 2007, triggering European monitoring.[2] By 2015, fourteen countries had identified the compound in seizures or surveillance data. One indirect death occurred in the UK in mid-2010 — a man intoxicated by the drug was struck by a vehicle; the coroner attributed death to behavioral impairment, not drug toxicity.[2]
Regulatory review
The WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence reviewed 5-MeO-DALT in October 2020 and found insufficient evidence to recommend international scheduling under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The compound was placed under surveillance.[3]
The name "DALT" comes from N,N-diallyltryptamine — the two allyl groups on the molecule's nitrogen atom. The compound was sold commercially as "Foxtrot," a fumarate salt formulation developed for improved water solubility.[3] The first comprehensive forensic identification data for 5-MeO-DALT and 16 related analogs was published by Brandt et al. in 2017, establishing NMR and mass spectrometry benchmarks for the series.[10]
Chemistry[edit]
Structural class
5-MeO-DALT belongs to the substituted tryptamine family, sharing the indole-ethylamine backbone found in DMT, psilocin, and 5-MeO-DMT.
Two modifications set it apart: a methoxy group at position 5 of the indole ring and two allyl groups on the terminal nitrogen. The molecule has no stereogenic centers — it exists as a single form, with no mirror-image variants.[11]
Molecular properties
| Molecular formula | C₁₇H₂₂N₂O |
| Molecular weight | 270.37 g/mol |
Pharmacology[edit]
Mechanism of action
5-MeO-DALT activates multiple serotonin receptor types at once, with no single dominant target.[3] Its psychedelic effects arise from activating one serotonin pathway, but a second pathway fires simultaneously and dampens the hallucinogenic response.[1] This is why the experience is more physical than visual.
Animal studies confirmed this pattern: one serotonin pathway predicted hallucinogenic behavior in rodents while the other consistently reduced it.[1] Functional assays confirm full agonist activity at both primary targets.[12] In drug discrimination tests, 5-MeO-DALT does not substitute for MDMA, indicating a meaningfully different dominant mechanism.[13]
Pharmacokinetics
No controlled human pharmacokinetic studies exist; the only blood data comes from a case report finding detectable levels 8 hours after approximately 10.7 mg oral.[8] Metabolic studies in liver tissue show the compound is broken down by hydroxylation and removal of its allyl groups.[14] Standard drug screens do not detect this compound[8][5] — confirmed identification requires specialized laboratory analysis.[15][16]
Neuroscience[edit]
Where it acts
No brain imaging studies have been conducted with 5-MeO-DALT. As a confirmed serotonin receptor activator,[1][13] it is expected to disrupt the brain's normal filtering of sensory information — the same broad mechanism as classical psychedelics.
Its unusually strong activation of a second, dampening serotonin pathway[12] may limit how far those disruptions extend, potentially explaining why the experience stays more physical than visual.[4]
Theoretical context
Theoretical models predict that serotonin-activating psychedelics loosen the brain's rigid patterns of thought and perception. 5-MeO-DALT fits this partially — it produces confirmed psychedelic activity, but the dampening pathway may preserve more mental coherence at peak effect than pure-classical psychedelics. Whether it promotes structural brain rewiring, as DMT and psilocybin may, remains unstudied.
Key unanswered questions: whether 5-MeO-DALT promotes neuroplasticity as other psychedelics do; what its brain imaging signature looks like under dual serotonin activation; and whether the shift from stimulant to sedative character at higher doses reflects changing dominance between its two receptor pathways.
Subjective Effects[edit]
The 5-MeO-DALT experience is physical first. Buzzing bodily activation, heightened alertness, and sensory sharpening dominate — the mind stays relatively clear while the body hums. Visual and introspective effects are present but muted, giving the experience a character distinct from most psychedelics.[1]
The closest comparison is low-dose 5-MeO-DMT — similar somatic emphasis, but less intense. It lacks the visual richness of psilocybin and the introspective depth of DMT.[4][9] Emotional tone varies notably with setting.
Effect Grid
At common doses, the full 5-MeO-DALT experience manifests. Emotional enhancement is pronounced — appreciation of music, social warmth, and aesthetic sensitivity increase substantially. Thought acceleration and thought connectivity are prominent cognitive features, with analysis enhancement and conceptual thinking becoming accessible. Visual effects remain moderate compared to classical psychedelics: color enhancement, visual drifting, symmetrical texture repetition, and visual acuity enhancement are present but rarely overwhelming.
Stimulation is marked and distinguishes the experience from DMT or psilocybin. Spontaneous body sensations pervade, and sexual arousal enhancement is frequently reported. Pupil dilation, mild tachycardia, and temperature dysregulation occur. Time alteration becomes noticeable.
Functional impairment is moderate. Sleep is unlikely for 3–4 hours post-ingestion. Total duration is typically 2–4 hours.
Modeled from the effect's dose-dependence curve — not per-substance measurements.
Brightness alteration · Geometry · Light sensitivity · Visual breathing · Touch enhancement · Symmetrical texture repetition · Auditory distortion · Auditory enhancement · Depth perception distortion · Environmental patterning · Holotropic state · Peripheral vision distortion · Perspective distortion · Sound sensitivity · Spatial disorientation · Visual haze / noise · Visual acuity enhancement · Visual morphing · After-images · Auditory misinterpretation · Dreaming enhancement · Proprioceptive distortion · Synesthesia · Vestibular distortion · Visual diffraction · Visual processing acceleration · Visual magnification · Visual melting · External hallucinations · Internal hallucinations · Object transformations · Auditory hallucinations · Object activation · Perspective hallucinations · Visual recursion
Touch enhancement · Symmetrical texture repetition · Auditory distortion · Auditory enhancement · Depth perception distortion · Environmental patterning · Holotropic state · Peripheral vision distortion · Perspective distortion · Sound sensitivity · Spatial disorientation · Visual haze / noise · Visual acuity enhancement · Visual morphing · After-images · Auditory misinterpretation · Dreaming enhancement · Proprioceptive distortion · Synesthesia · Vestibular distortion · Visual diffraction · Visual processing acceleration · Visual magnification · Visual melting · External hallucinations · Internal hallucinations · Object transformations · Auditory hallucinations · Object activation · Perspective hallucinations · Visual recursion
Sexual arousal enhancement · Wakefulness · Body high · Dizziness · Heart rate perception changes · Nausea · Restlessness · Tingling / electric sensations · Vibrations / buzzing · Appetite suppression · Bodily lightness · Breathing alteration · Excessive sweating · Insomnia · Laughter fits · Muscle tension · Physical fatigue · Tactile euphoria · Abnormal heartbeat · Body schema distortion · Involuntary body movements · Kundalini-like energy · Respiratory stimulation · Trembling · Vomiting · Yawning · Bodily dissociation
Dizziness · Heart rate perception changes · Nausea · Restlessness · Tingling / electric sensations · Vibrations / buzzing · Appetite suppression · Bodily lightness · Breathing alteration · Excessive sweating · Insomnia · Laughter fits · Muscle tension · Physical fatigue · Tactile euphoria · Body schema distortion · Involuntary body movements · Kundalini-like energy · Respiratory stimulation · Trembling · Vomiting · Yawning · Bodily dissociation
Pattern recognition enhancement · Conceptual thinking · Thought connectivity · Cognitive euphoria · Cognitive flexibility · Cognitive impairment · Immersion enhancement · Introspection enhancement · Multiple thought streams · Openness enhancement · Analysis enhancement · Creativity enhancement · Humor enhancement · Memory suppression · Confusion · Focus suppression · Increased nature relatedness · Information processing suppression · Memory fragmentation · Synchronicity · Thought disorganization · Thought loops · Cognitive dysphoria · Memory replays · Motivation enhancement
Cognitive flexibility · Cognitive impairment · Immersion enhancement · Introspection enhancement · Multiple thought streams · Openness enhancement · Analysis enhancement · Creativity enhancement · Humor enhancement · Memory suppression · Confusion · Focus suppression · Increased nature relatedness · Information processing suppression · Memory fragmentation · Synchronicity · Thought disorganization · Thought loops · Cognitive dysphoria · Memory replays · Motivation enhancement
Empathy enhancement · Catharsis · Simultaneous emotions · Dysphoria · Irritability
Irritability
Social connection · Trust enhancement · Communication enhancement · Sociability enhancement · Flow state · Boundary dissolution · Ego dissolution · Identity alteration · Cognitive disconnection · Telepathic feelings
Flow state · Boundary dissolution · Ego dissolution · Identity alteration · Cognitive disconnection · Telepathic feelings
Time cessation
Transpersonal visions · Death-rebirth sequence · Non-dual awareness · Voidness
Lucidity enhancement · Recursive awareness
Timeline
First alerts appear as a subtle shift in body awareness — mild warmth, slight increase in wakefulness, and a faint sense of something changing.
Stimulation builds noticeably. Emotional coloring shifts toward positivity, sensory acuity increases, and mild visual changes (color brightening, slight drifting) begin to emerge.
Maximum intensity of all effect domains. Stimulation is pronounced, emotional enhancement peaks, thought connectivity and acceleration are at their strongest. Visual effects — color enhancement, symmetrical texture repetition, tracers — reach their ceiling, though remain moderate compared to classical tryptamines.
Effects gradually recede. Stimulation diminishes first, followed by cognitive and visual effects. A gentle baseline mood returns, though mild sensory enhancement may linger.
Residual wakefulness and mild mood elevation may persist for several hours. Some users report lingering body stimulation.
⚠ Do not drive or operate machinery for the remainder of the day following oral ingestion.
Safety[edit]
- Acute toxicity
- Moderate
- Chronic toxicity
- Low
- Withdrawal
- None
- Tolerance buildup
- rapid
- Tolerance reset
- 7 days
- Physical
- None
- Psychological
- Negligible
- Compulsive redosing
- Negligible
- Dose escalation
- Negligible
- Cross-tol.
- LSD · psilo · mesc
Toxicity
Lethal dose
No lethal dose has been established for 5-MeO-DALT in any species.[3] No deaths directly caused by its pharmacological effects have been published. One indirect fatality occurred in the UK in mid-2010 — a man was struck by a vehicle while intoxicated; the coroner attributed death to behavioral impairment, not drug toxicity.[2]
Acute toxicity
Serious adverse presentations appear across four published case reports:[5][6][7][8]
- Neurological: delirium, loss of consciousness, hallucinations, cyclic involuntary movements, brain dysfunction
- Cardiovascular: Rapid heart rate (no reported arrhythmias or cardiac arrest)
- Autonomic: Profuse sweating, combativeness, extreme agitation
- Musculoskeletal: Muscle breakdown with secondary risk of kidney injury[6]
These features overlap with stimulant toxicity and are consistent with excess serotonin activity, though the full serotonin syndrome triad has not been formally diagnosed in published cases.
Detection gap
5-MeO-DALT is not detected by standard drug screening tests.[8][5] Emergency physicians should consider synthetic tryptamines when patients present with unexplained stimulant-like or serotonergic symptoms and negative routine screens.[17]
Product purity
Online products show extreme purity inconsistency. One confirmed case found only 11% active compound in tablets sold as 5-MeO-DALT — roughly 3.6 mg per tablet in a 32.5 mg pill.[8] Doses calibrated to a weak product can cause serious harm when a purer batch is encountered.
Psychological Risks
No controlled studies of psychological adverse effects exist. Acute psychosis, delirium, and severe agitation appear in case reports.[5][8] Long-term risks — including persistent perceptual disturbances, psychosis precipitation, or psychiatric destabilization — are entirely unstudied.
As a serotonergic psychedelic, 5-MeO-DALT carries the class-level risk of triggering or worsening psychotic disorders in predisposed individuals.inferred
Tolerance & Dependence
No human tolerance studies exist. The WHO noted anecdotal reports of tolerance with daily use.[3] Tolerance is expected to build rapidly through serotonin downregulation — the standard mechanism for psychedelics.[18]
Cross-tolerance with LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and DMT is expected from the shared serotonin mechanism. No evidence of physical dependence or withdrawal exists, and compulsive use patterns have not been reported.[3]
Drug Interactions
The primary danger from combinations is serotonin syndrome — a potentially life-threatening condition where excess serotonin causes high fever, muscle stiffness, rapid heartbeat, and seizures. MAO inhibitors are the highest-risk combination: they both slow the breakdown of 5-MeO-DALT and elevate available serotonin simultaneously, compounding risk from two directions.[14]safety citation needed
SSRIs, SNRIs, and tramadol compound serotonin risk through combined serotonin elevation; tramadol also lowers the seizure threshold, adding further risk given the documented involuntary movements.[7] Stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines heighten cardiovascular strain. Several medications — including fluoxetine, paroxetine, fluvoxamine, and certain antifungals — slow the liver enzymes that break down 5-MeO-DALT, potentially intensifying and prolonging effects.[14]
Contraindications
No substance-specific contraindication studies exist. The following are inferred from pharmacological class and documented adverse events:
- Psychotic disorders or family history of psychosis: Class-level risk of triggering or worsening psychotic episodesinferred
- Muscle disorders: Muscle breakdown has been documented;[6] underlying conditions elevate this risk
- Heart conditions: Rapid heart rate is documented across case reports;[5][8] pre-existing cardiac problems increase cardiovascular risk
- Concurrent serotonergic medication: MAOIs, SSRIs, SNRIs, tramadol, and triptans compound serotonin syndrome risk
- Seizure disorders: Cyclic involuntary movements have been documented;[7] epilepsy or lowered seizure threshold adds further risk
- Liver impairment: 5-MeO-DALT is extensively metabolized by the liver;[14] significant liver disease could prolong or intensify effects
- Pregnancy: No reproductive safety data exist; use during pregnancy is contraindicated
Harm Reduction[edit]
Forms & Identification
5-MeO-DALT circulates as powder — white, off-white, grey, or tan — and as pressed tablets in various colors.[3] Product purity has been documented as low as 11%,[8] meaning the active dose in any given product is unpredictable without testing.
Standard drug screening tests cannot detect this compound.[8][5] Reagent testing can confirm the presence of a tryptamine but cannot verify the exact compound or its purity. Weigh every dose with a milligram-precision scale — volume estimation is unreliable at this potency range.
Guidelines
- Test all material with reagent kits before use
- Weigh doses with a milligram-precision scale — never estimate
- Start with a low dose on first use to assess individual response and product potency
- Remain in a safe, familiar environment with a sober companion present
- Stay hydrated but avoid excessive water intake
- Do not redose within the duration window — effects may still be building
- Avoid intense physical exertion during the experience; muscle breakdown has been documented at high doses[6]
- Allow at least 24 hours between experiences to account for acute tolerance
Set & Setting
5-MeO-DALT's predominantly physical and stimulating character makes environment important. A calm, familiar setting with minimal external demands reduces the risk of agitation-related harm.
A trusted sober companion is recommended for first experiences, particularly given the unpredictability of unregulated products.
Aftercare & integration. The short duration and predominantly physical character of 5-MeO-DALT typically produce less psychological disruption than longer-acting psychedelics. Post-experience fatigue, mild headache, or residual stimulation may persist for several hours. Eat a light meal, hydrate, and rest.
If the experience produced unexpected psychological intensity — anxiety, confusion, or disturbing thoughts — allow time for processing. Journaling or conversation with a trusted person can help contextualize the experience. Seek professional support if distress persists beyond a few days.
Recovery & Support
5-MeO-DALT does not produce physical dependence, and compulsive use patterns have not been reported.[3] If use has become a pattern of avoidance or escalation, support resources include psychedelic integration therapists, harm reduction organizations, and peer support communities. The Fireside Project (62-FIRESIDE) offers psychedelic-specific crisis support.
Recovery resources, crisis lines, and support pathways → View all
Emergency Response
Recognizing an emergency: Uncomfortable physical stimulation and mild anxiety are common and typically self-limiting. Seek immediate help if any of the following occur: loss of consciousness, seizure-like movements or repetitive muscle jerking, extreme confusion or delirium, chest pain, or dangerously high body temperature (skin hot to the touch).
Immediate steps:
- Call emergency services immediately
- If the person is unconscious but breathing, place them on their side (recovery position)
- Do not restrain them unless they are in immediate danger of harming themselves
- Remove hazards from the environment — the documented fatality involved a person wandering into traffic[2]
- Monitor breathing and body temperature while waiting for help
What to tell the dispatcher: Name the substance (5-MeO-DALT or "a synthetic tryptamine"), the approximate amount taken, the time of ingestion, and current symptoms. Good Samaritan laws in many jurisdictions protect people who call for help during a drug emergency.
No reversal agent exists for 5-MeO-DALT. Treatment is supportive.
Legal Status[edit]
5-MeO-DALT is not scheduled under the UN 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The WHO reviewed it in October 2020 and placed it under surveillance, finding insufficient evidence to recommend international control.[3] National controls vary widely; Sweden enacted the earliest known control in May 2007.
| Jurisdiction | Classification | Key provisions |
|---|---|---|
| United States (federal) | Unscheduled | Federal Analogue Act may apply if sold for human consumption as an analog of scheduled tryptamines[19] |
| Florida (US) | Schedule I | State-level controlled substance[19] |
| Louisiana (US) | Schedule I | Controlled since June 2013[19] |
| Virginia (US) | Schedule I | Controlled since July 1, 2012[19] |
| United Kingdom | Class A (Misuse of Drugs Act 1971) | Under tryptamine blanket ban, effective January 7, 2015[19] |
| Sweden | Controlled | Since May 1, 2007 — earliest national control[19] |
| China | Category I psychotropic | Controlled since September 2010[19] |
| Japan | Designated Substance | Under Pharmaceutical Affairs Law[19] |
| Finland | Banned | Included in mass-scheduling of 100+ compounds, December 2014[19] |
| Singapore | Fifth Schedule (Misuse of Drugs Act) | Controlled since May 2015citation needed |
| Canada | Not explicitly listed | Not specifically listed in CDSA schedules; may fall under tryptamine analog provisionscitation needed |
| Australia | Unconfirmed | No specific scheduling found; status under Poisons Standard unconfirmedcitation needed |
Legal status changes frequently and varies by jurisdiction. The information above is not legal advice.
references
- [1]
- [2]
- [3]
- [4]
- [5]
- [6]