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6-APB Facts

Stimulant; Entactogen; Benzofuran; Serotonin releasing agent

Description

6-APB (6-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran) — also known as Benzofury — is a synthetic empathogen of the phenethylamine class. It works by releasing serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the brain and by directly activating serotonin receptors.[1]

Subjective effects include empathy enhancement, euphoria, emotional openness, color brightening, and mild visual distortions. The experience occupies a middle ground between MDMA and MDA — a sustained entactogenic warmth with a slow-building, long-lasting psychedelic overlay.

6-APB does not produce physical dependence, and no lethal dose has been established in any species. The defining long-term concern is cardiac: repeated activation of a serotonin receptor on heart valve cells can cause scarring — the same mechanism behind fenfluramine's valve damage.[1][2][3]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Threshold< 15 mgLight30 – 60 mgCommon60 – 90 mgStrong90 – 120 mgHeavy120+ mg

Starts in 30 – 60 minLasts 7 – 10 hoursAfter-effects 6 – 24 hours

Body and dependence

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

Tolerance

Builds
Moderate
Fully resets after
49 days
Carries over to
MDMA; MDA; 5-APB; serotonin releasing agents; dopaminergic stimulants

Effectslikely at a common dose

Perception
Touch enhancement; Music enhancement; +15 possible, including Visual haze / noise
Body
Wakefulness; Stimulation; Pupil dilation; Body high; Body scan awareness; +32 possible, including Excessive sweating, Bruxism, Insomnia
Thinking
none likely · 33 possible, including Compulsive redosing urge, Memory suppression, Cognitive impairment
Feeling
Empathy enhancement; Emotional enhancement; Euphoria; +9 possible, including Depression, Anhedonia, Anxiety
Self
Social connection; +8 possible, including Craving, Derealization
Time
none likely · 3 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Transpersonal
none likely · 1 possible
Awareness
none likely · 4 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Valvular heart disease; Pregnancy and breastfeeding; Concurrent MAOI use
Relative
Cardiac arrhythmias; Psychotic disorders; Bipolar disorder; Hepatic impairment; Concurrent serotonergic medication

Combinations61 recorded

Lethal (2)
MAOIs; Tramadol
Dangerous (34)
Anticholinergics; Atypical antipsychotics; Caffeine; Dopamine agonists; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Local anesthetics; MDMA, Amphetamines; MDMA, MDA; NRIs; Opioids; SNRIs; SSRIs; Stimulants; 5-HTP, Tryptophan; Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Antihistamines; Antipsychotics; Buspirone; Clonidine, Guanfacine; DXM; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ibogaine; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; and 10 more, see full page
Caution (22)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/6-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]
    ^abRickli A, Kopf S, Hoener MC, Liechti ME (2015) Pharmacological profile of novel psychoactive benzofurans — British Journal of Pharmacology doi:10.1111/bph.13128
  2. [2]
    ^Smith SA, Waggoner AD, de las Fuentes L, Davila-Roman VG (2009) Role of serotoninergic pathways in drug-induced valvular heart disease and diagnostic features by echocardiography — Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography doi:10.1016/j.echo.2009.05.002
  3. [3]
    ^Lam NT, Balachandran K (2015) The mechanobiology of drug-induced cardiac valve disease — Journal of Long-term Effects of Medical Implants PMID:25955005
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