Bromo-DragonFLY
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Bromo-DragonFLY (1-(8-bromobenzodifuranyl)-2-aminopropane) is a synthetic psychedelic of the phenethylamine class. It is a rigid structural analog of DOB — approximately 400 times more potent than LSD at serotonin receptors.[1] It activates serotonin receptors in the brain, producing a multi-day psychedelic state with extreme physical pressure on the body.
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LSD, psilocybin, mescaline +4 moreLSD, psilocybin, mescaline, DOB, DOI, DMT, 2C-B show less
Synthesized in 1998 by Matthew Parker as a pharmacological research tool, it was never intended for human use.[2] It reached research chemical markets around 2006–2007 and caused deaths within two years, including a mass poisoning in 2009 caused by mislabeling.[3] It is now controlled in Scandinavia, Australia, and Canada, but remains federally unscheduled in the United States.
Subjective effects include geometric visual patterns, perceptual distortion, altered thinking, and emotional intensification. The experience is defined by a heavy, unrelenting physical component — the heart pounds, blood vessels constrict, and this pressure never lifts for the entire multi-day duration.[4] Severe body load, nausea, and discoloration of the hands and feet are characteristic.
Bromo-DragonFLY does not produce physical dependence, but it carries severe acute toxicity — at least five confirmed deaths and no established safe dose.[5] Blood vessel constriction is the primary danger, sustained enough to cause gangrene and limb amputation.[6] No clinical studies exist; everything known comes from forensic case reports and laboratory receptor work.
History[edit]
Discovery
Bromo-DragonFLY was synthesized in 1998 by Matthew Parker in David Nichols' laboratory, reported as a highly potent serotonin receptor activator.[2] It emerged from systematic work on rigid analogs of DOB — locking flexible side groups into fused aromatic rings produced a roughly 27-fold increase in receptor affinity.[7] It was designed exclusively as a pharmacological research tool; no human use was intended.
Critical incidents
Bromo-DragonFLY reached research chemical markets around 2006–2007, with the first law enforcement seizure in Oregon in August 2007.[8] In September 2007, a Swedish overdose produced one death and gangrene requiring amputation of several fingers and toes.[6] The worst harm came in October 2009, when a batch mislabeled as 2C-B-FLY — roughly 20 times less potent by weight — caused mass overdoses.[3][9]
Regulatory response
The Swedish fatality triggered rapid scheduling across Scandinavia: Sweden acted in July 2007, Denmark followed in December 2007, and Norway added it to its narcotics list.[10] Australia prohibited it in February 2009, and Canada added it to Schedule III in October 2016. It remains federally unscheduled in the United States, though the Federal Analogue Act could apply.[10]
The name "DragonFLY" comes from the molecule's shape: two lateral ring structures extending from the central benzene core resemble the outstretched wings of a dragonfly. The 2009 mislabeling incident became a defining cautionary tale in the research chemical community — widely cited as the reason volumetric dosing and reagent testing became standard practice among novel psychoactive substance users.
Chemistry[edit]
Structural class
Bromo-DragonFLY belongs to the benzodifuran subclass of phenethylamine psychedelics. Its defining structural feature is that the flexible oxygen substituents of its parent compound DOB are locked into fused aromatic rings — a rigidification that dramatically amplifies serotonin receptor affinity.[7][5][11]
A bromine atom at the 4-position is critical to this extreme potency[12] and makes the compound detectable by mass spectrometry.[13]
Molecular properties
| Molecular formula | C₁₃H₁₂BrNO₂ |
| Molecular weight | 294.14 g/mol |
Pharmacology[edit]
Mechanism of action
Bromo-DragonFLY works primarily by activating serotonin receptors in the brain at extreme potency — roughly 400 times more potent than LSD at the same receptor.[1] The rigid ring structure explains this: locking the flexible molecular groups into fixed aromatic rings produces a roughly 27-fold increase in receptor grip,[7] confirmed by animal studies showing nearly 4-fold greater potency over DOB.[11]
It also inhibits MAO-A — an enzyme that normally breaks down serotonin.[4] This prolongs and amplifies the serotonin signal, and makes Bromo-DragonFLY dangerous to combine with any other serotonin-raising drug far beyond the period of visible psychedelic effects.
Pharmacokinetics
Bromo-DragonFLY is not broken down by the liver — testing in human liver tissue found no metabolism at all.[4] The body has no efficient elimination pathway once the compound is absorbed, which is why the experience lasts for days — unique among phenethylamine psychedelics. No human pharmacokinetic data — half-life, bioavailability — have been published.[14]
Neuroscience[edit]
Where it acts
No brain imaging studies of Bromo-DragonFLY exist in humans. Based on its potent serotonin receptor activation, it is expected to activate the same prefrontal brain circuits that LSD and psilocybin activate[11] — disrupting the brain's normal filtering of sensory input and loosening the mental sense of self and environment.
Why it matters
Unlike most psychedelics, Bromo-DragonFLY also activates opioid and cannabinoid receptors in the brain.[1] This may add experiential features absent in purely serotonergic compounds — possibly analgesic or calming elements — though no study has confirmed this.
Tolerance builds within a single dose as serotonin receptors in the frontal cortex downregulate.[15] Cross-tolerance with other serotonergic psychedelics is expected from the same mechanism.
Does Bromo-DragonFLY's resistance to metabolic breakdown create a fundamentally different pattern of brain change than shorter-acting psychedelics? Does its MAO-A inhibition create a distinct serotonin feedback loop? What do the opioid and cannabinoid receptor contributions add to the experience? These questions are entirely unanswered — the compound's extreme potency and legal status make human neuroscience studies unlikely in the near term.
Subjective Effects[edit]
The experience is defined by a relentless physical weight beneath the psychedelic effects. Cardiovascular pressure and a constricting sensation throughout the extremities never recede — they underlie every visual and cognitive shift for the entire duration. Set and setting shape what emerges above this, but the physical component is always present.
The closest comparison is DOB and other DOx-class psychedelics, which share the extended duration and stimulant-like physical pressure.[4] Compared to LSD, perceptual effects are broadly similar but the body load is substantially heavier, the onset far more delayed, and the commitment measured in days rather than hours.
Effect Grid
At common doses (150–400 µg oral), the full psychedelic experience manifests: pronounced open- and closed-eye visuals including geometric patterning, colour shifting, drifting and morphing of surfaces, and tracers. Time distortion becomes significant — subjective time may feel dramatically expanded. Thought acceleration and increased pattern recognition produce novel associations and conceptual insights. Emotional intensification is marked; music, art, and interpersonal interactions can feel profoundly meaningful.
The sympathomimetic component is prominent: substantial stimulation, tachycardia, hypertension, and peripheral vasoconstriction producing noticeably cold extremities. Jaw tension, appetite suppression, and difficulty urinating are common. Nausea may occur during the come-up phase.
This is a multi-day commitment. Effects typically persist 24–48 hours at this range. Sleep is impossible for at least the first 18–24 hours. Full functional recovery requires 2–3 days.
Modeled from the effect's dose-dependence curve — not per-substance measurements.
Color enhancement · Visual morphing · Environmental patterning · Light sensitivity · Depth perception distortion · Perspective distortion · Tracers · Music enhancement · Symmetrical texture repetition · After-images · Visual haze / noise · Visual melting · Brightness alteration · Spatial disorientation · Sound sensitivity · Peripheral vision distortion · Auditory enhancement · Holotropic state · Sleep-transition hallucinations · Touch enhancement · Peripheral misidentification · Vestibular distortion · Visual diffraction · Auditory distortion · Auditory misinterpretation · Proprioceptive distortion · Visual acuity enhancement · Visual magnification · Synesthesia · Visual processing acceleration · Olfactory enhancement · Visual acuity suppression · Tinnitus · Taste enhancement · Touch suppression · Flashbacks · Object transformations · Visual recursion · Object activation · Perspective hallucinations · Internal hallucinations · External hallucinations · Visual flipping · Environmental orbism / cubism · Auditory hallucinations · Visual scenery slicing · Visual processing suppression · Olfactory hallucination · Gustatory hallucination · Persisting hallucinations · Shadow people
Depth perception distortion · Perspective distortion · Tracers · Music enhancement · Symmetrical texture repetition · After-images · Visual haze / noise · Visual melting · Brightness alteration · Spatial disorientation · Sound sensitivity · Peripheral vision distortion · Auditory enhancement · Holotropic state · Sleep-transition hallucinations · Touch enhancement · Peripheral misidentification · Vestibular distortion · Visual diffraction · Auditory distortion · Auditory misinterpretation · Proprioceptive distortion · Visual acuity enhancement · Visual magnification · Synesthesia · Visual processing acceleration · Olfactory enhancement · Visual acuity suppression · Tinnitus · Taste enhancement · Touch suppression · Flashbacks · Object transformations · Visual recursion · Object activation · Perspective hallucinations · Internal hallucinations · External hallucinations · Visual flipping · Environmental orbism / cubism · Auditory hallucinations · Visual scenery slicing · Visual processing suppression · Olfactory hallucination · Gustatory hallucination · Persisting hallucinations · Shadow people
Wakefulness · Stimulation · Appetite suppression · Spontaneous body sensations · Muscle tension · Dry mouth · Excessive sweating · Restlessness · Body high · Motor control impairment · Heart rate perception changes · Nausea · Dehydration sensation · Headache · Tingling / electric sensations · Vibrations / buzzing · Trembling · Dizziness · Body schema distortion · Bruxism · Bodily heaviness · Bodily pressures · Breathing alteration · Pain enhancement · Involuntary body movements · Diarrhea · Sexual arousal enhancement · Vomiting · Tactile euphoria · Watery eyes · Nystagmus (eye wobbles) · Respiratory stimulation · Abnormal heartbeat · Salivation · Motor control enhancement · Tactile hallucination · Bodily dissociation
Spontaneous body sensations · Muscle tension · Dry mouth · Excessive sweating · Restlessness · Body high · Heart rate perception changes · Nausea · Dehydration sensation · Headache · Tingling / electric sensations · Vibrations / buzzing · Trembling · Dizziness · Body schema distortion · Bruxism · Bodily heaviness · Bodily pressures · Breathing alteration · Pain enhancement · Involuntary body movements · Diarrhea · Sexual arousal enhancement · Vomiting · Tactile euphoria · Watery eyes · Nystagmus (eye wobbles) · Respiratory stimulation · Abnormal heartbeat · Salivation · Motor control enhancement · Tactile hallucination · Bodily dissociation
Novelty enhancement · Thought connectivity · Cognitive impairment · Confusion · Thought loops · Introspection enhancement · Openness enhancement · Thought acceleration · Conceptual thinking · Motivation suppression · Aesthetic enhancement · Cognitive euphoria · Cognitive flexibility · Thought disorganization · Memory fragmentation · Multiple thought streams · Information processing suppression · Analysis enhancement · Creativity enhancement · Memory suppression · Cognitive dysphoria · Increased nature relatedness · Synchronicity · Memory replays · Focus suppression · Thought deceleration · Focus enhancement · Delusions of sobriety · Amnesia · Delusions · Delirium
Confusion · Thought loops · Introspection enhancement · Openness enhancement · Thought acceleration · Conceptual thinking · Motivation suppression · Aesthetic enhancement · Cognitive euphoria · Cognitive flexibility · Thought disorganization · Memory fragmentation · Multiple thought streams · Information processing suppression · Analysis enhancement · Creativity enhancement · Memory suppression · Cognitive dysphoria · Increased nature relatedness · Synchronicity · Memory replays · Focus suppression · Thought deceleration · Focus enhancement · Amnesia · Delusions · Delirium
Euphoria · Simultaneous emotions · Empathy enhancement · Dysphoria · Catharsis · Irritability
Catharsis · Irritability
Communication suppression · Sociability suppression · Social disconnection · Flow state · Boundary dissolution · Identity alteration · Cognitive disconnection · Ego dissolution · Telepathic feelings
Boundary dissolution · Identity alteration · Cognitive disconnection · Ego dissolution · Telepathic feelings
Time cessation
Entity contact · Non-dual awareness · Death-rebirth sequence · Voidness · Near-death experience
Near-death experience
Recursive awareness
Timeline
First alerts may take 1–6 hours to appear — an unusually delayed onset among psychedelics. Initial signs include subtle mood shift, mild stimulation, and faint visual brightening. The extended onset window is the primary cause of dangerous redosing.
Effects build gradually over 1–3 hours once onset is perceived. Increasing visual distortion, sympathomimetic activation (rising heart rate, vasoconstriction), and mounting cognitive alteration. Nausea may occur during this phase.
Peak intensity is sustained for 6–12 hours — substantially longer than most psychedelics. Full visual hallucinations, pronounced time distortion, maximal emotional intensification, and significant cardiovascular activation. The prolonged peak reflects the compound's resistance to hepatic metabolism.
A sustained plateau of moderate intensity follows the peak, lasting an additional 6–12 hours. Effects remain clearly present but gradually diminishing. Stimulation and wakefulness persist.
Gradual return toward baseline over 6–12 hours. Residual visual effects, mild cognitive alteration, and persistent stimulation. Sleep becomes possible toward the end of this phase for most users, though insomnia may continue.
Residual effects including fatigue, mild mood changes, reduced appetite, and subclinical cognitive impairment may persist for 12–48 hours after subjective resolution. Physical recovery from sympathomimetic stress and vasoconstriction continues during this period.
⚠ Do not drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 72 hours after ingestion, or until a full night of restorative sleep has been achieved.
Safety[edit]
- Acute toxicity
- Critical
- Chronic toxicity
- Moderate
- Withdrawal
- None
- Tolerance buildup
- rapid
- Tolerance reset
- 14 days
- Physical
- None
- Psychological
- Negligible
- Compulsive redosing
- Negligible
- Dose escalation
- Negligible
- Cross-tol.
- LSD · psilo · mesc
Toxicity
The toxic dose of Bromo-DragonFLY is unknown. Fatalities have occurred at doses within the reported active range. The absence of a defined therapeutic index makes any dose potentially dangerous.
Acute toxicity
Bromo-DragonFLY has caused multiple confirmed deaths. The only published single-drug fatality documented a blood concentration of 4.7 ng/g in an 18-year-old with no other drugs detected.[13] At least five deaths have been attributed to the compound.[5][16]
Cardiovascular toxicity
The most distinctive danger is extreme, sustained vasoconstriction — blood vessel narrowing severe enough to cut off circulation to the extremities for days. Two separate receptor pathways both constrict blood vessels simultaneously,[5][16] sustained by the compound's resistance to metabolic breakdown.[4]
The 2007 Swedish case shows the trajectory: extremity discoloration began on day 2, liver and kidney failure followed, gangrene was detected at day 9, and fingers and toes were amputated at seven weeks.[6] Computational modeling predicts additional heart rhythm disruption risk beyond vasoconstriction.[17]safety citation needed
Seizure risk
Seizures have been documented in clinical case reports of Bromo-DragonFLY exposure.[9]
Detection
Standard emergency drug screens do not detect Bromo-DragonFLY. Confirmation requires specialized mass spectrometry methods.[13][16][9]
Psychological risks
Case reports describe severe agitation, deep disorientation, visual and auditory hallucinations, inability to stand, and convulsions.[9][6] The multi-day duration extends exposure to this altered state, which may be particularly destabilizing for vulnerable individuals.
The delayed onset — up to 6 hours — creates a specific risk: users who perceive no initial effects may redose, bringing combined doses into a potentially lethal range. Whether lasting perceptual changes occur following exposure has not been studied.
Tolerance & dependence
Tolerance develops rapidly within a single dose, as serotonin receptors downregulate in the frontal cortex.[15] Cross-tolerance with LSD, psilocin, mescaline, and DOB is expected based on shared receptor targets.[15]
Bromo-DragonFLY does not produce physical dependence or reinforcing reward. The multi-day duration and extreme physical burden make compulsive use patterns unlikely.inferred
Drug interactions
The interaction risk is driven by two properties: potent serotonin receptor activation and MAO-A inhibition.[4] Combining this compound with anything that raises serotonin can trigger a life-threatening serotonin overload. This risk extends well past the period of subjective psychedelic effects.
Tramadol represents the most dangerous documented interaction. Tramadol blocks serotonin reuptake; combined with MAO-A inhibition, this creates a direct pathway to serotonin syndrome.[4][18]
SSRIs, SNRIs, and other MAOIs carry the same risk through the same mechanism — additive serotonin accumulation.inferred
Vasoconstrictors (triptans, ergotamines) add directly to blood vessel constriction. Given the documented severity of circulation loss with Bromo-DragonFLY, combining any vasoconstrictive agent could be life-threatening.inferred
Contraindications
All contraindications are inferred from the compound's receptor profile and documented toxicity — no clinical pharmacology studies exist.
Cardiovascular conditions — peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure — are absolute contraindications given documented gangrene and limb loss.[6] Predicted heart rhythm disruption adds risk for those with long QT syndrome.[17]
Psychiatric conditions — personal or family history of psychosis or bipolar disorder — are contraindicated. The multi-day duration amplifies this risk compared to shorter-acting psychedelics.
Concurrent serotonergic medications — SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, triptans, tramadol, St. John's wort — are contraindicated due to MAO-A inhibitory activity and resulting serotonin toxicity risk.[4]
Liver impairment — acute liver failure has occurred in overdose cases,[6] and the compound shows no hepatic metabolism in laboratory testing.[4]
Pregnancy and lactation — no reproductive data exist. Extreme potency, multi-day duration, and vasoconstriction constitute an absolute contraindication.inferred
Epilepsy — seizures have been documented in clinical cases,[9] indicating the compound may lower seizure threshold.
Harm Reduction[edit]
Forms & Identification
Bromo-DragonFLY has appeared as a white powder and as a liquid solution in dropper bottles.[8][9] The critical identification risk is confusion with 2C-B-FLY — the two compounds look identical in powder form and have circulated from the same vendors.
Bromo-DragonFLY is roughly 20 times more potent by weight than 2C-B-FLY. A dose sized for 2C-B-FLY becomes a potentially lethal Bromo-DragonFLY dose. Reagent testing alone cannot definitively distinguish them. Treat any unverified material as Bromo-DragonFLY until proven otherwise. Standard hospital drug screens will not detect this compound.[13]
Guidelines
- Test material with multiple reagent kits and verify source identity before any consideration of use
- Use volumetric dosing from a verified, homogeneous solution — never attempt to weigh sub-milligram quantities by hand
- Start with the lowest reported threshold dose and do NOT redose, regardless of perceived lack of effects — onset may take up to 6 hours[16]
- Monitor extremity color (fingers, toes) throughout the experience — any persistent blue, white, or purple discoloration is a medical emergency
- Maintain hydration and warmth; avoid cold exposure
- Do not use alone under any circumstances
- Do not combine with any serotonergic medication, vasoconstrictor, or stimulant
Set & Setting
The multi-day duration demands preparation unlike any other phenethylamine psychedelic. Clear a minimum of 72 hours from all obligations. The experience cannot be ended once begun — there is no antidote and no way to speed clearance.
A sober, informed sitter present for the full duration is essential. The delayed onset and multi-day timeline make this an endurance commitment, not a single evening's work. Cold environments may worsen circulation problems; physical warmth matters more than usual.
Aftercare & integration. The multi-day duration means recovery extends well beyond when effects become imperceptible. Sleep deprivation accumulates over 2–4 days and requires deliberate recovery — prioritize sleep for several days afterward, even if the experience felt manageable.
Physical aftercare is as important as psychological processing. Monitor circulation in the extremities for several days after effects resolve. Eat regularly — appetite is suppressed during the experience. Gentle movement and warmth support vascular recovery.
Psychological integration follows the same principles as other psychedelic experiences: journal while memories are fresh, discuss with a trusted person, and allow several weeks before drawing conclusions. Distressing symptoms persisting beyond one week warrant consultation with a mental health professional familiar with psychedelic experiences.
Recovery & Support
Compulsive use patterns are unlikely given the multi-day duration and extreme physical burden. If use has become a pattern despite negative consequences, or if a single experience has produced lasting psychological distress, professional support is appropriate.
Psychedelic integration therapists, harm reduction organizations (DanceSafe, The Loop, TripSit), and peer support communities can provide non-judgmental assistance. For lasting perceptual disturbances following use, seek evaluation from a clinician familiar with HPPD.
Recovery resources, crisis lines, and support pathways → View all
Emergency Response
Recognizing an emergency:
- Fingers or toes turning blue, white, or purple and not returning to normal color with warming
- Severe chest pain or irregular heartbeat
- Seizure activity
- Loss of consciousness
- Extreme agitation with inability to recognize people or surroundings
- Body temperature that feels dangerously high to the touch
Immediate steps:
- Call emergency services immediately — do not wait to see if symptoms improve
- Tell the person they are safe and help is coming
- If unconscious but breathing, place in recovery position
- Keep extremities warm — blankets, warm (not hot) water on hands and feet
- Do NOT restrain unless there is immediate danger of self-harm
- Do NOT induce vomiting
What to tell the dispatcher: Name the substance (Bromo-DragonFLY), approximate amount if known, time of ingestion, and current symptoms. Emphasize the vasoconstriction risk. Good Samaritan laws in many jurisdictions protect people who call for help during drug emergencies.
No reversal agent exists. Treatment is entirely supportive. Hospital interventions for vasoconstriction have included nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers, and prostacyclin analogs.[6]
Legal Status[edit]
Bromo-DragonFLY is explicitly controlled in most Scandinavian countries, Australia, and Canada, but remains federally unscheduled in the United States.[10] Multiple fatalities between 2007 and 2009 drove a wave of scheduling actions.
| Jurisdiction | Classification | Key provisions |
|---|---|---|
| United States (federal) | Not explicitly scheduled | Possible prosecution under Federal Analogue Act as DOB/2C-B analog if intended for human consumption. Schedule I in Oklahoma only[10] |
| Canada | Schedule III (CDSA) | Controlled under 2C-phenethylamines catch-all clause since October 12, 2016[10] |
| United Kingdom | Covered by Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 | Not explicitly named in Misuse of Drugs Act; debated whether phenethylamine catch-all applies to benzodifuran structure[3] |
| Sweden | Health hazard classification | Classified July 15, 2007 — among the first jurisdictions to act[10] |
| Denmark | Banned (non-research use) | Banned December 5, 2007 — first explicit prohibition, prompted by September 2007 fatality[10] |
| Norway | Narcotics list | Controlled via Derivatbestemmelsen analog law[10] |
| Finland | Controlled | Listed before October 2012[10] |
| Australia | Schedule 9 (Prohibited) | National prohibition February 2009; Queensland Schedule 2 since September 9, 2011[10] |
| Romania | Controlled | Since February 10, 2010[10] |
The US federal scheduling status is disputed in secondary sources. The Tennessee Poison Center describes Bromo-DragonFLY as a "Schedule I controlled substance in the United States",[16] while DEA seizure documentation and the Erowid legal vault indicate it is not explicitly federally scheduled.[8][10] This contradiction requires editorial verification.
Legal status varies by jurisdiction and changes frequently. This article is not legal advice. Verify current status before travel or purchase.
references
- [1] ^abcÅstrand A, Guerrieri D, Vikingsson S, Kronstrand R, Green H (2020) In Vitro Characterization of New Psychoactive Substances at μ-Opioid, CB1, 5HT1A, and 5-HT2A Receptors — Forensic Science International doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110553
- [2] ^abParker MA, Marona-Lewicka D, Lucaites VL, Nelson DL, Nichols DE (1998) A novel (benzodifuranyl)aminoalkane with extremely potent activity at the 5-HT2A receptor — Journal of Medicinal Chemistry PMID:9857084
- [3]
- [4]
- [5]
- [6]