DOM
2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine
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DOM (2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine) — also known as STP — is a synthetic psychedelic of the phenethylamine class. It is the founding member of the DOx amphetamine series, defined by exceptional duration.[1] It activates serotonin receptors in the brain, producing the visual and cognitive shifts of classical psychedelics.[2][3]
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LSD, psilocybin, mescaline +3 moreLSD, psilocybin, mescaline, DOI, DOB, DPT show less
Alexander Shulgin synthesized DOM at Dow Chemical in 1963–1964.[4] In 1967, thousands of high-dose tablets were distributed at San Francisco's Summer of Love, overwhelming emergency services and hastening federal scheduling.[4] It is now Schedule I internationally and has largely disappeared from illicit markets, surviving mainly as a reference compound in laboratory research.[1]
Subjective effects include color intensification, geometric visual patterns, time alteration, emotional enhancement, and introspective thinking.[5] The experience is more body-present and somatically energizing than tryptamine psychedelics — a slow-building, stable plateau with physical aliveness underlying the visuals.[6] Anxiety during the prolonged onset, physical tension, and difficulty sleeping through the extended tail are common unsought effects.
DOM does not produce physical dependence, and no lethal dose has been established in any species.[6]safety citation needed The primary danger is psychological: the exceptionally long duration creates extended exposure to altered states, and the slow onset has historically triggered dangerous redosing.[4] Only one controlled human study exists, and basic pharmacokinetic data remain entirely uncharacterized.[7][4]
History[edit]
Discovery
Shulgin synthesized DOM at Dow Chemical in 1963–1964.[4] The only controlled human study — published in Science in 1967 — established DOM as approximately 100 times more potent than mescaline by weight and one-thirtieth the potency of LSD.[7]
The 1967 Crisis
On the 1967 summer solstice, around 5,000 high-dose tablets were distributed in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.[5] The slow onset led users to redose, compounding effects dramatically. The Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic treated dozens; physicians found that chlorpromazine — then standard for LSD crises — worsened DOM reactions, reshaping emergency protocols.[4]
Scheduling and Modern Legacy
DOM was placed in Schedule I in 1970 and listed under the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances in 1971, after which it largely vanished from illicit circulation.[4] Today it persists mainly as a reference compound in laboratory pharmacology.[3][1]
The street name "STP" — glossed as "Serenity, Tranquility, Peace" — was applied during DOM's brief period of illicit circulation in 1967. Shulgin documented it as entry #68 in PiHKAL (1991).[5] The most comprehensive historical account was published by Trout and Daley in 2024, correcting widespread inaccuracies in the popular record.[4]
Chemistry[edit]
Structural Class
DOM belongs to the DOx series — a family of substituted amphetamines defined by methoxy groups at the 2 and 5 positions of the aromatic ring.[2] That 2,5-dimethoxy pattern is essential for psychedelic activity.[8] Its molecular formula is C₁₂H₁₉NO₂ (molecular weight 209.28 g/mol).
The amphetamine backbone gives DOM greater metabolic stability than its shorter-acting phenethylamine relative 2C-D, contributing to its exceptionally long duration.
Pharmacology[edit]
Mechanism of Action
DOM activates serotonin receptors on cortical neurons, and this activation drives the psychedelic experience.[6] Drugs that specifically block these receptors eliminate DOM's effects in animal models.[3] Dopamine blockers have no such effect[9] — the experience is serotonin-dependent.
SSRIs amplify DOM rather than blunting it.[10] Elevated serotonin from reuptake inhibitor enhances the experience — the opposite of what users familiar with tryptamine psychedelics might expect.
DOM is not a monoamine releasing agent despite its amphetamine structure. It has no meaningful affinity for the SERT,[10] does not behave like amphetamine or methylphenidate in discrimination studies,[9] and its cardiovascular effects are driven by serotonin receptor activation — not catecholamine release.[11] Its mechanism is direct receptor activation, not release.
Pharmacokinetics
Basic pharmacokinetic data for DOM in humans do not exist — the compound was scheduled before these parameters could be measured.[4] Onset is slow and the total duration is long; that slow build was the critical factor in the 1967 overdose crisis.[5][7] Metabolism proceeds in the liver with stereoselective processing; one enantiomer may slow its own breakdown through enzyme inhibition, which could contribute to the extended duration.[12]
Neuroscience[edit]
Where It Acts
DOM activates serotonin receptors on neurons deep in the prefrontal cortex — the same cellular trigger that initiates psychedelic states with LSD and psilocybin.[6] No human brain imaging studies of DOM have been conducted. In animals, these receptors become less numerous in specific brain regions with repeated use, suggesting tolerance may not develop uniformly.[13]
Why It Matters
Under one leading framework for how psychedelics work, DOM's potent serotonin activation loosens the brain's grip on fixed patterns of thinking, enabling freer information flow.[6] Psychedelics as a class promote structural changes in neurons — new growth and connections — but whether DOM specifically drives this has not been tested.[6] Receptors begin desensitizing within 2 hours in laboratory conditions,[14] which may limit the neuroplastic window even during the extended experience.
- Does DOM promote neuronal growth comparable to that documented for LSD and psilocybin?
- What explains the large dose-dependent variation in duration? Enzyme inhibition by the more active enantiomer[12] is one candidate, but this has not been confirmed.
- Would human brain imaging during DOM reveal the same network patterns seen with other serotonergic psychedelics, or does the phenethylamine scaffold produce a distinct signature?
Subjective Effects[edit]
DOM builds slowly and stays. The plateau is unusually stable — less wave-like than LSD, more sustained than psilocybin.[5] The physical dimension is pronounced: a body-present aliveness runs beneath the visual and cognitive layers.[6]
Among classical psychedelics, DOM sits between mescaline and LSD in potency.[7] Its character is distinctly phenethylamine — grounded, body-forward, with a long and deliberate arc rather than the cyclical intensity of tryptamine psychedelics.[6]
Effect Grid
At common oral doses (3–5 mg), the full psychedelic experience manifests: pronounced visual enhancement with colour intensification, geometric patterning overlaying surfaces, and drifting or morphing of objects. Closed-eye imagery becomes vivid and may synchronise with music. Time distortion is significant. Thought connectivity increases dramatically, producing introspective insights and novel conceptual associations. Emotional responses intensify — music, nature, and interpersonal interactions carry heightened meaning.
Physically, mydriasis, tachycardia, dry mouth, jaw tension, and body tremors may appear. Thirst increases while urination diminishes. The experience demands commitment: effects build slowly over 1–2 hours and persist for 14–20 hours at this dose range. Sleep is impossible for the duration. Functional impairment is substantial.
Modeled from the effect's dose-dependence curve — not per-substance measurements.
Tracers · Brightness alteration · Music enhancement · Environmental patterning · Visual breathing · Visual morphing · Depth perception distortion · Perspective distortion · After-images · Visual diffraction · Auditory enhancement · Light sensitivity · Visual melting · Visual acuity enhancement · Holotropic state · Auditory distortion · Touch enhancement · Peripheral vision distortion · Sound sensitivity · Spatial disorientation · Vestibular distortion · Auditory misinterpretation · Proprioceptive distortion · Visual haze / noise · Visual processing acceleration · Synesthesia · Flashbacks · Object transformations · Environmental orbism / cubism · External hallucinations · Object activation · Visual recursion · Internal hallucinations · Visual scenery slicing · Auditory hallucinations · Perspective hallucinations · Persisting hallucinations
Visual breathing · Visual morphing · Depth perception distortion · Perspective distortion · After-images · Visual diffraction · Auditory enhancement · Light sensitivity · Visual melting · Visual acuity enhancement · Holotropic state · Auditory distortion · Touch enhancement · Peripheral vision distortion · Sound sensitivity · Spatial disorientation · Vestibular distortion · Auditory misinterpretation · Proprioceptive distortion · Visual haze / noise · Visual processing acceleration · Synesthesia · Flashbacks · Object transformations · Environmental orbism / cubism · External hallucinations · Object activation · Visual recursion · Internal hallucinations · Visual scenery slicing · Auditory hallucinations · Perspective hallucinations · Persisting hallucinations
Stimulation · Insomnia · Body high · Dry mouth · Spontaneous body sensations · Excessive sweating · Muscle tension · Nausea · Dehydration sensation · Heart rate perception changes · Physical fatigue · Restlessness · Motor control impairment · Tingling / electric sensations · Vibrations / buzzing · Bruxism · Bodily pressures · Body schema distortion · Dizziness · Headache · Laughter fits · Tactile euphoria · Diarrhea · Involuntary body movements · Bodily lightness · Breathing alteration · Nystagmus (eye wobbles) · Sexual arousal enhancement · Trembling · Abnormal heartbeat · Vomiting · Motor control enhancement · Salivation · Tactile hallucination
Dry mouth · Spontaneous body sensations · Excessive sweating · Muscle tension · Nausea · Dehydration sensation · Heart rate perception changes · Physical fatigue · Restlessness · Tingling / electric sensations · Vibrations / buzzing · Bruxism · Bodily pressures · Body schema distortion · Dizziness · Headache · Laughter fits · Tactile euphoria · Diarrhea · Involuntary body movements · Bodily lightness · Breathing alteration · Nystagmus (eye wobbles) · Sexual arousal enhancement · Trembling · Abnormal heartbeat · Vomiting · Motor control enhancement · Salivation · Tactile hallucination
Novelty enhancement · Aesthetic enhancement · Openness enhancement · Immersion enhancement · Thought acceleration · Cognitive flexibility · Introspection enhancement · Multiple thought streams · Creativity enhancement · Memory suppression · Cognitive euphoria · Cognitive fatigue · Increased nature relatedness · Analysis enhancement · Cognitive impairment · Humor enhancement · Memory fragmentation · Motivation enhancement · Synchronicity · Thought loops · Focus enhancement · Information processing enhancement · Confusion · Focus suppression · Information processing suppression · Memory replays · Thought disorganization · Cognitive dysphoria
Thought acceleration · Cognitive flexibility · Introspection enhancement · Multiple thought streams · Creativity enhancement · Memory suppression · Cognitive euphoria · Cognitive fatigue · Increased nature relatedness · Analysis enhancement · Cognitive impairment · Humor enhancement · Memory fragmentation · Motivation enhancement · Synchronicity · Thought loops · Focus enhancement · Information processing enhancement · Confusion · Focus suppression · Information processing suppression · Memory replays · Thought disorganization · Cognitive dysphoria
Empathy enhancement · Anxiety · Catharsis · Irritability · Anhedonia · Dysphoria
Anhedonia · Dysphoria
Social connection · Sociability enhancement · Depersonalization · Trust enhancement · Flow state · Ego inflation · Social disconnection · Boundary dissolution · Identity alteration · Ego dissolution
Flow state · Ego inflation · Social disconnection · Boundary dissolution · Identity alteration · Ego dissolution
Non-dual awareness · Transpersonal visions · Death-rebirth sequence
Recursive awareness
Timeline
First alerts emerge subtly — mild perceptual brightening, a faint body awareness, slight mood shift. Effects are easily overlooked at this stage, which historically led to dangerous redosing.
Perceptual changes gradually intensify: colours deepen, surfaces begin to shimmer, and body stimulation builds. Emotional tone shifts become more apparent. The come-up is notably gradual compared to tryptamine psychedelics.
Full psychedelic immersion: vivid colour enhancement, geometric patterning, closed-eye imagery, time dilation, emotional amplification, and introspective depth. Physical effects (mydriasis, tachycardia, jaw tension) are maximal. The peak is sustained and broad — a defining feature of DOM.
Intensity gradually diminishes but perceptual and cognitive effects remain clearly present. Waves of renewed intensity may occur. Emotional processing continues.
Effects progressively fade toward baseline. Perceptual distortions become intermittent. Cognitive clarity returns incrementally.
Residual mood elevation, reflective thought patterns, and mild perceptual sensitivity may persist for 4–16 hours after the primary experience resolves. Sleep quality may be affected for the following night.
⚠ Do not drive or operate machinery until after a full night's sleep following the resolution of all perceptual effects — DOM's extended duration means residual impairment can persist well into the next day.
Safety[edit]
- Acute toxicity
- Low
- 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
Acute Toxicity
No lethal dose has been established for DOM in any species, and no fatal overdoses appear in the published literature.safety citation needed The 1967 mass exposure — in which many users ingested far above the common dose — produced no reported fatalities.[4] High doses produced severe anxiety, panic, confusion, delusional and violent behavior, amnesia, and seizures.
Heart and Circulation
DOM raises blood pressure and heart rate through serotonin receptor activation in the brain.[11] Tolerance to these cardiovascular effects develops rapidly with repeated dosing. Long-term activation of related serotonin receptors by DOx compounds raises a theoretical risk of heart valve damage, though no DOM-specific data exist.citation needed
Neurotoxicity
No neurotoxicity data exist for DOM. Despite its amphetamine structure, DOM does not release dopamine or serotonin[10][9] — the mechanism responsible for the brain damage associated with MDMA and MDA.
Psychological Risks
The psychological risks of DOM mirror those of serotonergic psychedelics but are amplified by duration. The 14–20 hour experience window[5] creates prolonged exposure to altered perception, increasing cumulative risk of panic, acute distress, and transient psychotic symptoms.
The 1967 crisis showed that high-dose DOM can produce frank psychosis, delusional behavior, amnesia, and violent agitation.[4] No published data exist on DOM-specific risk of lasting perceptual or psychotic disorders. Class-level evidence suggests these risks are rare but real, particularly in those with personal or family histories of psychosis.[6]
Tolerance and Dependence
Tolerance builds with exceptional speed. Near-complete receptor desensitization occurs within 2 hours of exposure,[14] with recovery taking 5–12.5 hours depending on length of exposure.[14] Volunteers receiving doses daily showed diminished response by the third day.[5]
Cross-tolerance extends to LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline through shared serotonin downregulation.[15][16][6] DOM does not produce physical dependence. It does not function as a reinforcer in self-administration studies,[17] and serotonergic psychedelics as a class do not lead to addiction.[6]
Drug Interactions
SSRIs/SNRIs
SSRIs potentiate DOM rather than blunting it. Citalopram amplifies DOM's effects through a serotonin-dependent mechanism[10] — the opposite of what users familiar with tryptamine psychedelics may expect.
Phenothiazine Antipsychotics
Chlorpromazine and other phenothiazine antipsychotics are clinically contraindicated for DOM adverse reactions. During the 1967 crisis, chlorpromazine worsened rather than improved the clinical picture.[4] Benzodiazepines are the preferred pharmacological intervention for DOM-related agitation.
Tramadol
Combining DOM with tramadol carries a risk of dangerous serotonin overload. Tramadol inhibits serotonin reuptake while DOM directly activates serotonin receptors — the two effects add together.safety citation needed
5-HT₁A Agonists
Buspirone and similar compounds reduce DOM's effects in some animal models but not others.[18] No human data exist on this interaction.
Lithium
No DOM-specific data exist. Combining lithium with serotonergic psychedelics carries a class-level concern for seizure risk.safety citation needed
MAOIs
No published interaction data exist for DOM and MAOIs. MAOIs raise serotonin levels throughout the brain; combining them with DOM's direct serotonin activation carries theoretical risk of dangerous serotonin overload.
Contraindications
Phenothiazine Antipsychotic Use
Chlorpromazine and related phenothiazines are absolutely contraindicated as interventions for DOM adverse reactions, based on documented harm from the 1967 mass exposure.[4]
Psychotic Spectrum Disorders
Personal or family history of psychotic disorders is a strong contraindication. Serotonin receptor activation can trigger or worsen psychotic episodes.[6]
Cardiovascular Conditions
DOM produces centrally mediated increases in heart rate and blood pressure.[11] Those with uncontrolled blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, or structural heart conditions face elevated risk.
Serotonergic Co-medication
Concurrent use of SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, or tramadol elevates the risk of dangerous serotonin overload when combined with DOM's direct serotonin receptor activation.
Harm Reduction[edit]
Forms & Identification
DOM most commonly appears as tablets or capsules, though powder and blotter forms have been reported. DOM is active in the low milligram range — the difference between a common dose and a dangerous one is small. Powder forms require a milligram-precision scale; never estimate.
The slow onset is a safety-critical characteristic. Users unfamiliar with DOM's 1–2 hour build have historically redosed, assuming the first amount was inactive, with dangerous cumulative results.[4]
Guidelines
- Verify substance identity with reagent testing before use
- Use a milligram-precision scale for powder forms — never estimate doses in the single-milligram range
- Start at the low end of the common dose range on a first experience
- Do not redose. The onset takes up to 2 hours — wait at least 3 hours before concluding the dose was insufficient
- Clear the full day and following morning — plan for up to 20 hours of effects plus recovery time
- Eat a light meal 2–3 hours before; have water and light snacks available throughout
- Keep a benzodiazepine accessible in case of severe anxiety (the preferred intervention over antipsychotics)
- Ensure at least one sober person is present who understands the timeline
- Avoid combining with SSRIs, which potentiate rather than blunt DOM's effects[10]
Set & Setting
DOM demands more environmental planning than most psychedelics. The duration at common doses spans an entire waking day and potentially into the night.[5] Choose a setting that will remain safe and comfortable for at least 20 hours.
A trusted, sober sitter is strongly recommended for first experiences. The sitter should understand the timeline: effects build slowly over 1–2 hours, plateau for many hours, and resolve gradually. Mid-experience location changes are difficult — commit to the setting at the start.
Aftercare & integration. The extended duration means the experience may still be processing well after effects have faded. Allow at least one full rest day afterward — fatigue, residual mood shifts, and mild perceptual afterglow are normal in the 24–48 hours following a session.
Journaling or structured reflection within a few days helps consolidate insights before they fade. If the experience was difficult or raised persistent psychological distress, seek support from a therapist familiar with psychedelic experiences.
Recovery & Support
DOM does not produce physical dependence, and compulsive use patterns are rare among serotonergic psychedelics.[6] However, repeated use of any psychedelic can become psychologically habitual, and difficult experiences may leave lasting distress.
If use has become a concern, peer support communities and psychedelic integration services can provide non-judgmental guidance. For persistent psychological difficulties following DOM use — including ongoing anxiety, depersonalisation, or perceptual disturbances — professional mental health support is recommended.
Recovery resources, crisis lines, and support pathways → View all
Emergency Response
Recognising an emergency: Uncomfortable anxiety during a long psychedelic experience is common and usually manageable. Seek immediate help if any of the following occur: violent or self-harming behaviour, complete loss of contact with reality, seizures, chest pain, or loss of consciousness.
Immediate steps:
- 1. Stay with the person. Speak calmly and simply.
- 2. Move them to a quiet, low-stimulation environment if safely possible.
- 3. Do not administer chlorpromazine or other phenothiazine antipsychotics — these have been documented to worsen DOM reactions.[4]
- 4. A benzodiazepine (diazepam, lorazepam) may be given for severe agitation if available.
- 5. If symptoms include seizures, chest pain, or loss of consciousness, call emergency services immediately.
- 6. Place an unconscious person in the recovery position.
What to tell the dispatcher: Name the substance (DOM / STP), the estimated dose and time of ingestion, and current symptoms. Good Samaritan laws in many jurisdictions protect callers from drug-related prosecution.
Legal Status[edit]
DOM is among the most broadly controlled psychedelic substances internationally, scheduled across all major jurisdictions following the 1967 distribution crisis in San Francisco.
| Jurisdiction | Classification | Key provisions |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Schedule I (Controlled Substances Act, 1970) | No accepted medical use; high abuse potential classification. Federally controlled since 1970. |
| United Nations | Schedule I (Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971) | International control obligating domestic scheduling by signatory nations. |
| United Kingdom | Class A (Misuse of Drugs Act 1971), Schedule 1 | Maximum penalty for supply: life imprisonment. Research licence required for possession. |
| Canada | Schedule I (Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) | Prohibited substance; no medical exemptions currently issued. |
| Australia | Schedule 9 (Poisons Standard) | Prohibited substance — available only for approved research. |
| Germany | Controlled (BtMG)citation needed | Specific scheduling classification not confirmed in primary legal sources accessed. |
Legal status varies by jurisdiction and changes over time. This information is not legal advice. Verify current local laws before acting on this information.
references
- [1] ^abcGlennon RA, Dukat M (2024) 1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI): From an Obscure to Pivotal Member of the DOX Family of Serotonergic Psychedelic Agents - A Review. — ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science doi:10.1021/acsptsci.4c00157
- [2] ^abLuethi D et al. (2026) The 4-alkyl chain length of 2,5-dimethoxyamphetamines differentially affects in vitro serotonin receptor actions versus in vivo psychedelic-like effects — Molecular Psychiatry doi:10.1038/s41380-025-03325-1
- [3] ^abcLi JX, Rice KC, France CP (2009) Discriminative stimulus effects of 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane in rhesus monkeys: antagonism and apparent pA2 analyses. — Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics doi:10.1124/jpet.108.145458
- [4]
- [5]
- [6]