Harmaline Facts
Psychedelic;
Description
Harmaline is a naturally-occurring psychoactive alkaloid of the β-carboline class. It blocks the breakdown of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain, producing sedation and emotional enhancement.[1]
Subjective effects include sedation, nausea, emotional intensification, bodily heaviness, and motor impairment.[2] The experience is defined by somatic weight and introspective gravity — less euphoric and more physically demanding than classical psychedelics.
Harmaline does not produce physical dependence, and no lethal dose has been established for the pure compound. The primary danger is combining it with antidepressants or other serotonin-raising drugs, which can trigger serotonin syndrome — a life-threatening overheating and seizure response.[3]
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Starts in 30 – 60 minLasts 4 – 5 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Low
- Chronic toxicity
- Low
- Physical dependence
- None
- Psychological dependence
- Negligible
- Withdrawal
- None recorded
- Compulsive redosing
- Negligible
Tolerance
- Builds
- Moderate
- Fully resets after
- Not recorded
- Carries over to
- harmine;
tetrahydroharmine; moclobemide
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- Sleep-transition hallucinations;
+15 possible, including Spatial disorientation, Vestibular distortion, Visual haze / noise - Body
- Trembling;
+26 possible, including Nausea, Dizziness, Motor control impairment - Thinking
- none likely · 18 possible, including Cognitive impairment, Confusion, Information processing suppression
- Feeling
- none likely · 8 possible, including Anxiety, Emotional lability, Dysphoria
- Self
- none likely · 6 possible, including Derealization, Communication suppression, Depersonalization
- Time
- none likely · 2 possible, including Temporal disorientation
- Awareness
- Lucid dreaming enhancement;
+1 possible
Who shouldn't take it
Combinations60 recorded
Seek help immediately if
Most difficulty is psychological (intense fear, panic, confusion) and passes with calm support — the signs below mean seek emergency help:
- Very high body temperature; hot, dry skin
- Seizures
- Chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat
- Severe muscle rigidity, tremor, or twitching (possible serotonin syndrome)
- Cold, pale, or blue fingers/toes — severe vasoconstriction (notably NBOMe / DOx)
- Persistent vomiting; unconsciousness; uncontrollable agitation or risk of self-harm
What to do
- Stay calm and reassure — remind them they took a drug and the effect will pass
- Move to a calm, quiet, safe space with low light; reduce noise and sensory input
- Keep them from harm — they may act on fear or confusion; stay with them, don't leave them alone
- Talk them down gently; don't grab or restrain unless they're in danger
- For the medical signs above (overheating, seizure, chest pain, vasoconstriction, unresponsive) call emergency services
- If overheating, cool the body; be ready to give rescue breaths / CPR
The experience is time-limited and usually resolves with calm reassurance in a safe setting — psychological first aid, not medication. Serious physical harm is uncommon for classic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin) but real for some potent phenethylamines (NBOMe, DOx), where hyperthermia, seizures, and vasoconstriction warrant emergency care.
988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE
References
- [1]^Herraiz T, Brandt SD (2014) 5-(2-Aminopropyl)indole (5-IT): a psychoactive substance used for recreational purposes is an inhibitor of human monoamine oxidase (MAO) — Drug Testing and Analysis doi:10.1002/dta.1530
- [2]^Riba J, Valle M, Urbano G, Yritia M, Morte A, Barbanoj MJ (2003) Human pharmacology of ayahuasca: subjective and cardiovascular effects, monoamine metabolite excretion, and pharmacokinetics — Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics PMID:12660312
- [3]^Yu AM (2008) Indolealkylamines: biotransformations and potential drug-drug interactions — The AAPS Journal doi:10.1208/s12248-008-9028-5