Harmine Facts
Psychedelic;
Description
Harmine (7-methoxy-1-methyl-β-carboline) is a naturally-occurring alkaloid of the β-carboline class. It blocks the enzyme that destroys serotonin and dietary tryptamines in the gut and liver.[1]
Subjective effects include mood elevation, enhanced introspection, and vivid visual imagery — though these are documented primarily in combination with DMT.[2] Harmine's standalone character is largely unknown — in most contexts it enables the experience rather than drives it.
No abuse liability has been established, and no controlled human dose data for harmine alone exist. The dominant risk is serotonin syndrome: combining harmine with antidepressants forces two serotonin-raising mechanisms at once, causing dangerous overheating, muscle rigidity, and seizure.[3]
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Starts in 30 – 60 minLasts 4 – 6 hoursAfter-effects 4 – 24 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Low
- Chronic toxicity
- Low
- Physical dependence
- None
- Psychological dependence
- Negligible
- Withdrawal
- None recorded
- Compulsive redosing
- Negligible
Tolerance
- Builds
- None
- Fully resets after
- Not recorded
- Carries over to
- moclobemide
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- none likely · 1 possible
- Body
- none likely · 8 possible, including Nausea, Dizziness, Trembling
- Thinking
- none likely · 1 possible
- Feeling
- none likely · 2 possible
- Awareness
- none likely · 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]^Kim H, Sablin SO, Ramsay RR (1997) Inhibition of monoamine oxidase A by beta-carboline derivatives — Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics PMID:8990278
- [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]^Finberg JPM, Rabey JM (2016) Inhibitors of MAO-A and MAO-B in Psychiatry and Neurology — Frontiers in Pharmacology doi:10.3389/fphar.2016.00340