PMA Facts
Stimulant;
Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies
Oral(mg)
Threshold< 10 mgLight20 – 40 mgCommon40 – 60 mgStrong60 – 80 mgHeavy80+ mg
Starts in 60 – 120 minLasts 6 – 8 hoursAfter-effects 4 – 12 hours
Body and dependence
- Acute toxicity
- Critical
- Chronic toxicity
- Moderate
- Physical dependence
- None
- Psychological dependence
- Low
- Withdrawal
- None recorded
- Compulsive redosing
- Moderate
Tolerance
- Builds
- Moderate
- Fully resets after
- Not recorded
- Carries over to
- MDMA;
PMMA; MDA; 4-MTA
Effectslikely at a common dose
- Perception
- none likely · 5 possible
- Body
- Stimulation;
Appetite suppression; Temperature dysregulation; Excessive sweating; Pupil dilation; Wakefulness; +25 possible, including Abnormal heartbeat, Dehydration sensation, Vasoconstriction - Thinking
- none likely · 15 possible, including Compulsive redosing urge, Cognitive impairment, Confusion
- Feeling
- none likely · 10 possible, including Anxiety, Dysphoria, Paranoia
- Self
- none likely · 7 possible, including Craving
- Time
- none likely · 2 possible, including Temporal disorientation
Who shouldn't take it
Absolute
Hypertension; Cardiac arrhythmias; Epilepsy; Pregnancy; MAO inhibitor therapy
Relative
Asthma; Hepatic impairment; Renal impairment
Combinations60 recorded
Lethal (6)
MAOIs; MDMA, Amphetamines; MDMA, MDA; Psychedelics; SNRIs; Stimulants
Dangerous (32)
5-HTP, Tryptophan; Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist; Anticholinergics; Atypical antipsychotics; Caffeine; Dopamine agonists; Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine; Local anesthetics; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); NRIs; Opioids; Antihistamines; Antipsychotics; Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates; Buspirone; Cannabis; Clonidine, Guanfacine; DXM; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ibogaine; Ketamine, DXM, PCP; L-Tyrosine; Lithium; and 8 more, see full page
Caution (19)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/pma
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
- Move them somewhere cool and help them cool down — overheating is the main danger
- 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)
- Get them to rest and stop dancing
- For overheating, seizures, chest pain, muscle rigidity/tremor, confusion, or unresponsiveness, call emergency services
- Recovery position if drowsy or vomiting; stay with them
- 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
psychedex.org/substances/pma · Version r1 · Not medical adviceValues as of