THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO 4-ACO-DMT

(4-Acetoxy-DMT, 4-AcO, Psilacetin, O-Acetylpsilocin, Synthetic shrooms)

OVERVIEW

4-AcO-DMT (or psilacetin) is a semi-synthetic tryptamine closely related to the psychedelic mushroom molecules psilocin and psilocybin. In fact, 4-AcO-DMT is widely known as “synthetic mushrooms.” Like psilocybin, it appears that the body metabolizes 4-AcO-DMT into psilocin.

Most people buy psilacetin as a brown or off-white powder that can be mixed with water just prior to dosing. But it’s also available in pills, tablets, capsules, and gel tabs among other preparations.

True to its nickname, “synthetic mushrooms”, a 4-AcO-DMT experience is similar to a psilocybin trip. Its effects are dose-dependent, but mystical-type experiences are common, as are philosophical insights and a sense of empathic well-being.

EXPERIENCE

Many factors contribute to the 4-AcO-DMT experience, including dose, mindset, setting, and method of consumption. With that in mind, each individual journey will be unique to the person, time, and place, and there’s no way to predict exactly what will happen. But, 4-AcO-DMT does induce some common experiences and effects that can help you prepare for your journey.

What to expect

The 4-AcO-DMT experience is often compared to that of psilocybin, but with a more mellow, euphoric sensibility. At high doses, 4-AcO-DMT is known for its vivid visionary effects, but moderate doses produce a visual experience similar to psilocybin, with objects appearing to breathe and wave. Many people who have taken 4-AcO-DMT say that while it can be more intense than mushrooms, it’s also more predictable.

A 4-AcO-DMT experience can last anywhere between two and eight hours, depending on how much you take and how it’s ingested. When taken orally, the effects of 4-AcO-DMT are usually felt within the first 45 minutes, with the peak lasting two to three hours and the comedown at least an hour. When insufflated the timeline of the entire experience is faster. During the peak, you can expect to experience feelings of euphoria, laughter, enhanced creativity and “flow,” introspective insights, an interest in usually mundane tasks, feelings of wonder and more. It’s also common to experience sensitivity to light, synesthesia, auditory hallucinations, increased or decreased emotional sensitivity, and time distortion, as well as less desirable effects such as over-stimulation,sweating/chills/flushing, aches, dizziness, anxiety and paranoia.

More extreme experiences can include an “additional layer” to reality, sometimes manifesting as an “energy field” around objects. Changes in perception of gravity or bodily sensations are also commonly reported. In addition to visual patterns, some people also experience “external” hallucinations, such as seemingly autonomous entities or spirits. At high doses, “ego-death” can occur, and many self-experimenters temporarily forget their own names. Like with many psychedelics, mystical-type experiences are also common, which could be beneficial to mental health.

Immediate after-effects of a 4-AcO-DMT experience—such as an afterglow—may last up to 48 hours.

EFFECTS

Pharmacology

Like psilocybin (4-PO-DMT), 4-AcO-DMT is an ester of psilocin (4-HO-DMT). The difference between the two is that psilocybin is the O-phosphorylated form, which naturally occurs in mushrooms; 4-AcO-DMT, on the other hand, is the O-acetylated form, hence the name O-Acetylpsilocin. In other words, 4-AcO-DMT has the same basic structure as both psilocin and psilocybin, but with an acetoxy group bonded to its indole ring.

Receptor binding

Very little data exist on the receptor binding and metabolism of 4-AcO-DMT. Like psilocybin, it’s thought to be a prodrug of psilocin—in this case, deacetylated to psilocin during first-pass metabolism by the stomach and liver. With this in mind, we can assume that 4-AcO-DMT activates the 5-HT2A serotonin receptors, which is a similar mechanism of action as psilocybin and many other psychedelics.

However, some people have come to believe that 4-AcO-DMT may be more than just a prodrug of psilocin. There are many anecdotal reports of people injecting or smoking 4-AcO-DMT and experiencing nearly immediate psychoactivity (i.e. when bypassing first-pass metabolism). This suggests it may have its own pharmacodynamic profile and could account for some of the differences between the psilocybin and 4-AcO-DMT experiences. That said, it’s worth noting that naturally occurring psilocybin tends to be accompanied by other alkaloids that have their own effects, such as baeocystin and norbaeocystin—neither of which are present in 4-AcO-DMT powders.

Safety and toxicity

Taking into account the pharmacological similarities, we can assume that 4-AcO-DMT is just as safe and non-addictive as psilocybin/psilocin. Although clinical research is lacking—especially into its long-term effects and toxic overdose (if any)—anecdotal reports support its presumed safety. However, a number of 4-AcO-DMT trip reports report that very high doses can cause blackouts, vomiting, heart problems, hypertension, and seizures.  No fatalities have been reported—at least in the absence of other drugs.

Dosage

4-AcO-DMT is usually sold as a fumarate salt (a white-ish powder) containing on average 1 mg of pure 4-AcO-DMT for every 1.24 mg of powder.If it’s a hydrochloride salt, it will contain on average 1 mg of pure 4-AcO-DMT for every 1.15 mg of powder. In practice, the difference may be negligible, but it’s worth knowing. Given the prevalence of 4-AcO-DMT fumarate—and the fact that it contains less of the active indole alkaloid—it’s safe to assume dosage guidelines found online refer to the fumarate salt.

As a powder, 4-AcO-DMT is usually taken orally, but it can also be taken intranasally (snorted/insufflated). For other methods see FAQ. Either way, it’s processed more rapidly by the body than psilocybin mushrooms, typically resulting in a faster, more intense onset.

Even high-end doses are tiny, as with DMT, so you’ll need a digital milligram scale to weigh out your desired amount, based on the following ranges:

Oral 4-AcO-DMT dosage (in mg)

• Threshold: 2.5 – 5
• Light: 5 – 10
• Common: 10 – 25
• Strong: 25 – 40
• Heavy: 40+

Intranasal 4-AcO-DMT dosage (in mg)

• Threshold: <5
• Light: 5 – 10
• Common: 10 – 20
• Strong: 20 – 30
• Heavy: 30+

BENEFITS & RISKS

04

Potential Benefits

While 4-AcO-DMT is not as common or well-known as other psychedelics, its potential benefits are similar—particularly to psilocybin. Like mushrooms, 4-AcO-DMT holds the potential to be a power agent for healing and change. Though there is little formal research into 4-AcO-DMT, anecdotally, the substance been shown to treat depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and addiction. It’s also been reported that microdosing 4-AcO-DMT can increase sociability, improve mood, and increase creativity and focus.

Like psilocybin and DMT—the two psychoactives it’s compared to the most—4-AcO-DMT is also known for occasioning mystical-type experiences, which many researchers are recognizing as a driving force in psychedelics’ ability to spur positive, long-term changes.

Many people also microdose 4-AcO-DMT, which has been reported to increase creativity, energy, and focus, improve relational skills, and reduce anxiety, stress, and even depression. Some enthusiasts also report that microdosing 4-AcO-DMT has helped them heighten their spiritual awareness and enhance their senses.

Risks

As with any substance, it’s wise to start with a small dose and work your way up through subsequent trips. Accurate dosing is extremely important with 4-AcO-DMT—as one psychonaut put it, “it’s easy to accidentally swallow what would be equivalent to a trash bag of shrooms.”

All the usual precautions regarding set and setting apply, too, and obviously you should avoid driving. Having a sober sitter present is always useful.

It’s also a good idea to avoid eating for at least a couple of hours beforehand. Although nausea tends to be less common than with psilocybin mushrooms (perhaps because of the indigestible chitin they contain), upset stomachs are common during the onset of 4-AcO-DMT. The taste of the powder itself can be unpleasant enough to cause nausea or vomiting, though, so you may want to chase it with juice.

Though 4-AcO-DMT is largely considered safe, a number of trip reports suggest that very high doses can cause blackouts, vomiting, heart problems, hypertension, and seizures.  No fatalities have been reported—at least in the absence of other drugs.

As with any substance, you should avoid taking 4-AcO-DMT—or at least do so cautiously—if you’re prone to psychosis, seizures, heart problems, blood pressure problems, or mental health issues such as severe anxiety. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, though; always do your own research before taking any unfamiliar substance.

THERAPEUTIC USE

05

Research into 4-AcO-DMT is limited, but the fact that it’s a more stable prodrug of psilocin than psilocybin (and one that’s more easily synthesized) means it could prove useful for clinical research. In one study, for example, it was used to test the hypothesis that 5-HT2A agonists can alleviate withdrawal symptoms and even prevent addictions from forming: Opiate-dependent rodents given 4-AcO-DMT were effectively cured of their addiction, and rodents given a single dose of 4-AcO-DMT before being exposed to nicotine did not become addicted. How 4-AcO-DMT may be used to treat addiction in humans remains to be seen, but these results support neurobiological theories of dependence.

The authors of this study also suggest that 4-AcO-DMT could be useful for treating depression and could offer substantially longer-lasting relief than drugs.

Anecdotal reports support these hypotheses. While prescribed antidepressants can have a “numbing” effect on people, 4-AcO-DMT is said to help resolve underlying emotional damage rather than push it away. Consider one man who was able to overcome his PTSD through just six trips, describing the compound as “life-changing.” His experience, he said, made him feel as though he was “unknotting scar tissue” and led him to rediscover his “inner confident self.” Another self-medicator—a victim of childhood abuse—said that she was not only able to work through her trauma with 4-AcO-DMT, but that the substance helped her move on with her life in a way that prescribed medications seemed to actively prevent. And yet another, frustrated with conventional antidepressants, credited 4-AcO-DMT with allowing him to “experience happiness and connection,” while also decreasing his reliance on alcohol.

Even microdoses of 4-AcO-DMT appear beneficial. Depressed or anxious individuals report a mood lift and emotional stability that lasts for days. Some have also used it to wean off dangerous and addictive pharmaceuticals.

PERSONAL GROWTH

Trips with 4-AcO-DMT can unfold in many ways, but two common—and often life-changing—effects are a spiritual or mystical experience and renewed compassion for the people in one’s life. Openness with family is also a recurring theme. One person found 4-AcO-DMT’s ego-softening effect allowed him to have a long-overdue conversation with his brother about their mother’s death, finally telling him things that he “should have said much earlier.” He was also able to reconnect and “productively engage” with his father. Another self-medicator felt similarly empowered, coming to understand the “problematic tension” between himself and his father, which resulted in him resolving “to mend [their] fractured state.”

Gratitude, acceptance, trust, and letting go are some other common themes associated with this compound. As one psychonaut put it, “whereas mushrooms operate in a part of the brain that could be considered about language or intellect, 4-AcO-DMT acts on the emotional thought processes.” By taking 4-AcO-DMT once every couple of months, he said, he was better able to manage his “warped” emotions.

It could also facilitate positive lifestyle changes. One self-experimenter, for example, decided to stop smoking weed every day and fulfill his untapped potential—a resolution made after a lengthy discussion with a surprisingly real-looking lion he took to be God.

Microdosing 4-AcO-DMT can also spur personal growth, while at the same time enhancing mental clarity, creativity, and flow.

MICRODOSING

Microdosing is the act of consuming sub-perceptual (unnoticeable) amounts of a psychedelic substance. Many individuals who have integrated microdosing 4-AcO-DMT into their weekly routine report higher levels of creativity, more energy, increased focus, and improved relational skills, as well as reduced anxiety, stress, and even depression. Some enthusiasts also report that microdosing 4-AcO-DMT has helped them heighten their spiritual awareness and enhance their senses.

While psilocybin and LSD are more commonly used for microdosing, 4-AcO-DMT could be a good alternative. Using 4-AcO-DMT eliminates the variability of using psilocybin, for example, ensuring greater consistency for microdosing. The effects of 4-AcO-DMT are also thought to be mellower than psilocybin, which could prove useful when seeking a sub-perceptual state.

LEGALITY

The legality of 4-AcO-DMT can be ambiguous. Although it’s federally unscheduled in the US, for instance, manufacturing, distributing, or possessing the compound for human consumption technically violates the Federal Analogue Act.But prosecutions are practically unheard of.

In the UK, however, as an ester of psilocin, it’s a Class A substance by default under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.Scandalously, this places 4-AcO-DMT in the same category as fentanyl, one of the most dangerous drugs known to humanity. It therefore potentially carries the harshest drug crime sentences. As a “psychoactive substance,” it’s also prohibited under the UK’s Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

In Australia, the situation is much the same; as an ester of psilocin, 4-AcO-DMT is, by default, a strictly prohibited substance. The same is true in New Zealand and a number of European countries, including Germany and Italy.  In Sweden, 4-AcO-DMT was specifically singled out for prohibition in January 2017.

It does, however, remain perfectly legal in a number of other countries—including Canada, where many vendors are based.

HISTORY & STATS

Brief history

4-AcO-DMT was first synthesized by Albert Hofmann—who famously discovered LSD—and his colleague Franz Troxler at Sandoz laboratories in Switzerland. It was patented by the company, along with a number of other indole esters, in 1963. But it wasn’t until the 1990s that we first saw 4-AcO-DMT for sale alongside various “research chemicals” and “designer drugs.”

Current use

These days, 4-AcO-DMT is the most popular of the synthetic/semi-synthetic tryptamines—although the use of these substances remains limited.While only 81 (3.55%) of the 2,282 US respondents to the 2013 Global Drug Survey reported ever having tried 4-AcO-DMT, substantially fewer people had ever tried 4-HO-DiPT (22, or 0.96%), 4-HO-MiPT (20, or 0.88%), or even the relatively well-known 5-MeO-DMT (72, or 3.16%).The 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, meanwhile, found that of 56,276 respondents, only three (0.01%) had ever used 4-AcO-DMT.

Despite these limited numbers, the use of tryptamines in general (natural and synthetic) appears to have increased over the past couple of decades: According to the DEA, the estimated number of tryptamine reports to state and local laboratories in 2006 was just 42. By 2010, it was 474

Worldwide interest in 4-AcO-DMT apparently peaked in September 2010, having been gradually climbing over the previous few years. It reached an all-time high in July 2012 and interest appears to have declined since then. Of course, this graph only charts interest by Google web search, so this apparently “declining interest” might just reflect a shifting of sales to the darknet—or of queries to other websites such as Reddit.

MYTHS

10

“4-AcO-DMT is a dodgy research chemical”

Some people avoid 4-AcO-DMT because of the mistaken belief that it’s just another shady research chemical, a drug hastily designed as a legal-by-default stand-in for a safer but prohibited substance—in this case, psilocybin.This assumption places 4-AcO-DMT in the same category as the NBOMe series and other research chemicals linked to numerous deaths.

However, 4-AcO-DMT was not originally designed to circumvent the law. Although it may have become popular in response to psilocybin mushrooms being banned, it was originally patented in 1963—five years before psilocybin was banned in the US. And while 4-AcO-DMT hasn’t been clinically tested on humans, fatalities appear to be non-existent and health issues are uncommon. Given its close structural similarities to psilocybin and psilocin, it’s unlikely to be physically dangerous for most people.

“4-AcO-DMT is a legal substitute for magic mushrooms”

Obviously the legality of 4-AcO-DMT will depend on where you live. However, you may be in for a surprise if you expect it to be just like psilocybin. Although many find it comparable, it’s often described as being more like DMT.

Another problem with the statement above is that, for many people, “legal” tends to imply “weak” or “ineffective.” This can make new trippers complacent when it comes to measuring doses. And since all it takes with 4-AcO-DMT is a few extra milligrams to profoundly alter the effects, this misconception could be especially problematic.

FAQ

Can 4-AcO-DMT be detected in a drug test?

Psilocin is rarely screened for, so 4-AcO-DMT is unlikely to be detected in a drug test. Although some types of extended drug tests (e.g. for criminal probation) are capable of detecting psilocin, they’re only really used when its use is already suspected.

According to Erowid, psilocin can remain in the system for several weeks, and in the urine specifically for up to one week.

Can I test my 4-AcO-DMT to find out if it’s safe to take?

Testing your 4-AcO-DMT is always good practice even when you trust your supplier.

offering peace of mind and potentially saving your life.

The Marquis, Mecke, and Mandelin reagents, for example, can help identify real 4-AcO-DMT. Simply place a tiny amount of 4-AcO-DMT into a sterile test tube or onto a sterile white ceramic surface and add a few drops of the reagent. Then check the color change (or lack thereof) against the supplied spectrum booklet.

Can it cause psychological trauma?

Although 4-AcO-DMT has never been clinically tested on humans, long-term mental health issues are practically unheard of. That doesn’t mean it’s entirely safe, of course; long-term health effects are notoriously hard to gauge. But it does suggest that even bad trips are generally well tolerated—and this is to be expected given 4-AcO-DMT’s pharmacological similarities to the relatively well-studied psilocin and psilocybin.

That said, you should probably avoid taking it if you’re prone to psychosis or other serious mental health conditions.

Are there risks?

Physical risks include vomiting, loss of consciousness, and seizures, but these are fairly uncommon. As far as we know, nobody has died from taking 4-AcO-DMT—nor is it likely to be physically dangerous for most people.

As with any psychedelic, it should probably be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women or anyone prone to seizures, heart problems, blood pressure problems, or mental health issues like severe anxiety—if only to err on the side of caution given the lack of clinical research.

How should I take 4-AcO-DMT?

Most people swallow the powder with water or take it intranasally by snorting/insufflating. For dosage guidelines, see Effects.

Some have also experimented with smoking or vaporizing 4-AcO-DMT, either as a salt (as it’s usually sold) or as an evaporated freebase, with mixed results. It may be a waste of the substance, though, because this method appears to require more of it for relatively minimal, mostly short-lived effects. Smoking it with cannabis appears to produce stronger effects, but extreme caution is advised (see below on combining 4-AcO-DMT with other drugs).

Some other routes of administration include injection (intravenous or intramuscular) and rectal “plugging” or “boofing.”  Each of these methods is said to significantly alter the experience, but anecdotal reports are rare.

What’s the best place to buy 4-AcO-DMT online?

Because of its legal ambiguity, the research chemical market tends to be quite volatile; a recommendation made today might not be valid tomorrow.

If it’s legal where you live, you should be able to buy 4-AcO-DMT online. You could also check forums for up-to-date listings of the highest-rated suppliers.

How do I know if I have real 4-AcO-DMT?

If you get it from a reputable 4-AcO-DMT supplier, that’s one assurance. But research chemicals can and do get missold. Whether or not you trust your vendor, it’s advisable to verify the substance with a 4-AcO-DMT test kit. Although test kits cannot guarantee the presence of 4-AcO-DMT (or tell you the purity), they can at least rule it out if you’ve been sent something else entirely.

Genuine 4-AcO-DMT should react like this to the Marquis, Mecke, Mandelin, and Simmons reagents.

Can I microdose with 4-AcO-DMT?

Yes! Here’s our guide to microdosing 4-AcO-DMT.

How quickly does 4-AcO-DMT tolerance develop?

Tolerance develops immediately and takes roughly one to two weeks to return to baseline. You should also expect a cross-tolerance effect with other psychedelics—not just psilocin, but LSD, MDMA, 2C-B, and others that work via the 5-HT (serotonin) receptors. These substances, and perhaps others, are likely to be less effective when taken within seven to fourteen days of 4-AcO-DMT.

Can I mix it with other drugs?

As mentioned in the Safety and toxicity section above, 4-AcO-DMT probably shouldn’t be taken alongside lithium, tramadol, or stimulants like amphetamines or cocaine. These have all been linked to psychosis or seizures when combined with psychedelics. The same is true of cannabis, although some find it synergistic with 4-AcO-DMT, intensifying some of the visual, sensory, and cognitive effects.

MDMA is also reported to be synergistic, though unpredictable; if combining 4-AcO-DMT with MDMA, we recommend lower doses of each to avoid potential neurotoxicity and other problems. Ketamine is said to enhance visual effects, euphoria, and of course dissociation—but, like any drug combination, it should be approached with caution, taking note of the relevant warnings.

Some drug combinations are advised against because they diminish the effects of 4-AcO-DMT, while potentially adding negative effects of their own. Alcohol is one example, and benzodiazepines may negate the effects of 4-AcO-DMT entirely.

The Complete Guide to 4-AcO-DMT: Synthetic Shrooms or in a Class of Its Own?

Call it 4-Acetoxy-DMT, 4-AcO, Psilacetin, O-Acetylpsilocin, or synthetic shrooms, here’s everything you should know about this little-known psychedelic research chemical.

What is 4-AcO-DMT?

4-AcO-DMT—also known as O-acetylpsilocin, 4-acetoxy-DMT, psilacetin, or “synthetic mushrooms”—is a semi-synthetic research chemical in the tryptamine family, which also includes the classic psychedelics like DMT and psilocybin. 4-AcO seems to be very closely related to the magic mushroom compounds psilocybin and psilocin, and like psilocybin, is speculated to break down into psilocin in the body during first pass metabolism. In fact, 4-AcO-DMT was first synthesized in the early 1960s by Albert Hofmann, the same chemist who discovered LSD and first synthesized psilocybin. As an employee for the pharmaceutical company Sandoz, Hofmann and his colleague, Franz Troxler, were playing around with molecules similar to psilocin, and patented psilacetin along with four other esters (organic compounds that react to water by producing alcohol) of psilocin in 1963.

But 4-AcO was patented and then largely forgotten, until it reappeared in the 1990s rave scene as a new designer drug. Then in 1999, professor and psychedelic scientist David E. Nichols tried to put it on the map as a safe and cost-effective alternative to psilocybin, because it’s much easier (and cheaper) to synthesize. Yet, more than 20 years later, there still haven’t been any clinical studies on the safety, toxicity, or potential efficacy of O-acetylpsilocin, despite its rising popularity among psychonauts.

Today, psilacetin is comes in the form of a brown or off-white powder (technically a fumarate salt) that can be taken orally or intranasally in micro-doses or more, depending how hard you want to trip—which, depending on how many milligrams one takes, can resemble the effects of mushrooms or DMT, causing many to speculate that 4-AcO has psychedelic properties of its own.

4-AcO-DMT Dosage

Before I start to explain what the 4-AcO trip is like, it’s important to emphasize just how dose-dependent the research chemical is. The general consensus among users on message boards and the nine people who filled out a survey I created on 4-AcO, is that lower doses feel like a psilocybin experience, while higher doses start to more so resemble a DMT experience. Or as Sarah*, one of my survey participants, put it, “It was like mushrooms, DMT, and acid in one… like a long DMT trip with the warm and loving feeling of mushrooms, and the mind-blowing experience of acid.”

4-AcO Dose Ranges for Oral Ingestion:

• Microdose: 2.5 – 5 mg
• Low Dose: 5 – 10 mg
• Moderate Dose: 10 – 20 mg
• High Dose: 20 – 40 mg
• Heroic Dose: 40 mg +

As a general reference point, many say that oral doses in the 15 to 20 mg range greatly resemble a 3.5-gram magic mushroom experience. And with all new psychedelics, it’s best to start with a low to moderate dose, or even microdose, for your first trip in order to get a lay of the land before diving into stronger experiences.

For nasal ingestion, doses will be slightly different because many folks report snorting the powder to be a stronger but possibly shorter acting experience. Also, one of my survey participants reported the powder can turn blue in your nostrils, so don’t be alarmed if this happens to you, as well.

4-AcO Dose Ranges for Intranasal Ingestion:

• Microdose: less than 5 mg
• Low Dose: 5 – 10 mg
• Moderate Dose: 10 – 20 mg
• High Dose: 20 – 30 mg
• Heroic Dose: 30 mg +

For safe dosing, be sure to weigh out your dose on a scale that can read milligrams. And if you don’t own one, you should consider investing. They don’t cost more than about $20 and are an easy way to practice harm reduction. Especially with research chemicals that come as powders, a small amount can have a big impact on the strength of the experience.

O-acetylpsilocin Duration

Most folks report an O-acetylpsilocin trip to last more or less the same amount of time as mushrooms, from four to eight hours with an afterglow lasting up to 48 hours after the experience has ended.

Psychonaut Wiki has mapped out the duration as such:

• Total: 4 – 7 hours
• Onset: 15 – 40 minutes
• Come Up: 30 – 75 minutes
• Peak: 2 to 3.5 hours
• Offset: 1 – 2 hours
• After effects: 4 – 48 hours

4-AcO Trip 

The 4-AcO trip is very dose-dependent. The most common way people describe it is the trip being like a crisp, lucid, and warm mushroom experience on low and moderate doses of about 15 to 30 mg. “4-AcO has a very light and joyous character, almost childlike. Like mushrooms but crisper and clearer,” wrote Steven*, one of my survey respondents, who’s tried 4-AcO at doses ranging from 10 to 50 mg several hundred times. “It’s slightly gentler and more simplified of a trip than mushrooms, but almost the same feeling.”

The visuals in this dose range also seem to be similar to what folks experience on mushrooms, with lots of drifting, waving, and breathing. But some people report it being a bit more geometric than shrooms, bordering on the precise way DMT makes them see the world. “Open eyed, at low doses, [visuals] are earthy and warpy. Everything can look kind of hazy and humid, like a jungle. I’ll see faint, simple geometry, such as drifting curved lines,” described Cindy*, who’s tried psilacetin about 10 times. “Closed eyed, at low doses, have a lot of nonsensical but beautiful imagery. It’s usually realistic, but very trippy, such as my fish made out of glass fractals.”

“4-AcO has a very light and joyous character, almost childlike. Like mushrooms but crisper and clearer.”

In fact, many describe the 4-AcO experience as being stronger than mushrooms, especially in high doses—although slightly more consistent and predictable. “They are related for certain, but a distinct spirit. AcO is its own entity, distinct from the spirit of the mushroom. It is not ‘synthetic mushrooms’ as it is often sold. It’s far beyond that,” said Matt*, who’s tried doses ranging from 15 to 70 mg. “It is the most powerful psychedelic I’ve ever tried. Gnosis doesn’t begin to cover what this molecular goddess has to teach.”

Once you get into the high and heroic dose range, people report 4-AcO being more like a long DMT trip. It’s possible that you won’t be able to move or talk too much, and there can be a heavy body sensation that most folks report as relaxing or even euphoric. But like with any psychedelic, you have to accept and surrender to the feeling.

“It was a cozy feeling,” described Sarah. “But then, all we could do was to lay in the bed, because we entered some kind of dimension where we didn’t know where, who, or what we were. I was just accepting that all I could do in that moment was to observe and just be and it was really cool and amazing. But, my friend (who didn’t have any experience with psychedelics) was scared. He jumped up from the bed several times to look at me. I asked, ‘Why?’ And he said, ‘I just wanted to make sure that you were still a human!’ I could hear him breath fast and fearfully. But after a while, everything was cool again.”

Cindy had a similar experience with 40 mg:

“There was this moment of ‘I’m ready to go deeper,’ [but] I didn’t realize how deep I’d go. About 30 minutes later, I felt incredibly lightheaded, like I was being shot up into a space elevator. Sometimes, I felt a pressure in my ears and popping. I laid in my bed because it was hard to stand. There was this moment of terror as I felt myself being ripped away. I was scared, and then I remembered people telling me to give into the experience. I gave in, even though every ounce of me wanted to fight it. And then I saw myself drifting through a tunnel and a goddess. She had three heads and was half-Roman, half-Native American. And her and all of these ‘spirits’ comforted me as I hit ego death. It felt like they were saying, ‘You don’t have to be scared. Love is all you need.’ I would phase between things. I could walk around and use the bathroom. But then I’d close my eyes and get sucked back into another world.”

Psilacetin Side Effects?

According to my survey data, psilacetin side effects resemble those of psilocybin. For instance, nausea on the come-up is common, especially if users had some food in their stomachs. Like with mushrooms, it’s best to fast for a few hours before consumption in order to avoid stomach upset. Interestingly, many report the nausea subsided and a body euphoria with pain relieving effects took over, especially after the peak. In fact, the nausea seems to be less intense than with mushrooms for some folks, and many have speculated the reason is that there’s no mushroom material to digest, like chitin, the protein that makes up the cell walls of fungi.

The other two most common negative side effects folks reported in the survey was frequent urination (coupled with thirst) and getting the chills or feeling cold (especially on the come-up), no matter what the temperature in the room is.

At higher doses, dizziness, confusion, paranoia, and difficulty verbalizing thoughts are possible, but as with all psychedelics, a calm, supportive set and setting can help to mitigate these effects. And many users recommend having a sober trip sitter for this reason, especially for doses over 25 mg or so.

None of the users we spoke to reported any kind of hangover, although headaches and trouble sleeping are described on message boards. On the other hand, many report an afterglow the next day that can last up to two days after high-dose experiences. “The afterglow is wonderful, even after a bad trip. I feel kind, relaxed, at ease, empathetic,” said Cindy. Smoking cannabis in the day or two after a trip has also been reported to intensify the afterglow and bring people back to a place that resembles 4-AcO, so caution is advised.

As far as toxicity goes, there have been no formal studies looking into it. Many assume 4-acetoxy-dmt has a similar safety profile to psilocybin-containing mushrooms, but this is an assumption with no clinical data to back it up.

O-acetylpsilocin Entheogenic, Spiritual or Therapeutic Effects?

For many folks, the O-acetylpsilocin experience can have pronounced entheogenic, spiritual and therapeutic effects, whether or not they were going into the trip looking for answers to life’s big questions. “It brings clarity of thought to analyze personal issues,” said Ryan* who’s tried 4-AcO three times in doses ranging from 15 to 25 mg. “I usually have a helpful take away from the experience. Like to be more tolerant even of my own thoughts… The lessons seem to stick with me.”

For example, Joe* said, “It revealed to me that I was neglecting platonic relationships, and urged me to be more mindful about strengthening my relationships.” Others who filled out the survey reported the substance helping them heal from different kinds of trauma. “Along with other substances, 4-AcO-DMT helped me heal from my best friend passing away, trauma from growing up in a controlling and abusive cult, being in an abusive relationship with my first girlfriend, and much more,” revealed Sam*.

And although these spiritual and therapeutic effects are incredibly beneficial, one user reported its strength needing to be taken with caution and respect. “This drug absolved me of years of suicidal ideation. Cured my depression. Provided profound mystical insight about the afterlife,” said Matt. “[But] it is a very powerful drug, so sometimes it taught me things I didn’t want to know, and the existential weight of this drug means I rarely, if ever, take it anymore.”

4-AcO-DMT Tolerance?

4-AcO-DMT tolerance builds up basically immediately after ingestion and takes about a week to exit your system and return to baseline. This tolerance also applies to other classic psychedelics, and so, if you take something like LSD or psilocybin mushrooms within a week, the experience could be much less pronounced than usual.

It’s also important to note that 4-AcO is not considered addictive, and therefore has a low potential for abuse. But that doesn’t mean that an unhealthy relationship with the substance isn’t possible, so always be mindful, intentional, and honest with yourself around your use.

Is 4-acetoxy-DMT Legal?

The legality of 4-acetoxy-DMT is somewhat complicated and exists in a legal grey area in many countries. That’s because 4-AcO is not included in any international drug schedules, such as the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. In the United States, 4-AcO is unscheduled, but if you’re caught with the off white powder, there’s still a chance you could be charged under the Federal Analogue Act, a section of the Controlled Substances Act that allows any compound that is “substantially similar” to a Schedule I or II substance to be prosecuted as such if it’s meant for human consumption. And so, because psilacetin is an analogue of psilocin,  a Schedule I substance, the manufacture, distribution or possession could be a punishable offense. Although, according to the Third Wave, “Prosecutions are practically unheard of.”

In Canada, there is no legislation for or against 4-AcO, and so it’s pretty easy to buy the substance online. A handful of countries have also decriminalized 4-AcO-DMT for small personal use possession, but that still doesn’t make it legal; it can still be confiscated and you can still be fined, while more serious actions like deportation have been reported, as well.

Is it Safe to Mix Synthetic Shrooms with Other Substances?

4-AcO, or “synthetic mushrooms,” is frequently combined with other psychedelics and cannabis, although poly-drug mixes can still be unpredictable, intense, and open up more potential for harm. And so, like with any psychedelic, it’s best to get to know the substance on its own before mixing it with other entheogens.

Mixing cannabis and 4-AcO-DMT seems to be the most common combo, and like mixing cannabis with other psychedelics, the main effect is an intensifying of the experience, especially the visual and cognitive effects of the 4-AcO. Psychonaut Wiki warns that this interaction can also intensify anxiety and confusion, which Cindy reported in our survey. “In my worst [4-AcO] trip, I smoked too much weed. It was cool for about 5 minutes. But then I felt so confused and delusional. There were demonic and warped faces everywhere laughing at me, angry at me for disrespecting the substance. I was seeing shadow people through the curtains, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dead cat impaled with a spike laying on our grill.”

The risk of panic attacks and psychosis are also increased when you add cannabis into the mix. If you’re set on experimenting, it’s best to consume much smaller amounts of cannabis than you might normally, and wait at least an hour or more before re-introducing cannabis again in order to avoid over consumption.

People also report mixing 4-acetoxy-DMT with other psychedelics like LSD, MDMA, and ketamine. These mixes can also create very intense experiences with more pronounced visuals, but also more chances for confusion, nausea, and delusions. In the case of MDMA, it has been speculated that 4-AcO could increase the neurotoxic effects of MDMA, so always keep your doses lower when planning to mix multiple substances and practice other harm reduction techniques like having a sober trip sitter and a prepared set and setting.

Some pharmaceuticals are also known to interact with 4-AcO, especially Lithium, tramadol, and stimulants like Adderall (but also cocaine and meth). In the case of Lithium, mixing the two has been shown anecdotally to increase the risk of psychosis and seizures. Tramadol could also increase the risk of a seizure in susceptible individuals. When it comes to stimulants, the risk is that they could increase the risk of severe anxiety, negative thought loops, paranoia, mania, and psychosis.

Lastly, some folks have been known to mix 4-AcO with benzodiazepines (like Klonopin and Xanax) or alcohol to lessen the psychedelic effects. They can both dull the trip if it’s too intense, but with caution. They should both be taken in very low doses, and in the case of alcohol, could cause increased nausea. With benzos, some memory loss could be possible and so you’ll likely have less ability to process and integrate the trip later on. All in all, always be cautious and mindful of poly-drug mixes and do your homework before mixing multiple substances.

Buy 4-AcO DMT

O-Acetylpsilocin (also known as psilacetin, 4-acetoxy-DMT, or Buy 4-AcO DMT) is a semi-synthetic psychoactive drug, and has been suggested by David Nichols . Then it is to be a potentially useful alternative to psilocybin for pharmacological studies. Yet they are both believed to be prodrugs of psilocin.

How It looks like

This appears as a white or beige powder (sometimes dark) with a crystalline appearance, without particular adhesion. This powder is also sold in capsule form by some suppliers, more rarely in vials. Nowadays, it is the most popular of the synthetic/semi-synthetic tryptamines although the use of these substances remains limited.

4-AcO DMT Dosage

It is usually sold as a fumarate salt (4-AcO-DMT fumarate) containing on average 1 mg pure 4-AcO-DMT for every 1.24 mg of the powder. Or if it’s a hydrochloride salt, it will contain on average 1 mg pure for every 1.15 mg of the powder. In practice the difference may be negligible, but it’s worth knowing.

• Oral dosage (approximate) (according to Erowid)
• Threshold of effect: 5-10 mg
• Low: 10-20 mg
• Common: 20-30 mg
• Strong: 30-50 + mg

Effects of 4-AcO DMT and how long DMT lasts in the body

Surprisingly the effects of the molecule are close to those felt with magic mushrooms like those of the psilocybe genus. It is very representative of this adage. The overall duration of the trip is about 3 to 6 hours, depending on the dose and the person.

Desired effects

• Physical and intellectual stimulation

• Feeling of euphoria

• Increased sociability

• Want to express yourself and go to others

• disinhibition

• Feeling of well-being

• Exacerbation of the senses

• Unbridled libido

Risk of consuming 4-AcO DMT

The relative toxicity of 4-AcO-DMT and more specifically neurologically is a fortiori low, as is the psilocine: almost no neurotoxicity. But these are only exageration and the reality is that no serious scientific study has been conducted on the subject.

Notably, physical risks including vomiting, loss of consciousness, and seizures, but these are fairly uncommon. As far as we know, nobody has died from taking it nor is it likely to be physically dangerous for most people.

As with any psychedelic, it should probably be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women or anyone prone to seizures. Basically  heart problems, blood pressure problems, or mental health issues like severe anxiety. If only to err on the side of caution given the lack of clinical research.

• Puffs of anxiety

• depersonalization

• hallucinations

• Psychosis crisis

• Tachycardia and hypertension

• Abundant perspiration and hyperthermia

• Tight jaws

• nausea

• Loss of appetite

• Want to resume / Craving