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Observational Study
. 2020 Mar;237(3):773-785.
doi: 10.1007/s00213-019-05414-w. Epub 2019 Dec 10.

Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment

Malin V Uthaug  1 , Rafael Lancelotta  2 , Attila Szabo  3 , Alan K Davis  4   5 , Jordi Riba  6 , Johannes G Ramaekers  7
Affiliations
Observational Study

Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment

Malin V Uthaug et al. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020 Mar.

Erratum in

Abstract

Rationale: 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine is a psychotropic substance found in various plant and animal species and is synthetically produced. 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine is used in naturalistic settings for spiritual exploration, recreation, or to address negative affect and mood problems. However, scientific knowledge on the effects of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in humans is scarce.

Objectives: The first objective was to assess the effects of inhalation of vaporized synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine on neuroendocrine markers. The second objective was to assess effects of the substance on affect and mindfulness. In addition, we assessed whether ratings of subjective measures were associated with changes in stress biomarkers (i.e., cortisol) and immune response (i.e., IL-6, CRP, IL-1β), as well as the acute psychedelic experience.

Methods: Assessments (baseline, immediately post-session, and 7-day follow-up) were made in 11 participants. Salivary samples were collected at baseline and post-session and analyzed by high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine significantly increased cortisol levels and decreased IL-6 concentrations in saliva immediately post-session. These changes were not correlated to ratings of mental health or the psychedelic experience. Relative to baseline, ratings of non-judgment significantly increased, and ratings of depression decreased immediately post-session and at follow-up. Ratings of anxiety and stress decreased from baseline to 7-day follow-up. Participant ratings of the psychedelic experience correlated negatively with ratings of affect and positively with ratings of non-judgment.

Conclusion: Inhalation of vaporized synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine produced significant changes in inflammatory markers, improved affect, and non-judgment in volunteers. Future research should examine the effect of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamineamine with healthy volunteers in a controlled laboratory setting.

Keywords: 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine; Affect; Field study; Immunology; Mindfulness.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. None of the authors of this paper were directly involved in any way with the organization of the sessions where vaporized synthetic 5-MeO-DMT was administered.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Frequency distribution of the experience of ego dissolution as assessed by the EDI post-session after inhalation of vaporized synthetic 5-MeO-DMT (left panel). Mean ratings (range 0–100%) of the psychedelic experience as assessed with the 5D ASC subscales (upper right panel) and dimensions (lower right panel) after inhalation of vaporized synthetic 5-MeO-DMT
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect of 5-MeO-DMT on salivary neuroendocrine and immune markers. Saliva samples were collected before (baseline) and 1–1.5 h after (post) the inhalation of vaporized synthetic 5-MeO-DMT and were analyzed by ELISA. Results are shown as mean ± SEM. Asterisks (****) represent p values < 0.001; n.s. means no statistical significance
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mean (SE) ratings of anxiety (upper left panel), depression (upper right panel), and stress (bottom right panel) as assessed by DASS-21 (upper panel), and ratings of non-judgment (lower left panel) as measured by FFMQ-39. Before (0), post-session (1), and 7 days after (7) inhalation of vaporized synthetic 5-MeO-DMT (* p ≤ .05)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Pearson’s correlations between ego dissolution and affect and non-judgment ratings post-session (upper panel), as well as affect and non-judgment ratings at follow-up (lower panel) after inhalation of vaporized synthetic 5-MeO-DMT
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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