4-AcO-DMT: The Ultimate User Guide

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Psychedelic substances have been subject to human interest for years now. Various psychedelic compounds are present in nature, and some are synthesized in laboratories. One such standout compound is 4-AcO-DMT.

The semi-synthetic psychedelic, often referred to as “synthetic mushrooms,” is renowned for its subjective effects likened to psilocybin mushrooms. 4-AcO-DMT is a prized psychedelic for its wide range of effects on the consciousness, senses, and perceptual experiences. 

In this guide, we’re breaking down the chemical jargon of 4-AcO-DMT into simpler and bite-sized information. This is a practical manual for those without prior knowledge of the compound but eager to try it. 

  • 4-AcO-DMT’s effects are closely related to psychedelics—psilocybin and psilocin. 
  • The semi-synthetic compound partially activates the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain to bring about psychedelic effects. 
  • 4-AcO-DMT in powder, capsule, and other forms are taken orally or intranasally. 
  • The “grounding” compound is highly dose-dependent. A small dosage yields effects similar to psilocybin, and higher doses resemble the DMT experience. 
  • Several considerations, including physical/mental state, legality, proclivity to substance abuse, and more, are taken into account before using 4-AcO-DMT. 

Overview: What Is 4-AcO-DMT?

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Albert Hofmann and Franz Troxler were the first ones to make 4-AcO-DMT in 1963. However, its effects weren’t properly documented until 1999 when David E. Nichols proposed the compound to be an effective alternative to psilocybin. The use of 4-AcO-DMT for recreational purposes peaked in 2010 and has had fluctuations in popularity since. 

Chemically, 4-AcO-DMT or 4-Acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, is part of the tryptamine psychedelic class, which includes bufotenin and DMT. Up close, its molecular structure is related to the popular magic mushroom’s active ingredients—psilocybin and psilocin. 

4-AcO-DMT is thought to affect serotonin receptors, the key to feelings of happiness in the brain. However, its overall behavior in the body hasn’t been explored or documented. 

As a semi-synthetic compound, 4-AcO-DMT is derived from a naturally occurring compound, psilocybin. However, psilocybin needs to undergo a lab-based process called acetylation to arrive at what is 4-AcO-DMT today. 

Subjective 4-AcO-DMT Effects: What to Expect?

The 4-AcO-DMT effect is vast. It’s categorized into physical, cognitive, visual, auditory, multi-sensory, and transpersonal effects. However, users generally report 4-AcO-DMT effects to be similar to psilocybin mushrooms—euphoric, relaxing, gentle, warm, and colorful. 

Here’s a chart detailing the effects of 4-AcO-DMT on different aspects: 

Category of EffectsPotential Effects
PhysicalSedation
Bodily sensations
Tactile enhancements
NauseaFluctuations in bodily temperature
Muscle contractions and relaxation
Yawning
Watery eyes
Frequent urination
Taste enhancement
Sense of smell enhancement
Pupil dilation
Runny nose
Teeth grinding
Brain zaps
Increased salivation 
Cognitive Outrospection
Introspection
Creativity
Conceptual thinking
Emotional enhancement
Increased sense of humor
Increased appreciation of art like music or movie
Time distortions
Mindfulness
Déjà vu
Increased fascination
Decreased cultural biases
Multiple thought streams
Spontaneous feeling of multiple emotions
The preference to not talk aloud
Waves of profound thinkingIntense feeling of happiness
Emotional insight
Mental clarity
Slowed thoughts
Looping of thoughts
Organizing thoughts
Visual Clarity of vision
Color enhancement
Tendency to recognize patterns
Distant details appear closer
Changing external objects’ colors
Tinted vision
Cloudy visual distortion of the surrounding environment
Seeing rainbows and spectrums of colors
Visual perceptions that continue to appear
Textures mirrored repeatedly on your vision
Change of an object’s original size
A nearby object that might appear distant to you
Some hallucinations
Auditory (Hearing)Increased clarity of sounds
Perceived changes in sounds
Spontaneous hearing of imaginary voices
Multi-sensory A person may begin to see sounds, hear smells, etc. (rare even at high doses)
TranspersonalExistential thoughtsDepersonalizationShift in beliefs of existence, religion, and similar concepts

It’s important to note that 4-AcO-DMT effects do not necessarily occur predictably. This means that it’s not guaranteed that every person will feel the same set of effects every time or that any effects will even occur. 

Higher doses induce more comprehensive 4-AcO-DMT effects and side effects, while lower doses may offer a short-term experience of mild psychedelic effects.

How Does 4-AcO-DMT Work?

4-AcO-DMT has to enter the body via oral or intranasal consumption for its effects to manifest. Compared to the intranasal route, the mechanism of how the compound works orally is more documented. So here’s how it goes:

Upon entering the digestive system, 4-AcO-DMT converts to psilocin during the first-pass metabolism in the liver. At this junction, the product has been slightly reduced in concentration and strength. 

Once the newly converted 4-AcO-DMT enters blood circulation, it reaches the brain. The compound is believed to partially activate the 5-HT2A receptor, which is responsible for switching on the psychedelic effects. 

What Are the Different Ways of Taking 4-AcO-DMT? 

4-AcO-DMT is consumed in two main ways: Oral ingestion or through the intranasal route. Both methods are dosed differently in microdosing or higher dosing styles for enhanced effect. 

Oral Ingestion

The oral ingestion of 4-AcO-DMT is a straightforward way of taking the compound through the mouth. The onset of effects takes about 20-40 minutes and peaks around 2-3 hours. Effects could last as long as 6 hours. 

Several oral products are available, such as:

  • Premeasured pills: Contains premeasured dosage of 4-AcO-DMT per pill or capsules. 
  • Powder: Dissolved in water and other complementing beverages.

Intranasal Route

The intranasal route, sometimes called “insufflation” or “snorting 4-AcO-DMT,” involves inhaling powder through the nose. The effect has a quicker onset and peak but a shorter duration.

Experienced users are most suitable for the intranasal route of 4-AcO-DMT because of its strong potency.

🧠 Additional Facts

The less common consumption methods of 4-AcO-DMT include vaporization and intravenous administration (injection). These methods are rarely used because of increased risks and difficulty in dosage control. 

What Is the Correct 4-AcO-DMT Dosage?

4-AcO-DMT is a dose-dependent compound. This means effects vary according to the dosage taken. Different 4-AcO-DMT dosage levels have different intensities and experiences per user. 

In general, lower doses of the psychedelic feel similar to a psilocybin experience. Meanwhile, higher doses resemble taking a DMT (Dimethyltryptamine).

The 4-AcO-DMT dose ranges from 5 to 45 mg. However, the more realistic dosage range that people actually only take is around 10 to 30 mg. Beginners or those with low tolerance tend to take less or microdose. Others with experience and who have developed tolerance to the compound take more than 30 mg. 

🤯 Immersion
Taking 20 mg of 4-AcO-DMT is like consuming 3 grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms.

Here are the dosage ranges for each type of 4-AcO-DMT consumption method:

Oral Ingestion Dosage Range

LevelDosage RangeSuitable For
Microdose2.5 – 5 mgNo psychedelic experience
Low Dose5 – 10 mg4-AcO-DMT beginners but with experience with psychedelics
Moderate10 – 20 mgExperienced users
High Dose20 – 40 mgExperienced users with high tolerance
Heroic40 – 45 mgNot recommended for anyone

Intranasal Route Dosage Range

LevelDosage RangeSuitable For
Microdoseless than 5 mgNo psychedelic experience
Low Dose5 – 10 mg4-AcO-DMT beginners but with experience with psychedelics
Moderate10 – 20 mgExperienced users
High Dose20 – 30 mgExperienced users with high tolerance
Heroic30 mg +Not recommended for anyone

A small amount of the 4-AcO-DMT powder makes a huge difference in the intensity of your experience. So, consider investing on a scale that can read in milligrams to weigh the product yourself. This is a good practice that comes in handy if you only have yourself to measure dosage. 

Side note: not every 4-AcO-DMT product has uniform potency. For example, a 4-AcO-DMT hydrochloride salt will offer a stronger impact than its fumarate salt version. Thus, a 25 mg 4-AcO-DMT fumarate dosage will not yield the same effects as the 25 mg of its hydrochloride salt version. 

🥇 Golden Rule of Dosing

If you’re new to 4-AcO-DMT or just in general wary about getting a bad trip, start from the lowest dose possible (about 5 mg). Increase gradually until you reach the sweet spot of dosing—you’re getting the desired effects without experiencing any intolerable side effects. 

How to Use 4-AcO-DMT for Personal Growth?

While 4-AcO-DMT is known for its psychedelic and hallucinogenic effects, some people use it for triggering introspective conversations, exploring themselves, and growing from the experience. Not all individuals, however, are fit for 4-AcO-DMT use, such as:

  • Pregnant people
  • Minors
  • Predisposed to bad trips
  • Those with preexisting mental and physical health conditions
  • Currently on medication
  • Struggling with substance abuse
  • History of prior convictions

If you’re none of those mentioned and you’re committed to trying 4-AcO-DMT, you need to know that psychedelics can impact your mental health profoundly. As for the general guidelines for safely using the substance, here are some rules to keep in mind:

  1. Set a Schedule and Setting

Pick a date when you’re unoccupied for the whole day. Next, make sure the environment where you’re staying throughout the experience is a safe and comfortable space.

Above all, prepare yourself. Make sure you are in a balanced state of mind before taking any psychedelic substance. 

  1. List down your intentions for taking 4-AcO-DMT

Identify what your intentions are for taking 4-AcO-DMT. Are you using it for recreational purposes? Are you trying to discover yourself? Defining your purpose will dictate how you would dose 4-AcO-DMT correctly to achieve the desired effects. 

  1. Dose 4-AcO-DMT correctly

There is no universal dosage guideline that says dosage “x” will yield “y” results. Since 4-AcO-DMT effects are subjective for different people, it’s up to you to discover your best dosage. 

Using the outlined dosage recommendation for each type of user as the basis, start with the lowest end of the dosage range. If the effects are too weak try adding your dose slightly for your next sessions. 

  1. Practice mindfulness and meditation

Try to practice mindfulness and meditation activities during your psychedelic experiences. Some examples include deep breathing, guided meditation, etc. Doing so helps improve your experience, prevent bad trips, open your mind, and more.

📝 Helpful Article

One of the key benefits of meditating before taking psychedelics is it helps bring you to a state of ego dissolution. This state of mind streamlines your consciousness in the moment. You will feel as if you’re not an individual but a fluid being that is one with the universe and its inhabitants. 
  1. Document your experience

Write down your feelings, emotions, and thoughts by journaling. Do this during the trip and it will help you process your emotions later and record cool thoughts during the session. 

  1. Consider the legal and health impacts of 4-AcO-DMT

Research the legal standing of 4-AcO-DMT in your state or area before indulging. Also, reconsider trying the substance if you’re not entirely sure it will bring a positive contribution to your physical and mental well-being.  

📝 Helpful Article

Relieve stress and anxiety spikes naturally by exercising, mindful breathing, meditating, avoiding anxiety-inducing food, getting proper sleep, and more to prepare you for the profound effects of 4-AcO-DMT. 
  1. Talk to mental health professionals or experts in the field

Consider consulting with a mental health professional and other people educated in the psychedelic-assisted field for guidance. Trying 4-AcO-DMT for personal growth or any purpose is a complex and highly subjective matter. 

What Are the Differences Between 4-AcO-DMT and Other Psychedelics?

4-AcO-DMT vs. Psilocybin Mushrooms

Psilocybin mushrooms are deemed the closest to 4-AcO-DMT regarding similarities in effects and molecular structure. 4-AcO-DMT is even dubbed as the semi-synthetic version of shrooms. 

4-AcO-DMT and psilocybin mushrooms share the same active ingredient once metabolized in the body—psilocin. If you can remember, psilocin partially activates the brain’s 5-HT2A receptors to activate psychedelic effects. 

Despite the similarities between 4-AcO-DMT and psilocybin mushrooms, there are subtle differences between the two, such as the following:

  • Low doses of 4-AcO-DMT produce more mellow effects than magic mushrooms. If 4-AcO-DMT effects are calmer and more introspective, psilocybin mushrooms’ effects tend to be fuzzier. 
  • The onset of 4-AcO-DMT effects is far quicker than psilocybins which can take about 20-40 minutes through oral ingestion. 
  • There is less chance of getting nauseated with 4-AcO-DMT. On the other hand, nausea is one of the common side effects of magic mushrooms, as they contain chitin or fiber materials that can irritate the stomach. 
  • Higher doses of 4-AcO-DMT produce a more profound psychedelic effect than higher doses of psilocybin mushrooms. 

4-AcO-DMT vs. 5-MeO-DMT

4-AcO-DMT and 5-MeO-DMT look similar in terms of molecular structure. Both compounds also activate the 5-HT2A receptors, but their main difference is in potency. 

  • Compared to 4-AcO-DMT, 5-MeO-DMT’s psychedelic experience is on another level. Users report an out-of-body experience rarely induced by available psychedelics. The effects are profoundly deeper compared to 4-AcO-DMT. 
  • 5-MeO-DMT’s effects last quicker by about 30 minutes, while 4-AcO-DMT’s effect can stretch up to 6 hours (depending on dosage). 

4-AcO-DMT vs. LSD

LSD acid (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) and 4-AcO-DMT target the same brain receptors but with varying binding affinity. These differences in binding strengths cause their unique chemical traits. 

LSD gives a more clear-headed and visual psychedelic experience than 4-AcO-DMT. Meanwhile, 4-AcO-DMT’s effects lean toward the “more grounding” side. 

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What is the 4-AcO-DMT Legality in the US?

The legal standing of 4-AcO-DMT is unclear at the federal and even state levels. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) omits it from its list of Controlled Substances, which removes it from US federal legal scrutiny. Also, 4-AcO-DMT is an agent freely used for laboratory research purposes. 

📖 Definition of “Controlled Substances”

Controlled substances are drugs or substances whose “manufacture, possession, or use” is regulated by the government. Examples of these are illicitly used drugs or prescriptions designated by law. Refer to this link for the updated list of DEA’s controlled substances. 

The only catch is, 4-AcO-DMT as a psilacetin, is considered an analogue of psilocin. The compound converts into psilocin once it’s metabolized inside the body. Psilocin is a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. 

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The Federal Analogue Act says—any substance that is substantially similar to any Schedule I drug and is deliberately consumed by humans for non-medical/research use has legal consequences.

Prosecutions for civilians for 4-AcO-DMT possession are “practically unheard of.” However, this doesn’t mean there is no chance to be charged under the Federal Analogue Act. 

It will be interesting to see how mushroom brands or those who will offer 4-AcO-DMT products navigate the complex legal status of the psychedelic. 

Where to Buy 4-AcO-DMT Online?

Apparently, it’s difficult to get hold of 4-AcO-DMT in most countries, even the US, these days. However, you can still purchase safe and clean 4-AcO-DMT products in some parts of Europe and Canada. Research Chemical vendors operating within those countries sell them at affordable prices: about CA$6.25 per dose of 25 mg. 

You might encounter some problems with shipping 4-AcO-DMT into the US. Run-ins with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are not impossible. 

Also, beware of scammers who offer 4-AcO-DMT for sale at a very low price. Social media and the dank web vendors may exploit the scarcity of 4-AcO-DMT.

The Future of 4-AcO-DMT

4-AcO-DMT is one of the biggest psychedelics that have managed to go under the radar for years. Due to the slow but undeniable interest in psychedelics, companies are patiently creating compliant 4-AcO-DMT products. 

In the meantime, psychedelic folks will have to find equally amazing cannabis edibles that potentially exude psychedelic effects. And there’s no better source of that than The Hemp Doctor, which has been innovating quality hemp products for 13 years.

Our selection of gummies includes Delta 8, Delta 9, THCA, HHC, and CBD options, each with feel-good and unmistakable effects. Rest assured, there is something for everyone. 

FAQs

Can you buy 4-AcO-DMT from Etsy?

You can buy psychedelics on Etsy Canada in general. However, you won’t see many 4-AcO-DMT vendors in the e-commerce platform. A bunch of related psychedelics, like mushrooms and plants, will emerge instead. 

How to synthesize 4-AcO-DMT?

It’s possible to synthesize 4-AcO-DMT, but several factors will need to be considered, such as your expertise on the matter, the legal hurdles you need to overcome, and the complication of synthesizing (not extracting). Here’s a paper detailing how chemists created the compound from scratch. 

What should be the color of a 4-AcO-DMT powder?

4-AcO-DMT comes in hydrochloride and fumarate salts. Each has its distinct colors and characteristics. The hydrochloride version is whitish brown, while the 4-AcO-DMT fumarate salts have a darker whitish brown hue.