4-HO-MET

Summary sheet: 4-HO-MET

4-HO-MET
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names	4-HO-MET, Metocin, Methylcybin, "Colour"
Substitutive name	4-Hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine
Systematic name	3-{2-[Ethyl(methyl)amino]ethyl}-1H-indol-4-ol
Class Membership
Psychoactive class	Psychedelic
Chemical class	Tryptamine
Routes of Administration
WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section. Smoked Dosage Threshold 5 - 10 mg Light 10 - 25 mg Common 25 - 35 mg Strong 35 - 60 mg Heavy 60 mg + Duration Total 25 - 45 minutes Onset 15 - 120 seconds Oral Dosage Threshold 5 mg Light 5 - 15 mg Common 15 - 25 mg Strong 25 - 45 mg Heavy 45 mg + Duration Total 4 - 6 hours Onset 15 - 40 minutes Come up 30 - 60 minutes Peak 2 - 3 hours Offset 1 - 1.5 hours After effects 2 - 12 hours DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.
Interactions
Cannabis
Stimulants
Tramadol
Lithium]

4-Hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine (also known as "colour", methylcybin, metocin, and 4-HO-MET) is a lesser-known novel psychedelic substance of the tryptamine class. 4-HO-MET is chemically similar to Psilocin, the active ingredient in psilocybin mushrooms ("magic mushrooms"). Like other substituted tryptamines, it produces its psychedelic effects by acting on serotonin receptors in the brain.

4-HO-MET was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin and reported in his 1997 book TiHKAL ("Tryptamines I Have Known and Loved"). Reports of human use began to surface in the late 2000s following its appearance on the online research chemicals market. It has been sold alongside other psilocybin analogues such as 4-AcO-DMT and 4-HO-MiPT.

User reports typically describe 4-HO-MET as a more recreational version of psilocybin mushrooms or psilocin (4-HO-DMT) due to its less serious headspace and greater emphasis on visual effects. Notable effects include geometric visual hallucinations, time distortion, enhanced introspection, and ego loss.

Very little data exists about the pharmacological properties, metabolism, and toxicity of 4-HO-MET. It is assumed to have a similar risk and toxicity profile as psilocybin but there is no data to support this. It is highly advised to use harm reduction practices if using this substance.

Chemistry

4-HO-MET, or 4-hydroxy-N-ethyl-N-methyltryptamine, is a synthetic indole alkaloid molecule of the tryptamine chemical class. Tryptamines share a core structure comprised of a bicyclic indole heterocycle attached at R₃ to an amino group via an ethyl side chain. 4-HO-MET is substituted at R₄ of its indole heterocycle with a hydroxyl functional group OH−. It also contains a methyl group and an ethyl chain bound to the terminal amine R_N of its tryptamine backbone (MET).

4-HO-MET is a 4-hydroxy homolog of 4-AcO-MET and the N-substituted ethyl homolog of psilocin (4-HO-DMT). It is also the 4-hydroxyl analog of the base tryptamine MET.

Pharmacology

Further information: Serotonergic psychedelic

4-HO-MET's psychedelic effects are believed to come from its activity at the 5-HT_2A receptor as a partial agonist. However, the role of these interactions and how they result in the psychedelic experience remains subject to on-going scientific investigation.

Binding Sites	Binding Affinity Ki (µM)
5-HT1A	0.228
5-HT2A	0.057
5-HT2C	0.141
D1	>25
D2	4
D3	6.7
α1A	9.7
α2A	2.4
TAAR1	3.1
H1	0.82
SERT	0.2
DAT	>26
NET	13

Subjective effects

A large body of anecdotal reports suggests that the active dose can vary greatly. Some users report very heavy experiences with doses as low as 17mg, while others report light experiences with doses as high as 30 mg. Possible causes for this observed effect may be attributed to individual differences in neurochemistry and metabolism as well as large variations in the quality of different batches and physical forms (e.g. the HCl vs. fumarate salt) that it has appeared in.

Disclaimer: The effects listed below are cited from the subjective effect index, which is based on anecdotal reports and the personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be treated with a healthy degree of skepticism. It is worth noting that these effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, although higher doses will increase the chances of inducing a full range of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become much more likely on higher doses and may include serious injury or death.

Physical effects

• • Stimulation - 4-HO-MET is primarily stimulating, although it can also be relaxing and stoning. This sets it apart from tryptamines like psilocybin and 4-AcO-DMT, which are primarily sedating.
  • Spontaneous bodily sensations - The "body high" of 4-HO-MET can be described as a pleasurable, warm, soft, and all-encompassing tingling sensation. This maintains a consistent presence that steadily rises following the onset and hits its limit once the peak has been reached.
  • Changes in felt bodily form - This effect is often accompanied by a sense of warmth or unity and usually occurs around or directly after the peak of the experience. Users can feel as if they are physically part of or conjoined with other objects in a seamless continuity. This is usually reported as feeling comfortable, tranquil and mindful, although it can also manifest in the form of bodily tension
  • Nausea - This effect can be greatly lessened or even completely avoided if the individual has an empty stomach prior to ingestion. It is sometimes recommended that one either refrain from eating for approximately 6 to 8 hours before-hand, or to eat a light meal 2 hours before if the user is feeling physically fatigued and undernourished. The nausea produced by 4-HO-MET is generally considered to be much less prominent than it is with psilocybin mushrooms, which has been attributed to the lack of fungal-matter the body has to digest when the isolated synthetic form is consumed.
  • Temperature regulation suppression - 4-HO-MET can cause fluctuations in the user's internal sense of temperature, which can manifest as sudden bouts of uncomfortable coldness or warmth.
  • Muscle contractions - The muscle contractions that can occasionally be produced by 4-HO-MET tend to be transient and benign feeling in nature, compared to many other tryptamines, phenethylamines and lysergamides.
  • Increased heart rate
  • Olfactory hallucination
  • Pupil dilation
  • Increased salivation
  • Excessive yawning - This effect seems to be uniquely pronounced among psilocin and related tryptamines. It can occur to a lesser degree on LSD and very rarely on psychedelic phenethylamines like mescaline. It typically occurs in conjunction with watery eyes.
  • Watery eyes
  • Teeth grinding - This component is considerably less intense when compared with that of substances like MDMA when it does happen to occur, but happens more readily than with related substances like psilocin or psilocybin, perhaps owing to the greater degree of stimulation it produces.
  • Brain zaps - Brain zaps are uncommon and thought to only occur in those who are susceptible to them. They are much less prevalent and intense than those that occur with serotonin releasing agents such as MDMA.
  • Seizure - Psychedelics are known to lower the seizure threshold and may increase the likelihood of a seizure occurring in those who have a personal susceptibility or a family history of epilepsy. It is not considered a risk in healthy people.

Visual effects

• 4-HO-MET is commonly reported to produce visual effects with minimal accompanying cognitive effects or "head space" at lower doses.

  Enhancements

  • Colour enhancement
  • Pattern recognition enhancement
  • Visual acuity enhancement

  Distortions

  • Drifting (melting, flowing, breathing and morphing) - In comparison to other psychedelics, this effect can be described as highly detailed, cartoon-like in style, slow and smooth in motion and static in appearance.
  • After images
  • Colour shifting
  • Recursion
  • Scenery slicing
  • Symmetrical texture repetition
  • Tracers

  Geometry

  The visual geometry produced by 4-HO-MET can be described as somewhat similar in appearance to that of psilocin (4-HO-DMT) and 4-HO-MiPT but with far stronger synthetic digital undertones reminiscent of LSD or 2C-B. 4-HO-MET can be comprehensively described through its variations as intricate in complexity, abstract in form, equally synthetic and organic in style, structured in organization, extremely brightly lit and multicoloured in scheme, glossy in shading, sharp in edges, large in size, fast in speed, smooth in motion, angular in corners, non-immersive in-depth and consistent in intensity. The visuals have a contradictory natural and synthetic feel to them which is reminiscent of both LSD and psilocybin.

  Hallucinatory states

  4-HO-MET and its various other forms produce a full range of high level hallucinatory states in a fashion that is more consistent and reproducible than that of many other commonly used psychedelics. These effects generally include:

  • Transformations
  • Internal hallucination (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; perspective hallucinations and scenarios and plots) - This effect is very consistent in dark environments at appropriately high doses. They can be comprehensively described through their variations as lucid in believability, interactive in style, new experiences in content, autonomous in controllability, geometry-based in style and almost exclusively of a personal, religious, spiritual, science-fiction, fantasy, surreal, nonsensical or transcendental nature in their overall theme.
  • External hallucination (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; perspective hallucinations and scenarios and plots) - They can be comprehensively described through their variations as lucid in believability, interactive in style, new experiences in content, autonomous in controllability, geometry-based in style and almost exclusively of a personal, religious, spiritual, science-fiction, fantasy, surreal, nonsensical or transcendental nature in their overall theme.

Cognitive effects

• The cognitive effects of 4-HO-MET are described by many as somewhat relaxing yet fast-paced in style with similarities to psychedelics such as LSD or 2C-B which tend to be cognitively energetic and stimulating.
  • Analysis enhancement
  • Conceptual thinking
  • Delusion
  • Autonomous voice communication
  • Memory suppression
    • Ego death
  • Analysis enhancement - This effect is consistent in its manifestation and outrospection dominant.
  • Novelty enhancement
  • Immersion enhancement
  • Creativity enhancement
  • Increased music appreciation
  • Increased sense of humor
    • Laughter fits
  • Novelty enhancement
  • Personal bias suppression
  • Thought acceleration
  • Thought connectivity
  • Thought loops
  • Time distortion
  • Wakefulness

Auditory effects

• • Auditory enhancement
  • Auditory distortion
  • Auditory hallucination

Multi-sensory effects

• • Synaesthesia - In its fullest manifestation, this is a very rare and non-reproducible effect. Increasing the dosage can increase the likelihood of this occurring, but seems to only be a prominent part of the experience among those who are already predisposed to synaesthetic states.

Transpersonal effects

• Users report that transpersonal effects tend to occur less reliably and impactfully with 4-HO-MET than the closely related psilocin or psilocybin, and generally require heavier doses to induce. They are listed below as follows:
  • Spirituality enhancement
  • Existential self-realization
  • Feelings of interdependent opposites
  • Unity and interconnectedness

Combination effects

• Cannabis - When used in conjunction with cannabis, both the visual and cognitive effects of 4-HO-MET can be intensified and extended with extreme efficacy. This should be used with extreme caution, however, especially if one is not experienced with psychedelics as this can also amplify the anxiety, confusion and psychosis producing aspects of cannabis significantly.
• Dissociatives - When used in combination with dissociatives, the geometry, euphoria, dissociation and hallucinatory effects are often greatly enhanced. Dissociative-induced holes, spaces, and voids while under the influence of 4-HO-MET can result in significantly more vivid visuals than dissociatives alone present, along with more intense internal hallucinations, confusion, delusions and chances of a psychotic reaction.
• MDMA - When used in conjunction with MDMA, the physical and cognitive effects of MDMA are amplified. The visual, physical and cognitive effects of 4-HO-MET are also intensified with an overwhelming euphoric pleasure manifested through uniquely pleasurable body highs and headspaces, and uniquely colorful and awe-inspiring visuals. The synergy between these substances is unpredictable, and it is best to start with markedly lower dosages than one would take for both substances individually.
• Alcohol - This interaction is not typically recommended due to alcohol’s ability to cause dehydration, which can negatively affect a trip if taken in high dosages. This combination is, however, reasonably safe in low doses and when used responsibly, this can often "take the edge off the trip" as well as dull its psychedelic effects in a fashion somewhat similar to benzodiazepines, albeit more in a more stressful way on the body.
• Benzodiazepines - When used in combination with benzodiazepines, benzodiazepines can, depending on the dosage, slightly to completely reduce the intensity of the cognitive, physical and visual effects of a 4-HO-MET trip. With higher doses, they are very efficient at stopping "bad trips" at the cost of reduced trip intensity and in the worst case, amnesia and blacking out. Caution is advised when acquiring them for this purpose, however, due to the very high addiction potential that benzodiazepines possess. It is generally advised to refrain from intending to use them at all unless the trip suddenly becomes completely overwhelming.

Experience reports

Anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index include:

• Experience:4-HO-MET (25mg, Oral)
• Experience:4-HO-MET 22mg oral
• Experience:4-HO-MET – 15 mg Insufflated

Additional experience reports can be found here:

• Erowid Experience Vaults: 4-HO-MET

Toxicity and harm potential

Further information: Research chemicals § Toxicity and harm potential, and Responsible use § Hallucinogens

The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational 4-HO-MET use do not seem to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dose is unknown. This is because 4-HO-MET is a research chemical with very little history of human usage. However, there are reports of very high doses leading to drug induced psychosis.

Anecdotal evidence from those who have tried 4-HO-MET suggests that there are no negative health effects attributed to simply trying the substance by itself at low to moderate doses and using it very sparingly (but nothing can be completely guaranteed). Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption.

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance.

Tolerance and addiction potential

4-HO-MET is not habit-forming and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating.

Tolerance to the effects of 4-HO-MET are built almost immediately after ingestion. After that, it takes about 3 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 7 days to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). 4-HO-MET presents cross-tolerance with all psychedelics, meaning that after the consumption of 4-HO-MET all psychedelics will have a reduced effect.

Dangerous interactions

Although many psychoactive substances are reasonably safe to use on their own, they can quickly become dangerous or even life-threatening when taken with other substances. The following lists some known dangerous combinations, but cannot be guaranteed to include all of them. Independent research should always be conducted to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some interactions listed have been sourced from TripSit.

• Lithium - Lithium is commonly prescribed in the treatment of bipolar disorder. There is a large body of anecdotal evidence that suggests taking it with psychedelics significantly increases the risk of psychosis and seizures. As a result, this combination is strictly discouraged.
• Cannabis - Cannabis has an unexpectedly strong and unpredictable synergy with the effects of psychedelics. Caution is advised with this combination as it can significantly increase the risk of adverse psychological reactions like anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, and psychosis. Users are advised to start off with only a fraction of their normal cannabis dose and take long breaks between hits to avoid over intake.
• Stimulants (Amphetamine, cocaine, methylphenidate, ...) - Stimulants affect many parts of the brain and alter dopaminergic function. Combined with psychedelics, stimulation can turn into severe anxiety, panic, thought loops, and paranoia. This interaction may result in an elevated risk of mania and psychosis.
• Tramadol - Tramadol lowers the seizure threshold and psychedelics may act as triggers for seizures in susceptible individuals.

Legal status

• Austria: 4-HO-MET is illegal to possess, produce and sell under the NPSG (Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz Österreich).
• Germany: 4-HO-MET is not a controlled substance under the BtMG. It is legal, as long as it is not sold for human consumption, according to §2 AMG.
• Sweden: Sveriges Riksdag added 4-HO-MET to Schedule I ("substances, plant materials and fungi which normally do not have medical use") as narcotics in Sweden as of May 1, 2012.
• United Kingdom: 4-HO-MET is a Class A drug in the United Kingdom as a result of the tryptamine catch-all clause.
• United States: 4-HO-MET is unscheduled in the United States. It may be considered an analogue of psilocin (4-HO-DMT), a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. As such, the sale for human consumption or the use for illicit non-medical or industrial intents and purposes could be prosecuted as crimes under the Federal Analogue Act.

See also

• Responsible use
• Research chemical
• Psychedelic
• Tryptamine
• 4-AcO-MET
• 4-AcO-DMT
• 4-HO-DMT

External links

• 4-HO-MET (Wikipedia)
• 4-HO-MET (Erowid Vault)
• 4-HO-MET (TiHKAL / Isomer Design)

Discussion

• The Big & Dandy 4-HO-MET Thread (Bluelight)