aMT Stats & Data
CC(N)Cc1cnc2ccccc12QSQQQURBVYWZKJ-UHFFFAOYSA-NPharmacology
DrugBankDescription
Indopan (alpha-methyltryptamine) is a stimulant and psychoactive drug which produces effects similar to 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA), despite being structurally dissimilar. It was developed in the 1960's by Upjohn with the intention for use as an antidepressant. In the 1990's, indopan became regulated as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United states.
Pharmacodynamics
With 20-30 milligrams, euphoria, empathy and psychedelic effects are noticeable. Side effects reported have included anxiety, restlessness, tachycardia, muscle tension, jaw tightness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and pupil dilation.
Receptor Profile
Receptor Actions
Receptor Binding
History & Culture
1929–1960s
Alpha-methyltryptamine appears to have first been described in the scientific literature around 1929, though it remained relatively unstudied until the late 1950s. More intensive research on AMT began in the late 1950s and early 1960s, conducted alongside its close structural relative alpha-ethyltryptamine (aET). The compound was investigated by multiple pharmaceutical companies during this period, with Upjohn in the United States assigning it the code name U-14,164E, while Sandoz researched it under the designation IT-290. During the 1960s, AMT was briefly marketed in the Soviet Union as an antidepressant under the trade name Indopan (sometimes spelled Indopane). The medication was prescribed in tablet form at doses of 5 to 10 milligrams. However, its clinical use was short-lived, and the drug was withdrawn from the market after only a brief period of therapeutic application. The related compound aET saw somewhat broader pharmaceutical use, being sold commercially in the United States as an antidepressant under the brand name Monase before being placed in Schedule I in 1971.
1960s–2003
AMT began to see recreational use during the 1960s, concurrent with its pharmaceutical development. The compound was also employed in certain psychotherapeutic studies during this decade. Despite this early use, AMT remained a relatively obscure substance for several decades following its withdrawal from clinical application. The compound experienced renewed interest in the late 1990s when it became one of the first psychoactive tryptamines to be widely sold as a "research chemical" through online vendors. This period marked the beginning of the modern research chemical market, with AMT becoming available to a significantly broader user base through internet commerce. The increased availability and use of AMT during this era eventually led to regulatory action, with the substance being emergency scheduled in the United States in April 2003 and permanently placed in Schedule I in September 2004.
Subjective Effects
Physical
The physical effects of AMT can be broken down into six components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage.
- Spontaneous tactile sensations: AMT's body high can be described as an intense and constant all-encompassing sensation. In comparison to other psychedelics, this sensation does not manifest itself in the form of a continuously shifting tingling sensation that travels up and down the body spontaneously, instead being felt as an extended unchanging activation of every nerve ending on the body that lasts throughout the entire duration of the trip. This everlasting droning is immensely pleasurable but can become overwhelmingly intense and almost a burden at higher levels.
- Stimulation: In terms of its effects on the physical energy levels of the tripper, AMT is very stimulating, resulting in jaw clenching and a shakiness and unsteadiness of the hands but encouraging trippers to move around, run, dance, climb and generally engage in physical activities.
- Nausea: In terms of the physical discomfort experienced on this substance, moderate to extreme nausea is almost consistently reported when consumed at any dosage. This either passes once the tripper has vomited or gradually fades by itself as the peak sets in.
- Difficulty urinating: A slight difficulty urinating is occasionally present.
- Headaches: Many people report headaches towards the end of the experience.
- Loss of temperature regulation
Cognitive
In comparison to more traditional psychedelics such as LSD, DMT and Psilocin, the AMT head space is described as not nearly as deep, insightful or profound.
- Introspection: This component is consistently manifested only in the context of a non social setting in which the user is alone.
- Acceleration of thought
- Connectivity of thought
- Increased empathy, love and sociability: This component is consistently manifested only in the context of social settings in which one is within the company of others. These feelings of sociability, love and empathy are a little weaker and less sharp than those found on substances such as MDMA and 2C-B but still prove strong enough to provide long lasting therapeutic effects.
- Enhancement of current mind state
- Euphoria
- Conceptual thinking
- Ego suppression, loss and death
- Time distortion
Sensory
- Enhancements
- Distortions
- Hallucinations
- Visual drifting: (melting, flowing, breathing and morphing) - In comparison to other psychedelics, this effect can be described as highly detailed, slow and smooth in motion, static in their appearance, and unrealistic/cartoon like in style.
- Tracers
- After images
- Texture repetition: In comparison to more commonly used psychedelics such as LSD and Psilocybin, this effect is significantly less intricate and complex although still very distinct in its presence.
- Colour shifting
- Scenery slicing
- Increased visual acuity
- Enhancement of colours
- Enhanced pattern recognition
At high dosages AMT can 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.
- External hallucinations
- Internal hallucinations: This particular effect commonly contains hallucinations with scenarios, settings, concepts and autonomous entity contact. They are more common within dark environments and can be described as internal in their manifestation, lucid in believability, interactive in style and almost exclusively of religious, spiritual, mystical or a transcendental nature in their overall theme.
Forked from Subjective Effect Documentation by Josie Kins, November 2012. Via dose.wiki (CC0).
The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational αMT use do not seem to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dose is unknown. This is because AMT is a research chemical with very little history of human usage. As a monoamine reuptake inhibitor, αMT can be dangerous when taken in excessive doses or when combined with MAOIs, RIMAs, stimulants and any substance which act as a releasing agent or reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and dopamine. There is one reported death from AMT, but it is not known how much of the substance was taken. Erowid states that they have received "a handful of unverifiable reports of hospitalization after high-dose (over 60 mg oral) AMT ingestion." It is worth noting that αMT's analog αET has been shown to produce long-lasting serotonergic neurotoxicity at very high doses.
Toxicity (DrugBank)
Long lasting serotonin neuro-toxicity at high doses is potentially possible, and is seen with a close analogue of alpha-methyltryptmaine: alpha-ethyltryptamine.
Effect Profile
Curated + 269 ReportsStrong visuals, headspace, and auditory effects with strong body load
Strong empathy, stimulation, sensory enhancement, and euphoria
Strong stimulation with strong anxiety/jitters, moderate euphoria, low focus
Duration Timeline
BluelightEmpirical Duration
Erowid ReportsMedian times after the dose that Erowid reports state. A curve is drawn only when reports state all four points (onset, peak begins, comedown begins, back to baseline) and the medians fall in that order. No point is estimated from another.
No curve: fewer than 5 reports state the return to baseline, and no point is estimated from another.
Community Effects
TripSitTolerance & Pharmacokinetics
drugs.wikiTolerance Decay
Acutely diminished effects if re-dosed within days; spacing of at least 1–2 weeks is commonly recommended in HR communities to minimize tolerance and after-effects.
Cross-Tolerances
Demographics
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Reports Over Time
Effect Analysis
Erowid + BluelightEffects aggregated from 208 experience reports (158 single-substance Erowid + 111 Bluelight)
Effect Sentiment Distribution
Confidence Distribution
Each bar is the share of reports mentioning the effect; its whisker, and the band on the rows below, is the 95% interval: where the share could plausibly be with other reports of the same kind.
Positive Effects 73
Adverse Effects 50
Show 28 more adverse effects
Show 28 neutral or unclassified mentions
Also reported in combinations. In the 122 aMT reports where another drug was taken too, 14 (11.5%) mention hospital, emergency services or an overdose, 2 (1.6%) a seizure and 2 (1.6%) psychosis. In the 158 single-substance reports: 14.6%, 2.5% and 1.9%. These are not in the figures above: they cannot be put down to aMT alone, and a mention is not always something that happened to the writer.
Dose-Response Correlation
How effect frequency changes across dose levels. Whiskers, and the numbers' hover text, give each figure's 95% interval.
Not drawn, too few reports (a dose tier needs 20): Oral Light (n=12). Why 20?
View data table
| Effect | Common (n=23) | Strong (n=31) | Heavy (n=20) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Distortions | 78.3% (95% interval 58 to 90 percent) | 67.7% (95% interval 50 to 81 percent) | 70.0% (95% interval 48 to 86 percent) |
| Nausea | 60.9% (95% interval 41 to 78 percent) | 61.3% (95% interval 44 to 76 percent) | 65.0% (95% interval 43 to 82 percent) |
| Stimulation | 34.8% (95% interval 19 to 55 percent) | 51.6% (95% interval 35 to 68 percent) | 45.0% (95% interval 26 to 66 percent) |
| Music Enhancement | 26.1% (95% interval 12 to 46 percent) | 51.6% (95% interval 35 to 68 percent) | 45.0% (95% interval 26 to 66 percent) |
| Color Enhancement | 47.8% (95% interval 29 to 67 percent) | 38.7% (95% interval 24 to 56 percent) | 50.0% (95% interval 30 to 70 percent) |
| Anxiety | 43.5% (95% interval 26 to 63 percent) | 45.2% (95% interval 29 to 62 percent) | 35.0% (95% interval 18 to 57 percent) |
| Sedation | 30.4% (95% interval 16 to 51 percent) | 45.2% (95% interval 29 to 62 percent) | 20.0% (95% interval 8 to 42 percent) |
| Euphoria | 34.8% (95% interval 19 to 55 percent) | 29.0% (95% interval 16 to 47 percent) | 40.0% (95% interval 22 to 61 percent) |
| Hospital | 13.0% (95% interval 4 to 32 percent) | 16.1% (95% interval 7 to 33 percent) | 40.0% (95% interval 22 to 61 percent) |
| Empathy | 30.4% (95% interval 16 to 51 percent) | 38.7% (95% interval 24 to 56 percent) | 35.0% (95% interval 18 to 57 percent) |
| Pupil Dilation | 13.0% (95% interval 4 to 32 percent) | 38.7% (95% interval 24 to 56 percent) | 15.0% (95% interval 5 to 36 percent) |
| Confusion | 30.4% (95% interval 16 to 51 percent) | 29.0% (95% interval 16 to 47 percent) | 30.0% (95% interval 14 to 52 percent) |
| Auditory Effects | 26.1% (95% interval 12 to 46 percent) | 25.8% (95% interval 14 to 43 percent) | 30.0% (95% interval 14 to 52 percent) |
| Body High | 21.7% (95% interval 10 to 42 percent) | 16.1% (95% interval 7 to 33 percent) | 30.0% (95% interval 14 to 52 percent) |
| Headache | 21.7% (95% interval 10 to 42 percent) | 22.6% (95% interval 11 to 40 percent) | 30.0% (95% interval 14 to 52 percent) |
Subjective Effect Ontology
Experience ReportsStructured effect tags extracted from 330 Erowid & Bluelight experience reports using a controlled vocabulary of 220+ canonical effects across 15 domains.
Auditory
Cognitive
Emotional
Gastrointestinal
Motor
Visual
Dose–Effect Mapping
Experience ReportsHow reported effects shift across dose tiers, based on 158 single-substance experience reports. The shaded band on each bar is its 95% interval. An arrow (↑ ↓) marks a change between the lowest and highest tier that count an effect only when the gap is bigger than chance would explain; ~ means no clear change. How changes are called
Not drawn, too few reports (a dose tier needs 20): Oral Light (n=12). Why 20?
| Effect | Common (n=23) | Strong (n=31) | Heavy (n=20) | Change with dose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| visual distortions | (no clear change: −8 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −33 to +17) | |||
| nausea | (no clear change: +4 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −23 to +30) | |||
| stimulation | (no clear change: +10 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −18 to +36) | |||
| music enhancement | (no clear change: +19 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −9 to +44) | |||
| color enhancement | (no clear change: +2 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −26 to +30) | |||
| anxiety | (no clear change: −8 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −34 to +20) | |||
| sedation | (no clear change: −10 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −34 to +16) | |||
| euphoria | (no clear change: +5 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −22 to +32) | |||
| hospital | (+27 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval +1 to +50) | |||
| empathy | (no clear change: +5 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −22 to +31) | |||
| pupil dilation | (no clear change: +2 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −20 to +25) | |||
| confusion | (no clear change: −0.4 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −26 to +26) | |||
| auditory effects | (no clear change: +4 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −22 to +30) | |||
| body high | (no clear change: +8 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −17 to +33) | |||
| headache | (no clear change: +8 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −17 to +33) | |||
| closed-eye visuals | (no clear change: +17 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −8 to +40) | |||
| jaw clenching | (no clear change: +8 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −16 to +32) | |||
| sweating | (no clear change: −3 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −23 to +19) | |||
| tactile enhancement | (no clear change: +12 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −12 to +35) | |||
| dissociation | (no clear change: +1 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −18 to +22) |
Showing top 20 of 33 effects
Risk Escalation
Sentiment AnalysisAverage frequency of positive vs adverse effects across dose tiers. A tier's average is the mean share of the effects counted in that tier, not a share of reports, and its range is a deliberately wide 95% interval. A tier with more reports also counts rarer effects, which pulls its average down, so compare single effects in the breakdown rather than these averages. There, the shaded band on each bar is its 95% interval, and Change is marked up or down only when the gap between two tiers is bigger than chance would explain. How changes are called
Not drawn, too few reports (a dose tier needs 20): Light (n=12). Why 20?
View effect breakdown
Adverse Effects
| Effect | Common (n=23) | Strong (n=31) | Heavy (n=20) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | no clear change (no clear change: +4 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −23 to +30) | |||
| Anxiety | no clear change (no clear change: −8 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −34 to +20) | |||
| Pupil Dilation | no clear change (no clear change: +2 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −20 to +25) | |||
| Confusion | no clear change (no clear change: −0.4 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −26 to +26) | |||
| Headache | no clear change (no clear change: +8 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −17 to +33) | |||
| Jaw Clenching | no clear change (no clear change: +8 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −16 to +32) | |||
| Sweating | no clear change (no clear change: −3 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −23 to +19) | |||
| Memory Suppression | no clear change (no clear change: +11 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −10 to +34) | |||
| Muscle Tension | no clear change (no clear change: +2 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −20 to +25) | |||
| Motor Impairment | — | no clear change (no clear change: +5 points from Strong to Heavy, 95% interval −13 to +27) | ||
| Increased Heart Rate | — | no clear change (no clear change: −0.1 points from Common to Strong, 95% interval −21 to +18) | ||
| Psychosis | — | — | — | |
| Seizure | — | — | — | |
| Thought Loops | — | — | — |
Positive Effects
| Effect | Common (n=23) | Strong (n=31) | Heavy (n=20) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Distortions | no clear change (no clear change: −8 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −33 to +17) | |||
| Stimulation | no clear change (no clear change: +10 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −18 to +36) | |||
| Music Enhancement | no clear change (no clear change: +19 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −9 to +44) | |||
| Color Enhancement | no clear change (no clear change: +2 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −26 to +30) | |||
| Euphoria | no clear change (no clear change: +5 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −22 to +32) | |||
| Empathy | no clear change (no clear change: +5 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −22 to +31) | |||
| Body High | no clear change (no clear change: +8 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −17 to +33) | |||
| Closed-Eye Visuals | no clear change (no clear change: +17 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −8 to +40) | |||
| Tactile Enhancement | no clear change (no clear change: +12 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −12 to +35) | |||
| Open-Eye Visuals | no clear change (no clear change: −3 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −23 to +19) | |||
| Introspection | — | no clear change (no clear change: −4 points from Strong to Heavy, 95% interval −24 to +19) | ||
| Focus Enhancement | no clear change (no clear change: +1 points from Common to Heavy, 95% interval −18 to +22) | |||
| Creativity Enhancement | — | — | — |
Dosage Distribution
Dose distribution from experience reports, one dose per report (the first listed). Doses above Q3 + 3×IQR, far above what people typically take, are left out of the median and range and listed under each route: most are real heavy doses or overdoses, not mistakes.
2 reports gave a dose above the typical range (150–200 mg), so they are not in the figures above. 1 of them mentions hospital, emergency services or an overdose. Listing a dose here does not mean it is safe.
Real-World Dose Distribution
ErowidFrom 331 of 348 recorded dose entries: those that state a weight (mg, g or µg), in routes with at least five of them. Values above Q3 + 3×IQR, far above what people typically take, are left out; they can include real heavy doses and overdoses, not only mistakes.
Insufflated (n=15)
Oral (n=287)
Smoked (n=15)
Common Combinations
Most co-occurring substances, as a share of all 280 reports filed under aMT; whiskers are 95% intervals
Form / Preparation
Most common forms and preparations, as a share of the 202 reports that give one; whiskers are 95% intervals
Body-Weight Dosing
Dose per kg of body weight, one dose per report (the first listed), from reports giving a weight of 30–250 kg. Doses above Q3 + 3×IQR, far above what people typically take, are left out of the median and range and listed under each route.
Oral
1 report gave a dose above the typical range (2.594 mg/kg), so it is not in the figures above. Listing a dose here does not mean it is safe.
Show the report
- 2.594 mg/kg · another drug taken too
Insufflated
Redose Patterns
Redosing behavior across 212 reports
Legal Status
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Controlled (analogue) | Controlled as an analogue of 5-MeO-AMT, which is a Schedule 9 prohibited substance under the Poisons Standard. Possession, production, and sale are illegal. Reportedly listed on Schedule 8 of the Australian Customs import list since 2001. |
| Austria | NPSG Group 6 | Controlled under the Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz (New Psychoactive Substances Act). Possession, production, and sale are prohibited. |
| Canada | Not specifically scheduled | Not mentioned in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. May still be subject to analogue provisions if sold for human consumption. |
| China | Controlled | Classified as a controlled substance as of October 2015. Production, sale, import, and export are prohibited. |
| Denmark | List B | Placed on List B of controlled substances by the Danish Minister for the Interior and Health in 2010. |
| Finland | Controlled | Classified as a controlled drug under Finnish national drug legislation. |
| Germany | Anlage I BtMG | Listed in Anlage I (Schedule I) of the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (Narcotics Act) since January 31, 1993. Manufacturing, possession, import, export, purchase, sale, and dispensing without license are prohibited. |
| Greece | Controlled | Prohibited under Law 4139/2013. Became a controlled substance on February 18, 2003. Possession, production, and sale are illegal. |
| Hungary | Schedule C | Placed on the Schedule C list of controlled substances in 2013. |
| Japan | Controlled | Made illegal on April 17, 2005. Possession, production, and sale are prohibited. |
| Latvia | Schedule I | Classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under Latvian drug legislation. |
| Lithuania | List I | Controlled as a tryptamine derivative since 2012, listed on the 1st list of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Medical use is prohibited. |
| Russia | Controlled | AMT and certain derivatives have been controlled substances since June 4, 2012. Possession, production, and sale are illegal. |
| Slovakia | Controlled | Placed on the List of Hazardous Substances in Annex, § 2 in 2013. |
| Slovenia | Controlled | Listed on the Decree on Classification of Illicit Drugs since 2013. |
| Spain | Legal | Not specifically controlled under Spanish drug legislation as of available sources, though some references cite control under general prohibition laws. |
| Sweden | Controlled | Classified as a health hazard under Lagen om förbud mot vissa hälsofarliga varor (Act on the Prohibition of Certain Goods Dangerous to Health) since March 1, 2005 via regulation SFS 2005:26. Sale and possession are illegal. |
| Switzerland | Verzeichnis D | Specifically named as a controlled substance alongside AET under Verzeichnis D (Schedule D) of Swiss controlled substances legislation. |
| United Kingdom | Class A | Made illegal on January 7, 2015 as a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 following an Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recommendation to update the tryptamine catch-all clause. Previously uncontrolled because its alkyl substitution occurs on the alpha carbon rather than the nitrogen position. |
| United States | Schedule I | Temporarily placed in Schedule I on April 4, 2003 under emergency scheduling procedures, then permanently scheduled on September 29, 2004. Classified as a hallucinogen with high abuse potential and no accepted medical use. Also listed as a dangerous drug in Arizona since April 2014 and Schedule I in Illinois. |
Harm Reduction
drugs.wikiAMT is a long-acting serotonergic tryptamine with stimulant and entactogenic features; nausea and vomiting are common, especially early in the experience. Onset is often slow (60–180 minutes), which leads some to redose prematurely; this is a frequent cause of overdosing—wait at least 2.5–3 hours before considering any change. AMT’s serotonergic action and reported mild MAOI activity mean combinations with other serotonergic agents (e.g., SSRIs/SNRIs/TCAs, MAOIs, MDMA, tramadol, dextromethorphan, linezolid, St John’s Wort) significantly increase the risk of serotonin syndrome; avoid these mixes entirely. Distinguish AMT from 5-MeO-AMT: 5-MeO-AMT is active at single-digit milligram doses and has been linked to medical emergencies; confusing the two has led to overdoses—verify substance identity via trusted drug checking. Because AMT is sometimes sold as different salt forms (e.g., succinate) or freebase, be aware that equal milligram weights may not equal the same base amount; if the salt form is unknown, start at the very low end. Insufflation and smoking/freebasing produce faster, sharper onsets and are associated with more nausea, irritation, and anxiety; oral use is generally better tolerated. Plan for the very long duration and potential insomnia: avoid driving/operating machinery until the next day and keep the environment cool, with periodic fluids and electrolytes to mitigate hyperthermia risk if exerting. Use an accurate milligram scale and avoid eyeballing; if volumetric dosing is used, label clearly and measure precisely. Given variable potency and common misrepresentation in the unregulated market, use professional drug checking where available and avoid polydrug use.
References
Data Sources
Cited References
- Arai et al. 1986 - AMT MAOI Properties
- Barceloux 2012 - Medical Toxicology of Drug Abuse
- Bluelight: AMT Discussion
- Boland et al. 2005 - Fatality due to acute AMT intoxication
- DEA: Alpha-Methyltryptamine
- DrugBank: Indopan (AMT)
- DrugWise: AMT
- Erowid: AMT Vault
- FRANK: aMT
- Greig et al. 1959 - Tryptamine derivatives on serotonin metabolism
- Nagai et al. 2007 - Effects on monoamine neurotransmission
- Nonaka et al. 2007 - In vitro screening by GTPγS binding
- PsychonautWiki: αMT
- Shulgin & Shulgin - TiHKAL Entry #48
- WHO Critical Review Report - AMT
- TripSit Factsheet: AMT
- Drug Users Bible: Index
Additional references
- Erowid AMT: Dosage & duration
- Erowid AMT: Main vault (warning re: 5-MeO-AMT confusion)
- Erowid AMT: FAQ (aliases, smoked route)
- DrugWise: AMT overview & serotonin toxicity warning
- DrugBank (DB01446): Indopan (AMT) entry (half-life not available)
- Bluelight AMT megathread (route-specific tolerability notes)
- Drug Users Bible AMT page (general HR framing)
- NCBI Bookshelf: StatPearls – Serotonin Syndrome (serotonergic agents list, management)
- Toronto Drug Checking Service – program info (why to test)