Skip to main content

How Long Does DMT Last?

N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a brief and fleeting psychedelic compound. Unlike other psychedelics that require a full day’s commitment, DMT earns its reputation as the “businessman’s trip.” The concept revolves around the notion that the experience can happen within the duration of a lunch break. 

This leads us to the question: “How long does DMT last?” Let’s investigate the factors that influence the length of a DMT experience.

How Long Does DMT Last?

Whether it’s smoked, vaped, inhaled, or insufflated, DMT experiences endure for no more than 45 minutes. In most individuals, the experience lasts closer to 30 minutes.

This brevity is the very reason DMT earns the moniker “the business trip” — it packs a powerful punch but is short-lived. During a typical lunch hour, you can journey from your ordinary state of consciousness to meet interdimensional machine elves and return.

DMT

What is DMT?

N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is an indole alkaloid with powerful serotonergic psychedelic properties. According to Dr. Dennis Mckenna, ethnopharmacologist and research pharmacognosist, DMT interacts with the 5HT-2A receptor, a receptor widely present in nature and in humans.

DMT is found naturally in several plants, with the most famous source being the ayahuasca plant. British chemist Richard Manske originally synthesized it in 1931, and its popularity surged in the 1960s.

Breakdown of DMT Trip

The Onset

The onset of smoked DMT is significantly faster compared to other traditional psychedelics. The effects of DMT happen within a matter of seconds, with noticeable changes occurring in as little as 15 seconds. 

The Peak

The pinnacle of a DMT journey is a vivid, surreal, and mystical encounter. You’ll encounter transformative shapes and vibrant hues in an otherworldly landscape that can seem as unfamiliar as the moon’s far side. The zenith of a DMT trip occurs within 2-8 minutes after consumption. 

The Comedown

The dissipation of a DMT trip occurs notably faster when compared to other psychedelics. You can swiftly transition from a deep immersion in an alternate dimension to regaining body and environmental awareness. The descent from the peak transpires within 1-8 minutes.

After Effects

After effects encompass lingering physical sensations, like heightened alertness, positive mood, euphoria, confusion, or disorientation. Note that when these after effects occur, the primary subjective effects of the substance have already subsided. Perceptual distortions will have ceased, but you might still feel some residual impact.

The after effects persist for 10-60 minutes following the decline of the primary experience. At this stage, you will be fully functional and capable of engaging in conversations and normal activities.

Factors Affecting the DMT Trip

The length of a DMT experience is shaped by various factors. Gaining insights into these factors empowers users to make adjustments, potentially enabling them to attain their desired trip duration.

FACTORSHOW IT AFFECTS TRIP
DosageThe higher the dose, the longer the trip. Small amounts can be shorter but induce powerful trips.
Administration MethodInjected – up to 30 minutesSmoked or vaped – 45 minutesInsufflated – 1 hourOral (ayahuasca) – 12 hours with after-effects
Psychological StateAnxiety or feeling overwhelmed may result in a shorter DMT experience.A relaxed and open-minded approach leads to longer and smoother trips.
Frequency of UseFrequent users lead to shorter trio due to tolerance.
Set and SettingA positive and secure environment leads to longer tripsA disorderly or unfamiliar setting results in a shorter journey.

Why are DMT Trips Short?

DMT is present in the human brain, which indicates that our bodies are familiar with processing this compound. It plays a significant role in numerous functions within both the central and peripheral nervous systems. 

The length of DMT trips is due to our body’s efficient metabolism of the compound. These factors collectively contribute to its relative safety for consumption and offer insights into the potential advantages of a DMT experience.

How Does It Feel Like to Trip with DMT

People’s experiences with DMT vary widely, ranging from deeply blissful to profoundly frightening. Many describe it as an all-encompassing hallucinogenic journey, often involving interactions with alien-like beings.

Potential effects of DMT encompass:

  1. Enhanced sensory perceptions involve the exaggerated perception of colours, heightened auditory sensitivity, and increased tactile sensitivity.
  2. Perceptions of sensory input that are not grounded in reality (hallucinations), whether through sight, sound, smell, or touch.
  3. Experiences of synesthesia, where senses become intertwined and lead to phenomena like hearing colours or seeing sounds.
  4. Cognitive alterations, including distortions in one’s perception of self and the external world, such as feeling invincible, experiencing detachment from one’s body, perceiving the environment as unreal, or adopting an alternate identity.
  5. A shift in one’s perception of time. The user begins to manifest time passing significantly slower than reality (e.g., minutes feeling like hours, hours like days, etc.).
  6. Profound delusions that involve beliefs that lack a basis in reality.

In a study published in the Frontiers in Psychology, 39 mentally healthy participants shared their DMT experiences. A striking 94% of participants reported encounters with sentient entities.

Among these entities, 81% had a visible form, while others were described as a “sensed presence” without a specific form, often referred to as an “omnipresence.” 33% of participants claimed to have received a message during their DMT experience.

Products for Exploring the Profound Mysteries of DMT

PRODUCTPRODUCT TYPEACTIVE INGREDIENTEFFECTS
Deadhead Chemist – 5-Meo-DMTVape Cartridge5-MeO-DMTExperience of a vibrant and mystical realmRecurring patternsPhysical, emotional, and conceptual transformations
Deadhead Chemist – N, N DMTVape CartridgeN, N-DimethyltryptaminePotent visual and auditory hallucinationA sense of euphoriaDistorted perception of one’s surroundings and physical self.
Lucid Supply Co. 5-MeO DMT VaporizerVape Cartridge5-MeO-DMTProfound and complete mystical or spiritual encounters.
Osmosis – Ethereal Essence 4-ACO-DMTTincture 4AcO-DMTPsychedelic visual phenomena, ranging from intensified colours to lifelike hallucinationFeelings of euphoriaEgo dissolutionMystical or spiritual encounters. 

Zoomies Canada: High-Quality DMT Vapes and More

Zoomies Canada is your go-to online destination for top-tier DMT products sourced from trusted brands. Our inventory includes a diverse range of vape cartridges featuring various DMT formulations for you to delve into. 

If smoking or vaping isn’t your preference, we also provide potent tinctures to facilitate brief yet eye-opening DMT journeys. The added convenience is that you can shop from home, and we’ll deliver to your doorstep.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does DMT stay in the system?

The human body swiftly metabolizes DMT, and it does not accumulate in any bodily reservoir. The body completely expels it within a few hours. In a study published at Frontier in Neuroscience, injected DMT achieves its highest blood concentration in 10 to 15 minutes and falls below the detectable threshold within one hour.

Overview of DMT’s duration in the body:

  • Blood: 2 hours
  • Saliva: 4 to 5 hours
  • Urine: 24 hours
  • Hair: up to 90 days

How long does it take for DMT to kick in?

Individuals who smoke or vape DMT engage in a deliberate, deep inhalation, holding their breath for 15 to 20 seconds. As they exhale, the effects occur, and within approximately 60 seconds, they immerse themselves in an entirely different dimension.

Intravenous administration of DMT is equally rapid, as its effects kick in at the 20-second mark with full intensity.

Alternative forms of DMT, like ayahuasca, entail a considerably lengthier onset. The active components must initially traverse the stomach, then the small intestines, before entering the bloodstream. Ayahuasca necessitates roughly an hour before the effects become noticeable, and they progressively intensify over the following 1 to 2 hours.

How does DMT differ from other psychedelics in terms of trip onset and duration?

TRIP STAGESDMTLSDPSILOCYBINMDMA
Onset15 seconds30 minutes30 minutes15-60 minutes
Peak2-8 minutes3-5 hours90-120 minutes1.5-3 hours
Coming Down1-8 minutes3-5 hours2-4 hours2-3 hours
After Effects10-60 hoursUp to 12 hoursUp to 6 hoursUp to 24 hours

What are the benefits of using DMT?

In a study from the Americal Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse involving 362 adults, around 80 percent of participants reported experiencing enhanced well-being in terms of anxiety and depression following the use of 5-MeO-DMT. 

The increased intensity of immediate mystical effects during the 5-MeO-DMT experience was associated with these improvements. There is a stronger belief that the experience contributed to long-term well-being and life satisfaction. 

How does DMT work in the body?

DMT primarily acts as an agonist on serotonin (5-HT) receptors. Like many substances in its category, DMT’s psychedelic effects are largely due to its influence on the 5-HT2A receptor. While it does interact with various other receptor types, including dopamine and sigma receptors, the outcomes of these interactions remain poorly understood.

A study involving 12 volunteers who received low, medium, or high doses of DMT revealed that the psychedelic threshold for DMT is at 0.2 mg/kg. At this level, numerous biological effects underwent noticeable alterations. 

Adrenocorticotropin hormone, beta-endorphin, prolactin, growth hormone (GH), and cortisol levels all increased. Pupil dilation, heart rate, and blood pressure all reached their peak within 2 minutes of administration, coinciding with subjective experiences.

Related Articles: