A fatal intoxication following the ingestion of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in an ayahuasca preparation.
Journal of analytical toxicology – January 01, 2005
Source: PubMed
Summary
A tragic case highlights the potent risks associated with certain hallucinogenic compounds, even in traditional herbal preparations. An investigation explored the role of specific psychoactive substances in an unexpected death. Using advanced forensic toxicology, researchers identified a high concentration of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), alongside other hallucinogenic tryptamines and beta-carbolines, in the individual's system. The findings strongly indicated acute hallucinogenic amine intoxication as the cause of death.
Abstract
A case of a 25-year-old white male who was found dead the morning after consuming herbal extracts containing beta-carbolines and hallucinogenic tryptamines is presented. No anatomic cause of death was found at autopsy. Toxicologic analysis of the heart blood identified N,N-dimethyltryptamine (0.02 mg/L), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (1.88 mg/L), tetrahydroharmine (0.38 mg/L), harmaline (0.07 mg/L), and harmine (0.17 mg/L). All substances were extracted by a single-step n-butyl chloride extraction following alkalinization with borate buffer. Detection and quantitation was performed using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry. The medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was hallucinogenic amine intoxication, and the manner of death was undetermined.