Psychedelic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine: metabolism, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, and pharmacological actions.
Current drug metabolism October 1, 2010 Hong-Wu Shen, Xi-Ling Jiang, Jerrold C Winter et al. 171 citations
5-MeO-DMT, a naturally occurring psychoactive drug, is metabolized by the enzyme CYP2D6 into the active metabolite bufotenine and is mainly inactivated by MAO-A. When taken with MAO-A inhibitors like harmaline, deamination is reduced, leading to prolonged exposure to both 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenine. These compounds act together on serotonin systems, potentially causing serotonin toxicity. CYP2D6 also metabolizes harmaline, and genetic variations in this enzyme may alter drug interactions and risks. This review covers the metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and drug-drug interactions of 5-MeO-DMT with harmaline, along with risks of intoxication.