N-dimethyltryptamine, better known as DMT, is a naturally occurring hallucinogen found in certain trees and plants. The drug is illegal in the U.S., largely because its consumption comes with significant risks for substance abuse. Concern about DMT also centers on its ability to produce a wide range of significant side effects. Some of these effects are mental or psychological in nature. Others take a more physical form. In both cases, the result of taking DMT can be a serious alteration of your normal health and function.
Mental Side Effects of DMT
Most people who take a given drug are looking to experience certain kinds of desirable or pleasurable effects. In the case of DMT, those effects are mental. They include intense hallucinations and a sense of floating or depersonalization. They also include an altered perception of the passing of time.
Usually, these mental DMT side effects only last anywhere from minutes to hours. However, in some cases, they can linger for days or even weeks. In addition, a small number of DMT users develop something called hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD). People with this disorder experience random flashbacks that return them to a drug-altered state of mind. This can happen to you years after you last took DMT.
DMT use can also lead to psychosis. This term describes a distressing mental state that produces hallucinations or delusional thinking. The ability to produce psychosis helps explain DMT’s potential to contribute to the onset of mental illness.
Physical DMT Side Effects
Anyone who takes DMT risks a variety of short-term, physical side effects. Documented examples of these effects include:
- A spike in your normal blood pressure
- An accelerated heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rapid and uncontrolled eye movements
- Tightness or pain in your chest
- Double vision or other changes in your visual field
- Difficulty controlling your muscles
You may also be affected by more severe side effects. For example, DMT-related loss of muscle control can lead to falls and other accidental injuries. In addition, some people who take DMT experience seizures.
If you have a history of heart problems, use of the drug could increase your risk for cardiac arrest. That’s the term for the sudden, complete stoppage of the beating of your heart. DMT use can also lead to respiratory arrest, i.e., complete stoppage of your lung function.
DMT and Serotonin Syndrome
DMT is known for its ability to increase your levels of serotonin, one of your body’s most important chemical messengers. If your levels of this chemical rise too high, you could develop a condition known as serotonin syndrome. Possible symptoms of this syndrome include things such as:
- Trembling, rigid or spastic muscles
- A disoriented or confused mental state
- Anxiety and irritability
- Seizures
In severe cases, you may lose consciousness. You may also fall into the unresponsive state commonly known as a coma. In a worst-case scenario, serotonin syndrome can be fatal. Your risks for this syndrome increase if you use DMT in large amounts or in combination with an antidepressant.
Learn More About the Potential Side Effects of DMT at Promises Right Step
Want more information on the known potential side effects of DMT? Consult the specialists at Promises Right Step. With our help, you can get a better idea of the physical and mental impact of this powerful hallucinogen.
Are you or your loved one caught up in a cycle of DMT use? Turn to Promises for state-of-the-art substance treatment geared toward your specific circumstances. Just call us today at 17135283709 to get the process started today. We’re also available via our brief online message form.
