Acute Dose-dependent Effects of DMT-bolus Applications in Healthy Subjects (DMT BDR-Study)

University Hospital Basel

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Drug: Placebo (saline); Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (15mg); Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (25mg); Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (10mg); Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (20mg); Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5mg)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05695495

BASEC 2022-01224

Details and patient eligibility

About

N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a psychoactive substance with similar effects such as LSD or psilocybin. However, DMT is less well characterized than the latter substances. The present study is a modern randomized cross-over trial, investigating different intravenous DMT boluses over a broad dose range. Thus, different doses will be tested and related to subjective and autonomic effects.

Full description

N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a naturally-occurring psychedelic substance widely used in recreational and spiritual settings (Ayahuasca). DMT is considered a tool to induce an altered state of consciousness of interest in psychological and psychiatric research. DMT is rapidly metabolized by monoamine oxidase (MAO) A. Therefore, it is inactive when administered orally and has a very short duration of action when administered parenterally (<20 min). However, to date no clinical study has investigated dose-response effects over a broad range of different doses of DMT within the same patient. The aim of the present study is to experimentally test different intravenous DMT bolus doses over a broad dose range and investigate the related subjective and autonomic effects in order to establish a precise dose-response relationship of DMT in healthy subjects.

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 25 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age between 25 and 65 years old
2. Sufficient understanding of the German language
3. Understanding of procedures and risks associated with the study
4. Willing to adhere to the protocol and signing of the consent form
5. Willing to refrain from the consumption of illicit psychoactive substances during the study
6. Abstaining from xanthine-based liquids from the evenings prior to the study sessions and during the sessions
7. Willing not to operate heavy machinery within 6 h of DMT administration
8. Willing to use double-barrier birth control throughout study participation
9. Body mass index between 18-29 kg/m2.

Exclusion criteria

1. Chronic or acute medical condition
2. Current or previous major psychiatric disorder (e.g. psychotic disorders, mania / hypomania, anxiety disorders).
3. Psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder in first-degree relatives
4. Hypertension (SBP>140/90 mmHg) or hypotension (SBP<85 mmHg)
5. Hallucinogenic substance use (not including cannabis) more than 20 times or any time within the previous two months
6. Pregnancy or current breastfeeding
7. Participation in another clinical trial (currently or within the last 30 days)
8. Use of medication that may interfere with the effects of the study medication
9. Tobacco smoking (>10 cigarettes/day)
10. Consumption of alcoholic beverages (>20 drinks/week)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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36 participants in 2 patient groups

Randomized

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects will be administered intravenous DMT in 4 different bolus doses or placebo in randomized, counter-balanced order. The bolus applications will be separated by one hour.

Treatment:

Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5mg)

Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (20mg)

Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (10mg)

Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (15mg)

Drug: Placebo (saline)

Dose ecalation

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects will be administered a placebo and a maximum of 5 DMT bolus doses in an escalating dose order. The bolus applications will be separated by one hour.

Treatment:

Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5mg)

Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (20mg)

Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (25mg)

Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (10mg)

Drug: N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (15mg)

Drug: Placebo (saline)