How Long Does DMT Last?

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How Long Does DMT Last?

What is DMT and how will it affect you?

Gwella Mushrooms | Nov 22, 2022

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Before you do that ayahuasca and go on a spiritual journey, learn about DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) and how the substance will affect you.

Quick Summary

The effects of DMT usually last for 30 to 45 minutes if you smoke it but will last for around 4 hours if you drink ayahuasca. DMT is a fast-acting substance and you can feel it kick in almost instantly in some cases.

What will you learn about DMT after reading this whole article?

How long DMT takes to kick in.
How long a DMT trip lasts.
How you can influence how long DMT lasts.
How long your DMT experience should last.
How you can influence how long your DMT trip will last.
The comedown effects of DMT.
Whether DMT will show up on a drug test.
The risks that come with taking DMT.

How long does DMT take to kick in?

If you smoke DMT, you begin to feel its effects pretty much instantly. Some people start hallucinating in less than 60 seconds.

On the other hand, if you take ayahuasca, it’ll take anywhere between 30 to 45 minutes for it to kick in. This is because ayahuasca has to go through your digestive system first.

How long will your DMT experience last?

A DMT experience will last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours depending on your choice of DMT consumption method. Your DMT experience is going to consist of an onset period, a peak period, a coming-down period and an afterglow period.

Onset Period

The onset period you experience when you take DMT is much shorter compared to other psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin. If you're smoking or injecting DMT, you can feel its effects in as little as 30 seconds. Compare this to LSD which only starts feeling like it's taking effect after about 30 minutes.

Peak Period

The peak period of your DMT experience is when you’ll feel the effects of DMT to their fullest. You'll reach the peak period of your DMT trip after about 2 to 10 minutes of taking it. Compare this to LSD which has its peak effects hit after about 3 to 5 hours.

Coming-Down Period

Unfortunately, DMT wears off much faster compared to other psychedelics. You can expect to come down from the peak of your DMT experience after about 1 to 8 minutes of going through the peak of your experience. Compare this to the coming-down period of LSD which lasts around 3 to 5 hours.

The Afterglow

The afterglow period in this case refers to the timespan where you feel the after-effects of taking DMT. In the case of DMT, this means extra stimulation to all of your senses as well as lingering psychological effects such as being in a noticeably better mood than usual after the peak and comedown periods.

The afterglow period will usually last anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes. You’ll be pretty much back to normal at this point apart from the after-effects mentioned above. Compare DMT’s afterglow period to LSD’s afterglow period which typically lasts for about 12 hours.

What influences how long DMT lasts?

You can influence how long your DMT experience lasts by altering the method you use to take DMT and by increasing or decreasing the amount of DMT that you’re taking.

If you smoke or inject synthetic DMT, your DMT experience should last for 30 to 45 minutes.
If you brew plants that have DMT in them and consume them as ayahuasca, your DMT experience should last for about 4 hours.

PS: Your body composition will also affect how long your DMT experience lasts.

If you’re a bigger person, you’ll need to take a higher amount of DMT to start tripping.

How long does DMT stay in your system?

DMT is quickly metabolised by your body. It’s been shown that once you take DMT, it falls below the limit of detection in your body in about an hour.

Does DMT have any comedown effects?

DMT has fewer comedown effects compared to other hallucinogens like LSD. That being said, bad comedown experiences after taking DMT are rare but they’re still a possibility.

People usually report an abrupt comedown as well as feelings of anxiety, fearfulness and confusion. People that experience bad comedowns also report feelings of being shaken and unsettled for as long as days or weeks after their DMT trip.

Will DMT show up on a drug test?

Most standard drug tests don’t look for DMT however a urine or hair follicle test might be able to detect trace amounts of DMT in your system anywhere from 24 hours to a couple of days after you’ve done DMT.

Are there any risks involved with taking DMT?

DMT is a powerful substance and there are risks involved if you choose to take it. There’s potential for both physical as well as psychological side effects.

The potential physical side effects of taking DMT are:

Heightened heart rate which is dangerous if you already have heart problems.
Increased blood pressure which is a potential health hazard if you already have high blood pressure or a pre-existing heart condition.
Seizures.
Breathing problems and respiratory arrest.
Becoming catatonic and falling into a coma.

The potential psychological side effects of taking DMT are:

Worsening of pre-existing psychological conditions such as schizophrenia.
Persistent psychosis.
Developing hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD).
Development of serotonin syndrome disorder which can potentially become life threatening. Taking DMT while you’re on antidepressants increases the risk of developing this disorder.

If you experience any of the below symptoms, please seek professional medical attention as quickly as possible:

Overly dilated pupils.
Overactive reflexes.
Excessive shivering.
Tremors.
Excessive muscle spasms.
Excessive muscle rigidity.
Extreme anxiety.
Excessive irritability.
Abnormal amounts of confusion and disorientation.

FAQs

What’s ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a brew that’s typically made of the leaves of the Psychotria Viridis shrub and the stalks of the Banisteriopsis Caapi vine. Other plants and ingredients can be added or mixed into the brew as well.

What’s synthetic DMT?

Synthetic DMT is a crystalline powder that’s white in colour. You usually smoke synthetic DMT.

Conclusion

DMT will affect everyone differently and your experience with it is probably going to be very different from the next person who takes DMT after you. DMT takes very little time to kick in and its effects don’t last very long which is both a strength and weakness. If you want a quick trip, smoke DMT but if you want a longer trip then take ayahuasca instead.