Skip to content

A fatal intoxication following the ingestion of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in an ayahuasca preparation.

Jason H Sklerov, Barry Levine, Karla A. Moore, Theodore M. King, David Fowler

Journal of Analytical Toxicology 2005 DOI: 10.1093/jat/29.8.838 (opens in new tab)

Read Full Text
Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case study Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 1
Population 25-year-old white male
Topics 5-MeO-DMT Ayahuasca DMT
Keywords Forensic toxicology Forensic analysis Toxicological investigation Drug testing Post-mortem toxicology Forensic science Hallucinogen intoxication Drug overdose Psychoactive substance poisoning Tryptamine toxicity 5-MEO-DMT Overdose Acute intoxication Hallucinogenic amine poisoning Drug-related death Fatal overdose Substance abuse fatality Drug fatality Accidental poisoning Drug-induced death Unexpected death Psychoactive substances Hallucinogenic drugs Tryptamines Beta-carbolines Entheogens Psychoactive compounds Herbal preparations Traditional medicine Ethnobotany Plant-based drugs Traditional herbal remedies
Citations 142
Key findings The cause of death was hallucinogenic amine intoxication from herbal extracts containing beta-carbolines and hallucinogenic tryptamines.

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.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

  • State of the evidence: 5-MeO-DMT Opposes

    A fatal intoxication was attributed to hallucinogenic amine intoxication after ingestion of an ayahuasca preparation containing 5-MeO-DMT along with beta-carbolines and other tryptamines.

    Synthesized

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on 5-MeO-DMT, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Combined intoxication with methylone and 5-MeO-MIPT 27-year-old male patient 2006 Case report n = 1
Sudden death associated with intravenous injection of toad extract. A 24-year-old male 2009 Case study n = 1
5-Meo-DALT-induced Cyclic Myoclonus (P3.013) A 29-year-old man with history of heroin and marijuana abuse 2015 Case report n = 1
A case report SPECT study and theoretical rationale for the sequential administration of ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. 31-year-old male military veteran with moderate alcohol use disorder 2018 Case study n = 1
A Physician’s Attempt to Self-Medicate Bipolar Depression with N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) A physician with refractory bipolar depression 2017 Case study n = 1

Citations in the library

Cited by 85

and 80 more in the library

Cites 9

and 4 more in the library

Related reading

Explore topics

5-MeO-DMT Ayahuasca DMT