Rankings / Cognitive — Nootropics
Ayahuasca / DMT
Cognitive · Classic psychedelic / 5-HT2A + MAOI combo
Tier C
What this is
Palhano-Fontes 2019 TRD RCT showed single dose ayahuasca beat placebo at 7 days. DMT injection trials (Small Pharma/Cybin) for depression ongoing. MAOI component creates tyramine/serotonin-syndrome risk with many foods/drugs. 'Extended-state DMT' IV infusion protocol is a research frontier.
Mechanism
DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is 5-HT2A agonist; orally inactive without MAOI; ayahuasca pairs DMT-containing Psychotria with harmala MAOI-containing Banisteriopsis; short-acting when vaporized/injected
Dose & route
Ayahuasca: traditional decoction in ceremonial context; DMT: 15-40 mg vaporized, 0.2-0.4 mg/kg IV in research
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30847002/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35581920/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7819525/
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This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.