What it does

DMT is a short-acting serotonergic psychedelic when smoked or vaporized (10–20 minutes total). When taken orally as ayahuasca with an MAOI, effects last 4–6 hours. Physiologically low-toxicity but psychologically extreme.

Safer-use principles

• —Never use alone. A sober sitter and a safe seated/lying position are essential.
• —The onset is so fast that a bad set/setting cannot be corrected mid-experience — prepare beforehand.
• —Ayahuasca (with an MAOI) has serious drug and food interactions and is not comparable to smoked DMT.
• —History of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or serious cardiac disease is a strong contraindication.

Dangerous combinations

MAOIs (in ayahuasca) interact dangerously with SSRIs, tyramine-rich foods, stimulants, and many medications — this is a real medical risk, not a folk warning.

If something goes wrong

Fatal overdose from smoked DMT alone is not documented; the danger is falling, choking, or panic during the experience — hence the sitter and safe posture. Ayahuasca has caused deaths, mostly via drug interactions.