The 25-NB (25x-NBx) series, or NBOMe series, also known as the N-benzylphenethylamines, is a family of serotonergic psychedelics. They are substituted phenethylamines and were derived from the 2C family. The most commonly encountered NBOMe drugs are 25I-NBOMe, 25B-NBOMe, and 25C-NBOMe.
The NBOMe drugs act as selective agonists of the serotonin 5-HT2 receptors. The 25-NB family is unique relative to other classes of psychedelics in that they are, generally speaking, extremely potent and quite selective for the 5-HT2 receptors.
Use of NBOMe series drugs has caused many deaths and hospitalisations since the drugs popularisation in the 2010s. This is primarily due to their high potency, unpredictable pharmacokinetics, and sellers passing off the compounds in the series as LSD.
Harm Reduction
General Principles Start low, go slow: Always begin with a low dose, especially with unfamiliar batches or new substances. Individual sensitivity varies enormously. Test your substances: Use reagent t...
The NBOMe series comprises potent synthetic phenethylamine psychedelics that act as full agonists at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. As a class, they share a distinctive experiential fingerprint that sets them apart from classical psychedelics.
The defining features of the NBOMe experience include an extremely rapid onset, intense visual effects at relatively low doses, and a pronounced physical body load. The onset is typically heralded by a sharp, numbing chemical taste on the tongue, followed within minutes by escalating stimulation and visual distortion. Colors achieve a neon-bright, almost fluorescent saturation. Geometric patterns tile across surfaces with mechanical precision and aggressive energy. The visual quality tends toward the digital and synthetic rather than the organic and flowing.
Physically, NBOMe compounds produce marked vasoconstriction, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, jaw tension, and temperature dysregulation. These effects are dose-dependent and can become dangerous at higher doses, which is the primary safety concern with this class. The cognitive headspace is characterized by stimulation and sometimes anxiety, but generally lacks the depth, introspection, and ego dissolution associated with classical psychedelics. Duration is moderate, typically four to eight hours, with residual stimulation extending beyond the resolution of visual effects.
Subjective Effects
The effects listed below are based on the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal reports and personal analyses. They should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism. These effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects.
Physical Effects
Physical(5)
Body load— A diffuse, heavy physical discomfort involving tension, pressure, and malaise in the torso and limbs...
Increased heart rate— A noticeable acceleration of heartbeat that can range from a subtle awareness of one's pulse to a fo...
Seizure— Uncontrolled brain electrical activity causing convulsions and loss of consciousness -- a life-threa...
Stimulation— A state of heightened physical and mental energy characterized by increased wakefulness, elevated mo...
Vasoconstriction— A narrowing of blood vessels throughout the body that produces sensations of cold extremities, tingl...
Cognitive & Perceptual Effects
Visual(1)
Geometry— The experience of perceiving complex, ever-shifting geometric patterns superimposed over the visual ...
Cognitive(6)
Amnesia— A complete or partial inability to form new memories or recall existing ones during and after substa...
Anxiety— Intense feelings of apprehension, worry, and dread that can range from a subtle background unease to...
Actions
The NBOMe drugs are highly potent and selective agonists of the serotonin 5-HT2 receptors, including of the 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors. However, they are much less potent and efficacious at the serotonin 5-HT2B receptor compared to the serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. The drugs are highly selective for the serotonin 5-HT2 receptors over other serotonin receptors and over a variety of other biological targets. They are likewise inactive as monoamine reuptake inhibitors and releasing agents. Many of the NBOMe drugs are partial agonists of the rat and mouse trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1), but they are inactive as agonists of the human TAAR1.
Effects
In accordance with their psychedelic effects, NBOMe drugs induce the head-twitch response, a behavioral proxy of psychedelic effects, in rodents. They have also been found to produce hyperlocomotion at low doses and hypolocomotion at high doses in rodents.
Unlike most other serotonergic psychedelics, the NBOMe drugs 25B-NBOMe and 25N-NBOMe have been found to produce reinforcing effects in rodents, and hence may have misuse potential. Relatedly, 25B-NBOMe robustly increased dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens similarly to methamphetamine. The reinforcing effects of 25B-NBOMe were not blocked by serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonism, and it is unclear how they are produced. However, some NBOMe drugs, such as 25N-NBOMe, have been found to increase phosphorylation of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in the striatum similarly to methamphetamine in rodents. DAT phosphorylation is associated with dopamine reverse transport and efflux, which in turn increases extracellular dopamine levels.
Similarly to other psychedelics like DOI and 2C-T-7, tolerance has been found to gradually develop to the head-twitch response induced by 25I-NBOMe with chronic administration in rodents.
No human clinical data exist on the pharmacology of NBOMe derivatives as of 2020.
2C-B, the first major 2C drug and an analogue of mescaline, was first described by Alexander Shulgin in the 1970s. Richard Glennon and colleagues synthesized and described 25B-NB (N-benzyl-2C-B) along with a variety of other 25-NB derivatives in 1994. It was observed at the time that 25B-NB had slightly higher affinity for the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor than 2C-B and that other 25-NB derivatives with substituents on the benzyl ring showed very high affinity for the receptor, though functional data were not reported.
N-Benzyl derivatives of the ketanserin-related quinazolinedione EZS-8, such as RH-34, were first described by Heinz Pertz, Sigurd Elz, and Ralf Heim by 1996 or 1998. NBOMe-mescaline and NBOMe-escaline were first described by Pertz and colleagues by 1999, while 25B-NBOMe was first described by Heim and colleagues in 1999. 25I-NBOMe and other 25-NB compounds such as 25TFM-NBOMe and 2CBFly-NBOMe were described by Heim and colleagues by 2000. 25I-NBOMe and other 25-NB drugs were subsequently further described by Heim in his dissertation in 2003. 25C-NBOMe was not described in the literature until 2010. The discovery of the 25-NB compounds by Heim and colleagues has been described by David E. Nichols as structurally remarkable, since N-alkylation of psychedelic phenethylamines, for instance Beatrice (N-methyl-DOM), has otherwise invariably abolished the hallucinogenic effects of this class of compounds.
The NBOMe drugs, primarily 25I-NBOMe, were encountered as novel recreational drugs by 2010, and by 2012 had eclipsed other psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin-containing mushrooms in popularity, at least for a time. Various NBOMes, such as 25I-NBOMe, became Schedule I controlled substances in the United States in 2013.
Harm Reduction
General Principles
Start low, go slow: Always begin with a low dose, especially with unfamiliar batches or new substances. Individual sensitivity varies enormously.
Test your substances: Use reagent test kits to verify identity and check for dangerous adulterants. Consider using drug checking services where available.
Research thoroughly: Understand expected dose ranges, duration, potential interactions, and contraindications before use.
Never use alone: Have a trusted, sober person present, especially with new substances or higher doses.
Set and setting: Your mindset and environment profoundly influence the experience. Choose a safe, comfortable environment and ensure you're in a stable psychological state.
25x-NBOMe-Specific Considerations
As with any psychoactive substance, individual sensitivity to 25x-NBOMe can vary significantly. Start with conservative doses, thoroughly research the compound's specific risk profile, and consider the broader context of your physical and mental health before use.
Toxicity & Safety
Tolerance and addiction potential
Members of the 25x-NBOMe series are not habit-forming and the desire to use them can actually decrease with use. They are thought to be most often self-regulating.
Tolerance to the effects of any member of the 25x-NBOMe series is built almost immediately after ingestion. After that, it takes about 1 week for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 2 weeks to be back to baseline (in the absence of further consumption). Members of the 25x-NBOMe series present cross-tolerance with all psychedelics, meaning that after the consumption of any member of the 25x-NBOMe series all psychedelics will have a reduced effect.
Overdose
Due to the very high potency and seemingly unpredictable effects the margin between a normal and an overdose of NBOMe compounds is extremely small when compared to many other substances. The exact toxic dose is unclear since it seems to depend a lot on personal physiology, rather than predominantly dose. However, various anecdotal reports suggest that dangerous side effects begin to appear when exceeding 1000 μg and it possibly becoming lethal for the more sensitive people at roughly 2000 μg. Reports of other people surviving much higher doses, sometimes even without any major side effects have been documented as well.
There is also the uncertainty of dosage on blotter paper since it is rather difficult to lay such an exact dosage. Insufflating, vaporizing or drinking tinctures of this substance is highly discouraged because of this and has been tied to many documented deaths. One study found that 25I‐NBOMe and 25C‐NBOMe blotter papers contained 'hotspots' with higher quantities of the drug, implying an inherent risk of overdosing.
The overdose effects of NBOMes are typically a dangerously high heart rate, blood pressure, hyperthermia and significant vasoconstriction also accompanied by confusion, delusions, panic attacks, aggressive behavior, numbness or pain, amnesia and often seizures. The risks in an overdose include anything from organ failure to cardiac arrest and death. There are also multiple reports of people lethally injuring themselves or falling to death. Benzodiazepines or antipsychotics can help with the psychological effects during an overdose although medical attention should always be called in even a possible overdose of 25I-NBOMe.
Dangerous interactions
Warning: Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).
Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.
Due to the highly unpredictable nature of the NBOMe series, it is generally advised to avoid mixing them with other psychoactive substances.
2C-T-X - The 2C-T-X phenethylamines can be unpredictable in their interactions and the NBOMes are known to be unpredictable even alone. As a result, this combination should be avoided.
5-MeO-xxt - The 5-MeO tryptamines can be unpredictable in their interactions and the NBOMes are known to be unpredictable even alone. As a result, this combination should be avoided.
Amphetamines - Amphetamines and NBOMes both provide considerable stimulation. When combined they can result in tachycardia, hypertension, vasoconstriction and, in extreme cases, heart failure. The anxiogenic and focusing effects of stimulants are also not good in combination with psychedelics as they can lead to unpleasant thought loops. NBOMes are known to cause seizures and stimulants can increase this risk.
aMT
Caffeine - Caffeine can bring out the natural stimulation from psychedelic drugs to make it uncomfortable. High doses can cause anxiety which is hard to handle while tripping.
Cannabis - Cannabis has an unexpectedly strong and unpredictable synergy with the effects of psychedelics. Caution is advised with this combination as it can significantly increase the risk of adverse psychological reactions like anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks, and psychosis. Users are advised to start off with only a fraction of their normal cannabis dose and take long breaks between hits to avoid over intake.
Cocaine - Cocaine and NBOMes both provide considerable stimulation. When combined they can result in severe vasoconstriction, tachycardia, hypertension, and in extreme cases heart failure.
Lithium - Lithium is commonly prescribed in the treatment of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder bipolar disorder. There is a large body of anecdotal evidence that suggests taking it with psychedelics significantly increases the risk of psychosis and seizures. As a result, this combination is strictly discouraged.
MAOIs - MAO-B inhibitors can increase the potency and duration of phenethylamines unpredictably.
Combinations with the following substances can cause dangerously high serotonin levels. Serotonin syndrome requires immediate medical attention and can be fatal if left untreated.
MAOIs - Such as banisteriopsis caapi, syrian rue, phenelzine, selegiline, and moclobemide.
Limited specific overdose data is available for 25x-NBOMe. In the absence of compound-specific information, general principles apply:
If someone exhibits signs of medical distress after using 25x-NBOMe — difficulty breathing, severe confusion, seizures, chest pain, extremely elevated temperature, or loss of consciousness — treat it as a medical emergency. Call emergency services and be forthcoming about what was consumed. Medical professionals follow confidentiality protocols and their priority is saving lives.
Prevention remains the best approach: use the minimum effective dose, avoid combining with other substances, and always have a sober person present who can recognize signs of distress and call for help.
Dangerous Interactions
The combinations listed below may be life-threatening. Independent research should always be conducted to ensure safety when combining substances.
The legal status of 25x-NBOMe varies by jurisdiction and is subject to change. This information is provided for educational purposes and may not reflect the most current legislation.
General patterns: Many psychoactive substances are controlled under national and international drug control frameworks, including the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and country-specific legislation such as the US Controlled Substances Act, UK Misuse of Drugs Act, and EU Framework Decisions.
Research chemicals and analogues: Novel psychoactive substances may be captured by analogue laws (e.g., the US Federal Analogue Act) or blanket bans on substance classes (e.g., the UK Psychoactive Substances Act 2016), even if the specific compound is not individually scheduled.
Important note: Possessing, distributing, or manufacturing controlled substances carries serious legal consequences in most jurisdictions. Legal status is not a reliable indicator of a substance's safety profile — some highly dangerous substances are legal, while some with favorable safety profiles are strictly controlled.
Users are strongly encouraged to research the specific legal status of 25x-NBOMe in their jurisdiction before any involvement with this substance.
Family of serotonergic psychedelics The 25-NB (25x-NBx) series, or NBOMe series, also known as the N-benzylphenethylamines, is a family of serotonergic psychedelics. They are substituted phenethylamines and were derived from the 2C family. The most commonly encountered NBOMe drugs are 25I-NBOMe, 25B
What are the effects of 25x-NBOMe?
The NBOMe series comprises potent synthetic phenethylamine psychedelics that act as full agonists at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. As a class, they share a distinctive experiential fingerprint that sets them apart from classical psychedelics. The defining features of the NBOMe experience include an
Is 25x-NBOMe addictive?
not habit-forming
What are the risks of 25x-NBOMe?
Tolerance and addiction potential Members of the 25x-NBOMe series are not habit-forming and the desire to use them can actually decrease with use. They are thought to be most often self-regulating. Tolerance to the effects of any member of the 25x-NBOMe series is built almost immediately after inges
— An impairment of abstract thinking marked by a persistent inability to grasp or comprehend concepts ...
Introspection— An enhanced state of self-reflective awareness in which one feels drawn to examine their own thought...
Paranoia— Irrational suspicion and belief that others are watching, plotting against, or intending harm toward...
Thought loops— Becoming trapped in a repeating cycle of thoughts, actions, and emotions that loops every few second...
Transpersonal(1)
Ego death— A profound dissolution of the sense of self in which personal identity, memories, and the boundary b...
