Most of them were invented around the same time by Alexander Shulgin and documented in one of his books PiHKAL. 2C-B can also be vaporized — but this isn’t a common way of using it, and the long-term health effects of taking 2C-B this way aren’t well understood. Many compounds will change when heated like this, and the byproducts of vaporized 2C-B are not well understood. Sometimes 2C-B can feel a little bit “speedy” or “tweaky” — especially in the higher doses.
- A liquid version of 2C-I that is applied to the tongue via a pipet has also been reported, though far less common.
- People taking MAO inhibitor medications (a type of antidepressant) may have a hard time metabolizing 2C-B — which could lead to side effects.
- This substance is largely metabolized by an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO) 2.
- Regardless of the prevailing narrative among users, then, 2C-B does come with its negatives.
In 2010, a low-level criminal named alias “Alejo” arrived in Bogota. Alejo was one of the first tusi “refiners,” those retailers who dyed 2C-B pink and drowned it with other synthetics in artisanal drug kitchens. As another wave of euphoria hits, though, and Mo begins dancing again, those negatives are so far from his mind that they might as well not exist. It’s often used as an alternative to MDMA at lower doses and an alternative to LSD in high doses.
Physically, potential side effects can include:
Being in a good state of mind, with trusted friends and a safe environment before taking 2C-B reduces the risk of having a ‘bad’ trip. If you or someone you know is demonstrating signs of drug addiction, seek treatment immediately. The simplest way to recognize signs of use is through observational study.
Contraindications for 2C Compounds and Serotonergic Psychedelics
This includes psilocybin (aka Magic Mushrooms), Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), Ayahuasca, Ibogaine, Peyote, 2C-B, Cannabis, and others. Ketamine is also controlled under the same act and listed as a Schedule III drug. Due to the illegal or controlled nature of these drugs, it is not advised that you attempt to purchase, source, or otherwise possess any Scheduled substances, as you may be at risk of civil and criminal penalties.
Interaction with Medications and Other Drugs .(22,
- The main risk of this compound is adulteration (mixing or swapping other substances into 2C-B tablets or powder).
- In his book, Shulgin described the intense hallucinations that he and his partner experienced while using 2C-E.
- These products mimic the euphoric effects of other well-known illicit drugs but are advertised as “legal” highs and are sold over the internet, at raves and night clubs, and in head shops.
At low doses, 2Cs generally have stimulating effects and increased visual, auditory, and tactile sensations 3. At higher doses, users may experience unpleasant hallucinations and sympathomimetic signs such as tachycardia, hypertension, and hyperthermia 3, 25. 2C-B (2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine), commonly known as pink cocaine, is a psychedelic phenylethylamine derivative. The molecular structure of 2C-B includes bromo and dimethoxy groups, which play a crucial role in its psychedelic effects. The substance is synthesized in laboratories and does not occur naturally.
Integrating Your 2C-B Experience
However, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics may vary between users, and some users may be more susceptible to toxicity 18. Also, it is important to emphasize that drugs currently sold on the internet frequently do not contain the substance or dosage for which they are labeled or given when purchased 19. Designer substitution to the 2C structure can result in increased hallucinogenic activity. For example, additions of methoxy groups at the 2 and 5 positions on the base structure ring or the substitution of iodine or bromine at the 4 position results in increased hallucinogenic effects 3, 5. In 1974, 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B), the first of the 2Cs, was synthesized by Alexander Shulgin as he was exploring homologs from 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine 3. 2C-B was manufactured in the 1980s and early 1990s under the names Nexus, Erox, Performax, Toonies, Bromo, Spectrum, and Venus and marketed as MDMA’s replacement after MDMA became scheduled in the USA 6, 7.
2C drugs are fairly unique as they exist primarily as a hallucinogen but also produce effects similar to stimulants. The hallucinogenic properties of 2C-B are known for producing intense visual and auditory hallucinations, emotional euphoria, and sensory distortions, as well as dissociations similar to ketamine. Additionally, the stimulant properties can cause alertness, increased sociability, and the ability to stay awake longer, like cocaine or MDMA.
What Does 2C-B Feel Like?
Because the 2Cs are psychedelic drugs, anyone with a history of mental illness should be particularly careful. In PIHKAL, Shulgin notes that during an experience with 25 mg of 2C-E, he became “anxious and sweaty” within a few minutes of taking the substance 3. He also experienced “toxic psychosis,” and hearing voices talk to him about his worst fears. Another user notes an “intense” experience after ingesting 16 mg of 2C-E in an oral solution 3, 9. At the peak of the high, the user experienced “extreme hallucinations” and suicidal thoughts, lasting for approximately 30 min 3, 9. However, 2C-B, like all psychedelics, can offer the potential for challenging moments.
Both 2C-B and mescaline are thought of as being “gentle” when compared to other psychedelics and the visuals are very similar between the two. 2C-B is more stimulating than mescaline and has much less “headspace.” Headspace refers to the introspective and existential thoughts that accompany the psychedelic experience. The psychoactive dose of LSD is measured in sub-milligram doses, while the threshold dose for 2C-B is around 5 mg. Lower doses (5 mg) resemble Adderall or MDMA and don’t produce strong visuals. When various government regulators started banning 2C-B, they did so by banning the entire 2C-x family — as defined by the chemical structure above.
It is possible to create new hallucinogenic 2Cs by placing different substituents on the aromatic ring at positions 2, 4, or 5 5, 16. Remember, everyone’s experience with psychoactive substances is unique, as is the integration process. Be patient and kind to yourself as you go through this journey—safe travels and happy tripping, fellow psychonauts. 2C compounds share some similarities with other stimulants, like amphetamines or cocaine, which, if combined, can increase the risk of cardiovascular issues, such as elevated heart rate and blood pressure. The hallucinogenic effects of 2C-B could bring an increased level of risk to people with psychiatric disorders.
But there’s another popular psychoactive substance that’s been residing in the shadows since the 1980s. To our best knowledge, there have been no scientific studies into the long-term effects of 2C-B use. Alternatively, you may have a spirit guide or trip sitter—someone who remains sober and monitors your well-being throughout the experience. When it was first used within the psychiatric community, 2C-B was sold as a sexual enhancer. A 2015 study in Spain suggested that the drug reduced aggression and encouraged open-mindedness, but the results were inconclusive. However, a recent resurgence in today’s nightlife culture is bringing back cause for alarm.
Read here to learn more about how long other drugs stay in your system. There’s very little current information about 2C drugs’ addictiveness. As hallucinogens, they can make 2c deug you experience reality in a distorted way that may cause hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that aren’t there). In Spain, 2C-B was added to Category 2 prohibited substances in 2002.
Some excited delirium deaths have been thought to be due to ventricular dysythmias and sudden cardiac death related to QT prolongation. However, given the black box warning regarding neuroleptics causing QT prolongation and small risk for ventricular dysrhythmias, if a patient is known to have QT prolongation, neuroleptics may be avoided. Despite this, neuroleptics have a long clinical history of safe use for chemical restraint in undifferentiated agitation and may offer a mechanism by which to regulate dopamine in excited delirium 46, 48–50. Studies by Battaglia and Bieniek et al. showed superior efficacy with a combination of haloperidol and lorazapam as compared to either drug alone for psychotic agitation 49. The information provided on this website is intended for informational and harm reduction purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Nor is this information, or any journalistic stories, anecdotes, visual or artistic material intended as a replacement or supplement for medical or legal advice.
Drugs in the 2C family can have different effects depending on how much of the drug is consumed. Drugs in the 2C family usually come in the form of capsules or tablets that are swallowed or a powder form that is snorted. In 2011, at least 11 partygoers in Minnesota became ill after using 2C-E, and one 19-year-old man died. The same year in Oklahoma, a young woman died and seven others were hospitalized after using the drug at a party.
Reported effects of 2Cs are a combination of hallucinogenic and stimulating effects 20. Patients with 2C intoxication will likely present with either a sympathomimetic syndrome, serotonin toxicity, a hallucinogenic picture, or some combination thereof. Signs and symptoms include hallucinations, euphoria, empathy, nausea, vomiting, agitation, tachycardia, hypertension, respiratory depression, and seizures 1, 2, 6.
One faction had allegedly tried to break away and establish an independent tusi trafficking network, cutting out the other faction. It quickly began cultivating attention as an “elite drug,” a synthetic European import far more expensive than the locally produced cocaine that Colombia’s middle and working classes were increasingly using. However, for such a widespread substance there was considerable disagreement about what it actually was.