Dibutyltryptamine

Use and effects

In his book TiHKAL (Tryptamines I Have Known and Loved), Alexander Shulgin reported that a dose of 1mg/kg by intramuscular injection was active, but less so than dimethyltryptamine (DMT) or diethyltryptamine (DET). This suggests that an active dose of DBT will be in the 100mg range. It has been sold as a "research chemical" and has been confirmed to be an active hallucinogen, although somewhat weaker than other similar tryptamine derivatives.

Interactions

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

DBT produces the head-twitch response in mice.

Chemistry

DBT is found either as its crystalline hydrochloride salt or as an oily or crystalline base.

Synthesis

The chemical synthesis of DBT has been described.

Isomers

There are four symmetrical isomers of DBT which can be made, or ten isomers in total if unsymmetrical substitution is used. Of these only the n-butyl analogue DBT is known to be active in humans; the isobutyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl isomers DIBT, DSBT and DTBT have never been tested and only DBT and DIBT were made by Shulgin.

The unsymmetrical isomers BIBT, BSBT, BTBT, IBSBT, IBTBT and SBTBT are also possible but have never been made and no predictions have been made about their activity. Shulgin speculates that the s-butyl isomer DSBT may be more potent than the straight chain compound DBT, but that the more highly branched DIBT and DTBT would probably be inactive due to the bulk of the substituent group. As for longer chain compounds than butyl, they have not been made and would probably be inactive. Shulgin mentions that the monohexyl compound NHT is without activity. However the unsymmetrical compounds such as methylbutyltryptamine show more promise, and a wide range of possible compounds could be made by pairing the various butyl isomers with methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or allyl groups.

Analogues

Analogues of DBT include 4-HO-DBT, 4-HO-DsBT, 5-MeO-DBT, and dihexyltryptamine (DHT), among others.

History

DBT was first described in the scientific literature by 1959.

Society and culture

Legal status

Canada

DBT is not a controlled substance in Canada as of 2025.

United States

DBT is not an explicitly controlled substance in the United States. However, it could be considered a controlled substance under the Federal Analogue Act if intended for human consumption.

References

References

1. {{CiteTiHKAL
2. (1975). "Hallucinogenic Agents". Wright-Scientechnica.
3. (June 2019). "Four Novel Synthetic Tryptamine Analogs Induce Head-Twitch Responses and Increase 5-HTR2a in the Prefrontal Cortex in Mice". Biomolecules & Therapeutics.
4. (March 1959). "Actions of some analogues of tryptamine on the isolated rat uterus and on the isolated rat fundus strip preparations". Br J Pharmacol Chemother.
5. "Controlled Drugs and Substances Act".
6. (January 2026). "Orange Book: List of Controlled Substances and Regulated Chemicals (January 2026)". U.S. [[Department of Justice]]: [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA): Diversion Control Division.