48 factsheet Dosage: may feel an energy drain, low mood Oral Smoked or experience flu-like symptoms and Threshold 5-15mg Threshold 2mg AMT general tiredness/lethargy. This typically Light 10-20mg Light 4-5mg happens a day or two after use, which Common 20-40mg Common 6-10mg some users call the “Tuesday blues”. Strong 40-60mg Strong 10-20mg Some anecdotal reports suggest AMT has Heavy 60-100mg Drug overview: less of a hangover than drugs such as Alpha-methyltryptamine (MT/AMT) MDMA although this is not an indication Pellets are reported to contain a dosage is a currently legal new psychoactive of long term safety. of 30mg. substance. It is a long acting, synthetic Patterns of use: psychedelic. Typical effects and side effects Patterns of use appear to be similar to These are some of the typical effects and Background: drugs such as LSD. There seems to be side effects experienced by people who AMT was originally developed as an little tendency to re-dose quickly unless a use AMT, not everyone will experience antidepressant in the 1960s by the user believes they have not taken enough all effects listed and many can be dose company UpJohn. In the 1990s AMT to experience full effects. dependent. resurfaced as a drug of recreational use Long term effects/known harms: made available over the internet. It was Physical: Mental: AMT is a relatively unknown substance first seen in the UK in February 2011. • Increase in • Mood and little is known about the long- energy enhancement Appearance: term effects and potential harms. AMT • Increased heart • Empathy AMT is an off white or yellowish/orange has the potential to cause serotonin rate • Visual patterning powder. The consistency can be either toxicity especially at high doses or when • Blurred vision • Closed eye clumpy or fine. It is also found in tablet mixed with other substances especially • Restlessness visuals (CEV) form. These are commonly referred to stimulants. AMT in conjunction with anti • Yawning • Mild open eye as pellets to avoid accusations that they depressant/anxiety medications (SSRI/ • Dilated pupils visuals (OEV) are medicinal products. They are small SNRI) has the potential to precipitate this • Decreased • Music blue pellets typically containing 30mg condition. appetite and appreciation freebase powder. Serotonin toxicity can be fatal if not difficulty eating • Anxiety AMT or 5-IT has been discovered in recognised and dealt with both quickly • Vision obscuring • Paranoia tablets sold as Ecstasy including pale and effectively. Symptoms include visuals at high • Agitation pink tablets with a cherry logo and white hyperthermia (overheating), hyperreflexia doses • Panic tablets with a Mitsubishi logo but due (over responsive reflexes), clonus • Nausea and • Mental to the complications of distinguishing (involuntary muscular contractions and vomiting confusion between the two in analysis it is not relaxations), hypertension (high blood • Impaired • Repetitive confirmed which is the definite active pressure), dysphoria (mental distress) coordination thoughts ingredient in these tablets. and mydriasis (dilated pupils). Due • Muscle aches • Racing mind to muscle tension being triggered by Cost: • Headache • Disturbed the condition, there is a potential of Pellets cost approximately £5 per • Jaw clenching dreams developing Rhabdomyolysis (muscle 30mg pellet. The powder form (purity • Insomnia tissue breakdown) which can cause unknown) costs approx £30 per gram severe kidney damage and can be fatal. and is available in amounts from 100mg Onset, duration and after effects: It is therefore dangerous to restrain at £7.50. Oral doses have an onset of 30-120 individuals, as increased agitation minutes and peak at 3-5 hours. The Route of administration: will lead to increased muscle tension duration is generally 10-14 hours AMT is often consumed orally, either by trying to break free from restraints. although higher doses can last longer. swallowing pellets, wrapping powder Treatment can include cooled IV fluids, After effects can be felt for a further in a cigarette paper (bombing) or by benzodiazepines to control agitation, 1-5 hours. As the effects can take over taking a small bit of powder from tip of a rapid cooling via ice packs, oral 2 hours to fully develop orally, it is not moistened finger (dabbing).T he powder cyproheptadine (anti-histamine with uncommon for users to re-dose in error form can be smoked; the onset is much anti-serotonergenic properties) and anti- thinking they have not taken enough faster by this method. psychotic medication in severe cases. initially. When smoked, the onset is It is possible to inject this substance Two alerts regarding AMT were issued significantly quicker at 10-30 seconds or administer rectally, although these in 2012 after information was received with typical duration between 8-12 methods appear to be rare for this regarding deaths in the United Kingdom hours. substance. Due to the intensity and and Norway. Two cases indicated that or dose/response curve for AMT, IV Comedown effects AMT was the only drug found in the administration would likely be very Some users report experiencing a system and the other included multiple dangerous. stimulant-like comedown, where they substances.

28 | Druglink January/February 2014