A Toad Less Traveled: Should 5-MeO-DMT Have a Role in Treating Depression?

The therapeutic potential of psychedelics is increasingly recognized, and 5-MeO-DMT is being considered for its antidepressant properties due to unusual features that may offer cost and practicality advantages for healthcare providers. However, these same features could limit its success as a mainstream depression treatment. There is very little existing research on 5-MeO-DMT, and it is rarely used even within the psychedelics community, which may exacerbate difficulties in recruiting diverse subjects for clinical trials. The article discusses hypothetical pros and cons of 5-MeO-DMT as an antidepressant and recommends measures for future clinical trials.

Study at a glance

Abstract

As the therapeutic potential of psychedelics is becoming more established, a wider range of compounds are beginning to be investigated for their antidepressant properties. 5-Methoxy- N , N -dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is one such example; its unusual properties may make it a more cost-effective and practical choice for health care providers. However, the same distinctive features may mean that its potential for success as a mainstream treatment option for depression is limited. There is very little existing literature around 5-MeO-DMT, and it is scarcely used even within the psychedelics community. This may mean that it is even more difficult to recruit a diverse range of subjects, which is already an issue for clinical trials involving other psychedelics. The aim of this article is to discuss the hypothetical pros and cons of 5-MeO-DMT as an antidepressant and to make recommendations for measures to be taken in any future clinical trials investigating 5-MeO-DMT.