ResearchSafe

4-AcO-DMT (O-Acetylpsilocin (psilacetin))

Category: Psychedelics. Status: Schedule I (research compound).

A lab-made cousin of psilocybin that the body converts into psilocin, producing very similar mushroom-like effects. Popular in research and harm-reduction discussions as a more stable alternative to mushrooms.

How it works

A prodrug converted to psilocin, which activates serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.

Key facts

  • Molecular weight: 246.31 g/mol
  • Half-life: ~2-3 hours
  • Bioavailability: Oral
  • Storage: Research/reference only.

Dosing overview

  • Typical dose: Varies by individual and setting
  • Frequency: Occasional
  • Duration: Acute effects last 3-6 hours
  • Route: Oral

Protocol notes

  • Taken orally as a measured powder or in solution, giving a mushroom-like experience.
  • Popular with careful self-experimenters because doses are easy to weigh precisely.
  • People treat set and setting (mindset and environment) the same as with mushrooms.

Reported benefits

  • Psilocybin-like experience
  • More stable and easy to measure
  • Studied as a research psychedelic
  • Classic serotonergic profile

Possible side effects

  • Anxiety or fear
  • Nausea
  • Raised heart rate and blood pressure
  • Limited human safety data

Community reviews of 4-AcO-DMT

Rated 3.4 out of 5 from 5 community reviews by ResearchSafe members.

  • zoe_rows rated it 3/5 - Smooth enough, but nothing moved the needle much: I ran 4-AcO-DMT for about 4 weeks because I wanted something easier to measure than actual mushrooms while I was trying to get my head straight around a heavy work stretch. For me, it was a clean, classic psychedelic feel, pretty psilocybin-like, and the onset felt a little more orderly than I expected. I got some useful perspective, but nothing that stuck hard after the fact. No dramatic reset, no big breakthrough. To be fair, I did feel a bit more open and less mentally glued to my usual work stress for a day or two. I’d call it decent, but pretty mixed overall.
  • nomad694 rated it 3/5 - A Measured Approach, but Prefer the Mushroom Itself: I was curious about a more predictable alternative to the classic liberty cap hunt we get into here in autumn, something I could measure precisely around my training schedule. 4-AcO-DMT delivered a very clean, almost clinical feeling trip that was manageable but lacked the earthy, grounding connection I get from foraging and consuming the real thing. It was a grand experiment for my inner biologist, but for a proper mental reset, I'd still take the real mushroom experience any day.
  • tracker968 rated it 3/5 - 4-AcO-DMT felt useful, but the next-day fog bugged me: I tried 4-AcO-DMT for about 10 weeks because I was curious whether it would help me reset after long East Coast workweeks and hard training sessions. For me it gave a psilocybin-like headspace, but the downside was this weird next-day fog and a slightly flat mood, which got old fast.
  • wes149 rated it 4/5 - Quieter head, better evenings after long shifts: The biggest thing for me was how it seemed to take the edge off my head after long Midwest workdays and training sessions. I ran it about 6 weeks, and my evenings felt noticeably more settled. Small caveat, it could just be placebo, but imo it was a solid 4 out of 5.
  • scientist_maya rated it 4/5 - Calm reset for my overcooked brain: I tried 4-AcO-DMT after a brutal stretch at work, one of those weeks where my pharmacist brain was still spinning at 11 pm and my HRV looked offended. Over about 6 weeks, I used it sparingly and it seemed to give me a clean psilocybin-like headspace, just easier to measure than mushrooms, which I appreciated. For me it felt like a reset button with a little edge. The only caveat was the next-day fog if I pushed it too far.

Compare 4-AcO-DMT

Community discussions about 4-AcO-DMT

Research and educational reference only. Not medical advice.