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O-Acetylpsilocin (also known as Psilacetin, 4-Acetoxy-DMT, or 4-AcO-DMT) is a synthetically produced psychoactive drug and has been suggested to be a potentially useful alternative to psilocybin for pharmacological studies, as it is believed to be metabolized to the same chemical in psilocybin mushrooms that causes the desired hallucinogenic effects, called psilocin.(This is disputed as many users say the effects differ greatly from psilocybin/psilocin.[2][3] It is the acetylated form of the psilocybin mushroomalkaloidpsilocin, and is a lower homologue of 4-AcO-DET, 4-AcO-MiPT and 4-AcO-DiPT.
History
O-Acetylpsilocin (psilacetin) and several other esters of psilocin were patented on January 16, 1963 by Sandoz Ltd. via Albert Hofmann & Franz Troxler (US Patent # 3,075,992).[1] Despite this fact, psilacetin remains a psychedelic with a limited history of use. It is theorized to be a prodrug for psilocin, as is psilocybin, which is naturally occurring in various mushrooms. Psilacetin is O-acetylated psilocin, whereas psilocybin is O-phosphorylated.
Chemistry
O-Acetylpsilocin can be obtained by acetylation of psilocin under strongly acidic or under alkaline conditions. It is a synthetic compound. However, it is believed to be metabolized back into psilocin, which is natural and occurs in many mushrooms along with psilocybin. O-Acetylpsilocin is more resistant than psilocin to oxidation under basic conditions due to its acetoxy group. While O-acetylpsilocin is not well researched (making it a research chemical, and thus not as widely known as psilocin and psilocybin), O-acetylpsilocin is not as difficult to produce as psilocybin, and may be of use in psychedelic research that specifically uses psilocin/psilocybin because (like psilocybin) it is metabolically converted to psilocin and is therefore thought to be nearly identical to psilocybin in effects.[2]
In the body O-acetylpsilocin is deacetylated to psilocin by deacetylases during first pass metabolism[citation needed] and during subsequent passes through the liver (evident as psilacetin is also active via parenteral routes of ingestion).
There are claims of subjective differences in effect between the acetylated and not acetylated forms of psilocin.[3] Some users report that O-acetylpsilocin lasts slightly longer than psilocin; others report that it lasts for a considerably shorter time. Many users report less body load and nausea compared to psilocin. Some users find that the visual distortions produced by O-acetylpsilocin more closely resemble those produced by DMT than those produced by psilocin. These differences could be possible if psilacetin is active itself and not merely as a prodrug. Many users, however, can not tell the difference between these two compounds when ingested.
Dosage
A dose of O-acetylpsilocin is 8 mg - 30 mg. These are slightly lower than that psilocin. Some report very strong effects with 15 mg. A dose of 15 mg can produce a very profound experience, with effects such as ego loss, strong visuals (open and closed eye), and other effects similar to a high dose of psilocin. Comparison to psilocin dosage suggests that O-acetylpsilocin is somewhat more potent, and possibly more variable in terms of subjective susceptibility. O-Acetylpsilocin seems to have a more steep dose-effect curve than psilocin; therefore, caution should be taken, especially with higher doses. There is no known LD50, as there are no reported cases of fatal overdose and no known mechanism by which an excessive dose could be life-threatening.
Dosages vary slightly depending on the type of salt. The hydrochloride has a higher molecular mass and is therefore less potent on a per weight basis than its freebase form; however, freebase O-acetylpsilocin is relatively unstable and will degrade quickly at room temperature. O-Acetylpsilocin is now most commonly distributed as the fumaric acid salt (O-acetylpsilocin fumarate). The fumarate is even less potent on a per weight basis, but is also considerably more stable and will not degrade substantially at room temperature. The ratio of hydrochloride to fumarate is approximately .93:1.
O-Acetylpsilocin fumarate
Oral Dose
Intranasal
Threshold
4 mg-7 mg
2 mg-4 mg
Light
8 mg-12 mg
3 mg-10 mg
Common
13 mg-17 mg
8 mg-18 mg
Strong
18 mg-23 mg
15 mg-25 mg
Heavy
24 mg+
29 mg+
These above doses are taken from the site erowid.org, which advises potential users of this chemical as a psychedelic drug: "Please note that the above doses should only be used as a general outline. This chemical is still relatively new, with a short history of human use. Every individual reacts differently to every chemical."[dubious – discuss]
Effects
O-Acetylpsilocin is theorized to be metabolized into psilocin, as such is the case with psilocybin, however reports indicate that O-acetylpsilocin may be active on its own. The effects of O-acetylpsilocin are therefore somewhat similar to the effects of psilocybin and psilocin. Users report dose-dependent colorful visual effects and a sense of physical energy or euphoria, sometimes accompanied by abstract, associative, "trippy" thought patterns, or derealization. Other users have reported effects closer to those of an oral DMT experience.
Several available reports of O-acetylpsilocin compare it favorably to psilocybin, describing it as more euphoric, gentle, warm, and colorful. It has also been described as less jarring, and less likely to produce nausea, and it has been noted by users that O-acetylpsilocin is a somewhat sedating psychedelic. However, many of these comparisons are made with mushrooms, not pure psilocybin. In addition, it is unknown to what degree expectancy plays a role in shaping that experience.
Erowid & BlueLight.ru reports the following effects:[4][5]
May exacerbate latent or existing mental disorders
Significantly elevated heart rate
Onset
The onset appears to last 20–40 minutes, with peak effects beginning at around 2 hours. The onset has been characterized as smoother, gentler, and more pleasant than the onset of mushrooms.
Duration
The primary effects of O-acetylpsilocin seem to typically last 4–6 hours. They have been described as lasting from 3–4 hours (low oral doses) to 8–10 hours (moderate to strong oral doses). Visual effects are described to start after 20 to 60 minutes, lasting up to 5 hours.
The visuals are quite mild at average doses, with mental effects dominating primarily. With closed eyes a person may perceive patterns, colors, and strange, sometimes intense subconscious awareness (perceived in a visual way). Open eyed visuals are fleeting and consist of slight movement, especially peripherally, and increased color intensity. At higher doses, full hallucinations are not uncommonly reported, but not consistent. Above 25 mg the visuals are reported to gain intensity and can include very complex geometric and dynamic patterns, "melting" of objects and loss of object comprehension (as if one was just born and seeing objects for the first time).
O-Acetylpsilocin is unscheduled in the United States. It may be considered an analog of psilocin, which is a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act of the USA, and as such sale for human consumption or possession to ingest or use for illicit non-medical or industrial intents and purposes could be prosecuted as crimes under the Federal Analog Act.
O-Acetylpsilocin could also be considered illegal in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Ester derivatives of prohibited substances also hold criminal penalties. O-Acetylpsilocin is an ester of psilocin, to which it metabolizes. This means that it potentially carries the same penalty as any Class A drug, such as heroin or cocaine.
