How Long Does DMT Last?

DMT has become a much-talked-about drug in recent years, thanks to its consciousness-altering qualities. People are experimenting with it like never before, using it to attain new heights of mental clarity and euphoria. 

But how long does this substance last? And what are the factors that determine how long it stays in your body?

Smoking Versus Ayahuasca

There are two main ways that people get DMT into their bodies: either smoking or via a drink called ayahuasca. Smoking is pretty self-explanatory. But ayahuasca is a little more unusual. 

Ayahuasca is a tea made mainly using the leaves of the Psychotria viridis shrub and the stalks of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine. Originally, people took the tea for spiritual purposes, helping them to attain higher states of consciousness. However, it has since become popular among healers and tourists around the world. 

The effects of smoking pure DMT usually last between 30 and 45 minutes. By contrast, a full-blow ayahuasca experience may last for up to four hours, thanks to the way the tea slowly releases the substance into your body. 

What Determines How Long DMT Experiences Last?

The form that DMT takes primarily affects how long it lasts. However, there are other factors involved too. 

For instance, if you take a higher dose, it will last longer. It’ll also last longer if your body mass index is higher. 

Smoked and vaporized DMT is a concentrated form of the original plant. It’s usually white or crystalline in structure and tends to exert its effects on the body rapidly. You can also snort this type of DMT, with some people injecting it too. By contrast, ayahuasca tea requires time for the body to absorb. 

How Long Before DMT Has An Effect? 

When you smoke or inject DMT, the effects become apparent quickly – usually within 45 seconds to a minute. That’s because the active ingredients immediately get into the bloodstream where they can act on the body’s receptors. 

If, however, you decide to use ayahuasca, it’ll take a little longer for you to notice a difference. Before the active ingredient can get into your system, your stomach has to digest and absorb it first. How long this takes depends on your individual biology, how much food you have in your stomach, and your weight. For most people, trips begin within 30 to 45 minutes of ingestion. 

How Long Does DMT Stay In The Body?

While the effects of DMT can last for many hours, the actual substance doesn’t appear to survive in the body for very long. Various organs, including the liver, break it down into sub-components which can then be expelled via the kidneys and urine. 

Some studies suggest that DMT stays in the body for around an hour. After injecting, levels peak within 10 to 15 minutes, after which they subside considerably. Beyond 60 minutes, DMT is not detectable in the system at all. 

For this reason, most standard drug tests can’t tell whether a person has taken hallucinogens, like DMT, recently or not. The body metabolizes them rapidly, getting rid of any evidence via the urine. Sometimes, drug testers will use a hair follicle or urine test to try to detect DMT in the system. However, even these methods will usually only detect it in the first 24 hours after use. 

In fact, it’s so difficult to detect DMT that most standard drug testing procedures don’t even look for it. So even users with drug-testing employers can potentially take it, so long as they leave enough time between ingestion and going back to the office. 

What Happens When You Come Off DMT?

Interestingly, unlike other hallucinogens, like LSD, DMT has relatively few comedown effects.

Most people start coming down after 10 to 15 minutes of tripping. Blood concentrations of DMT fall to the point where brain chemistry begins returning to normal. 

At this point, people often describe experiencing a sense of confusion. Others say that they feel a little unsettled or find it difficult to sleep in the days following the trip. However, in general, lasting effects appear to be mild. 

Buy DMT Vape Tips For Anyone Considering Taking DMT

DMT is a Schedule I drug in the US. So anyone using it needs to take precautions. Here are some tips if you decide to vape or smoke DMT or drink ayahuasca:

• Don’t mix it with other drugs or alcohol: Just keep the experience simple. 
• Choose your time wisely: Using DMT can be a disorientating experience, so take it when you’re already in a good mood. Don’t take it if you feel anxious or depressed. 
• Skip DMT if you’re on antidepressants: Taking too much serotonin-boosting substances could lead to serotonin syndrome, an unpleasant condition characterized by confusion, disorientation, anxiety, muscle spasms and tremors. 
• Sit down: Don’t try standing up, walking, hiking, or cycling while tripping. Instead, find a comfortable seat and stay there for the duration of the event. If you try to stand up, you could fall over and injure yourself. 
• Don’t do DMT alone: If there’s a problem, people around you can call for help. 
• Keep one sober person in your vicinity: Have somebody there who can monitor everyone to ensure that they’re okay. 

Wrapping Up

So, in summary, if you take pure DMT, you’ll usually experience effects within a few seconds with the whole trip lasting somewhere in the region of 30 to 45 minutes. However, if you take DMT in the form of ayahuasca, then it’ll take about 30 to 45 minutes to get into your system, with the trip lasting for around four hours. 

Taking ayahuasca is the more spiritual way of experiencing DMT. Sages, wise men, medicine men and shamans take it in this way to enhance their consciousness. However, if you’re looking for a quicker hit, pure DMT is the way to go. 

Please note that DMT is a schedule I drug. You should, therefore, take precautions if you decide to use it. Don’t do it alone, and make sure that you’re not on any other drugs or medications that could interact with it (including meds from your doctor, such as SSRIs).