Substance info: Methylone

Methylone, also known as "M1", 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone, bk-MDMA, and in the UK as Arlone, is an entactogen and stimulant of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and cathinone classes. It was originally patented by Peyton Jacob and Alexander Shulgin in 1996 as an antidepressant.The more intuitive abbreviation MDMC unfortunately can not be used for this chemical, since it had already been given to another earlier Shulgin creation, 3,4-ethylenedioxymethamphetamine. Methylone is a close structural analogue of MDMA, differing by the addition of a β-ketone group.

Dose

Methylone dosages are not well documented, as this molecule is relatively uncommon and has only a short history of human use. Dosages vary considerably between individuals, with some users reporting that they "never" exceed 100 mg, while others report "barely reaching" threshold at 200 mg.

A dose between 60-150mg is commonly considered as light, but some respondents say that increasing dose with methylone beyond 100-180 mg causes heavily increased physical effects.

Insufflated dosages appear to be slightly lower than oral dosages.

Effects

Methylone effects are similar to, but not identical, to those of MDMA.  Restlessness, increased sensitivity to music and sounds, euphoria, empathy and an increase in sociability are commonly reported.

Onset

The effects start to be noticeable in about 20-60 minutes after intake, plus another 30-45 minutes for the coming up.

Duration

The total duration may vary from 3 to 5 hours, including a plateau phase of about 60-90 minutes and a comedown phase lasting 1 to 2 hours. After effects may last from 1-6 hours after consumption.

Positive

-Extreme mood lift
-Feeling of well-being
-Feelings of love and empathy
-Ego softening
-Forgiveness
-Feeling of closeness to others
-Increased willingness to communicate
-Increased appreciation of music
-Increases awareness of senses (eating, drinking, smell, touching things)
-Urge to hug and kiss people
-Sensation that one's current activities are, in the moment, perfect

Neutral

-General change in consciousness (as with most psychoactives)
-Pupil dilation
-Difficulty focusing, restlessness
-Change in perception of time
-Slight increase in body temperature
-Slight increase in heart rate

Negative

(Please note that negative side effects increase with higher doses.)

-Muscle tension and aching
-Jaw tension
-Increased perspiration
-Gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and vomiting
-Dizziness, confusion
-Over-awareness & over-sensitization to music and noise
-Paranoia, fear
-Unwanted life-changing spiritual experiences
-Possible difficulty integrating experiences
-Heart racing, heart palpitations

Risks

Some have reported worrying heart rate and blood pressure increases at doses over 180-200 mg. While some people report stimulation, there are also reports of seemingly paradoxical sedation effects.A few methylone users have reported chest pains and heart palpitations during and after use, especially with repeated or high doses.

Methylone is marked as a research chemical and should be considered experimental. Although some people are willing to ingest it for its effects, it is not reasonable to assume that methylone is in any way 'safe' to use recreationally. Although all psychoactive use involves risk, this class of chemicals has undergone virtually no human or animal toxicity studies and there is little to no data on possible long term problems, addiction potential, allergic reactions, or acute overdoses.

It is important to remember that reactions to psychoactives vary dramatically from person to person. Extrapolating anything from any single person's experience with a chemical is inappropriate and may result in dangerous and possibly fatal adverse reactions. Some reports of use may include extremely glowing "wow"-type experiences. Reports of this nature should not be misunderstood to suggest that they are common or typical of those who ingest the substance, or that the effects will be pleasant or desirable.

Additionally, the reliability of many sources of these products can be questionable. Mislabeling, misidentification, issues of purity, adulteration, and misrepresentation (substitution) are unfortunately a common problem with research chemicals. Consider carefully before choosing to use these substances.

Magic mushroom trip report: Darkness and Decay

Date: June 26, 2011

Setting: a huge 6-room apartment, which I was about to leave, fully empty except a double bed, a Buddha statue and a few candles in the living room and a computer blasting music in the satanic temple.

It was about 5:00 PM when I made a tea with the mushrooms (dosage between 5 and 6 grams), to which I added lemon and honey. At 6:00, I filtered and ate the pulp rolled in a pita bread with cheese while drinking the tea, mumbling "thanks" in between bites and sips. In about 30 minutes I could feel the effects unfold, rushing over me. I smoked a bud and felt the need to go into the temple, so I did and started to dance to the dubstep that was playing.

With closed eyes, I could see "tsunami wave" patterns and they were trying to get over me, I could feel they were cocky and agressive. With all the confidence in the world I told them "this is my place, this is my temple, I set the rules, the limit is here and you're not going any further". I could feel the patterns were getting mad at me, their wrath and agressivity were going skyrocket but I wasn't impressed and told them the same thing, over and over, until they left. Waves turned into fire pentagrams, runic and planet symbols, dancing behind my eyelids over a background of absolute black emptiness.

The dubstep started to feel off so I switched for some industrial instead. Nine Inch Nail's Downward Spiral sounded like an awesome choice, so I put it in queue and pressed play. It felt great, exactly what I needed to hear. I was dancing and singing to it, making reverences and "devil" signs with both hands. I was uber at ease with my body, feeling flexible, balanced, sexy, with this "feline" feeling hard to describe. I had flashbacks of my last trip (see "You are what you eat") and felt back in tune with my divine self, but then I realized my divine self was closer to a Demon than an Angel.

There was a party at the apartment downstairs and could hear people talk and laugh, and I was creeped out by them. "Ugh, humans!", I thought, in total disgust. I felt rushed with all kinds of sensations, tickling, pressure all over, heat and waves of sensual pleasure rushing into each fiber of my being. I could see insect-faced Demons with my eyes closed, sometimes switching to monsters with eyes all over their bodies. I was fascinated by them and looked at them for a moment.

Then the doorbell rang.

I became kinda nervous but decided to open anyways, because I've been quite noisy so far and wanted to face the situation to avoid any problem (and cops being sent to my place). It turned out it was the upstairs neighbor, who needed some garbage bags. He's pretty chill so we chatted a bit, until I saw him melt and bursted out laughing. At first he was like "wtf?" but I explained I was on shrooms so it was all good.

I gave him some garbage bags promptly and came back to the temple. It was getting dark and the atmosphere got really interesting in there. My body was becoming hard to control and keep on balance, so I decided to sit on the floor and meditate while holding a meteorite. It felt out of this world, my whole being seemed to vibrate as I focused on that tiny bit of rock. I could feel the darkness was filled with "fellow" Demons and I was fully at ease with them, as if I found back some long lost friends. They were part of me, just as much as I was part of them, like a symbiosis of some kind. I was at peace in this darkness with my shadow companions.

I summoned my Demon-guide and we chatted a bit about life, death and after-life. At a moment I suddently felt heavy and tried to scratch my face, when I realized I was not able to move anymore. That's when I knew my body was "dead", even though I could still see through my eyes. I was sitting on the floor with my back against a wall, my legs crossed in front of me and my arms resting on my lap, completely paralysed. I could see my skin turn from pink to gray and the veins of my arms and legs becoming black, nails becoming purple-blueish and falling off, skin tearing up this and there to let a white-yellow liquid go out. I was fascinated more than horrified, until I saw a fly land on my right leg. I saw a few other flies coming over and the first thing I knew is I'm covered with worms who feed off my rotting flesh. I let the experience go as long as I could, but at a moment I couldn't take it anymore and bursted into tears.

My guide came over to calm me down, petting my head and back while whispering "it's ok" in my ear with the softest voice ever. I cried a bit more before leaving the temple for the living room and sit in front of the Buddha. I smoked another bud, vision still blury from the tears, while looking at the statue. I felt so at peace with myself, other people and the world in general, such a contrast with the panic I just went through. I did a short prayer before lying on the bed and fall asleep. My trip was done and I felt like a newborn when I woke up the next morning.