3,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine

3,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA, TMA-1, or 3,4,5-TMA), also known as α-methylmescaline (3C-mescaline or 3C-M) or mescalamphetamine, is a psychedelic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine families. It is one of the trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA) series of positional isomers. The drug is notable in being the amphetamine (α-methylated) analogue of mescaline (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine).

Use and effects

In his book PiHKAL (Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved), Alexander Shulgin lists TMA's dose as 100 to 250 mg orally and its duration as 6 to 8 hours. For comparison, mescaline is typically used at doses of 200 to 500 mg orally and is said to have a duration of 10 to 12 hours or longer. TMA's positional isomer 2,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine (2,4,5-TMA or TMA-2) is much more potent than TMA, with a dose of 20 to 40 mg orally and a duration of 8 to 12 hours.

The effects of TMA have been reported to include closed-eye imagery, introspection, music enhancement, emotional volatility, annoyance and irritability, feeling violent, lightheadedness, giddiness, and nausea, among others. It is said to lack mescaline's color changes and to have a "thread of negativity" at higher doses and a possible "antisocial nature" that has limited interest in the drug.

Interactions

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

TMA is a low-potency serotonin 5-HT2A receptor partial agonist, with an affinity (Ki) of >12,000 nM, an EC50Tooltip half-maximal effective concentration of 1,700 nM, and an EmaxTooltip maximal efficacy of 40%. Conversely, it was inactive at the serotonin 5-HT1A, 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C receptors and at several other receptors, at least at the assessed concentrations (up to 10,000 nM).