Let's Call it “Low-5”
As the conversation around psychedelic substances broadens in both public and clinical realms, it becomes crucial to communicate effectively about the potential benefits and risks of these compounds. As interest in 5-MeO-DMT increases, so too can confusion, especially since it's a name that can be easily confused with other psychedelics and it is substance where the dosage can radically alter outcomes and experiences. This brings us to why we propose shifting from the term "Low dose 5-MeO-DMT" to “Low-5”.
The Overpowering Associations of 5-MeO-DMT
5-MeO-DMT, also referred as "Five," "Jaguar," “Mebufotenin,” and "The God Molecule," is typically linked with high doses in public perception. These high doses are known for their intense psychoactive effects, which can be rapidly overwhelming.
Low Dose 5-MeO-DMT is Different
Interviews with psychedelic therapists and guides suggest that low doses of 5-MeO-DMT can have significantly different effects compared to higher doses. Notably, at these lower dosages, the substance allows individuals to remain clearly conscious and in control, without the intense effects of higher amounts. This more mindful, more controlled experience can be preferable for therapeutic uses or for consciousness exploration, where maintaining a sense of control and connection to the present moment is expected.
Challenges of the Current Name
Our experience at The Pattern Project is that discussing "low dose 5-MeO-DMT" too easily leads to unnecessary confusion. Despite the words “low dose,” this term can still deter potential individuals who are avoiding intense experiences. Additionally, the compound's name itself is cumbersome and technical, potentially leading to further confusion with other similarly named compounds like nn-DMT (typically just called “DMT”), or lesser known psychedelics like 5-MeO-MIPT or 5-MeO-MALT.
Proposed Solution: Low-5
The name Low-5 builds on the common abbreviation of the molecule ("Five") and integrates it with a descriptor of the dosage level ("Low"), making it clearer that this is a different, milder category of experience. This term helps differentiate the low-dose use from the high-dose use effectively and succinctly. The introduction of this new term aims to mitigate misunderstandings and communicate the unique benefits of low doses more clearly.
Under 2 Milligrams Vaporized
A Low-5 dose is characterized by its subtlety—it is about feeling enhanced and connected without the risk of overwhelming the nervous system. The Pattern Project is proposing that this amount be under 2 milligrams of 5-MeO-DMT when administered with a vape pen. For the sake of comparison, the highest dose used in a recent clinical trial was 18 mg of vaporized 5-MeO-DMT. A number of similar clinical trials appear to borrow their dosing from the "handshake" (3-5mg mg), "hug" (5-8 mg), and "full embrace" (8-12 mg) protocol used by psychedelic therapists and guides.
Benefits of the Name Low-5
Adopting this new terminology can enhance communication with clients and within the clinical community by:
Reducing the potential for confusion with higher dose therapies.
Emphasizing the mild and manageable nature of these experiences, which might be more accessible to those new to psychedelics.
Clarifying discussions about dosage and effects, making it easier for therapists and clients to set appropriate expectations.
Challenges Measuring Low-5
One of the main uncertainties regarding what constitutes a Low-5 dose is determining the exact milligram amount needed for this milder, more in control experience. Our designation of a benchmark of under 2 milligrams for a Low-5 dose largely stems from our survey research, discussions within our research collective, and reports covered here on www.patternproject.ca. Almost all of these sources use vape pens for self-administration.
One of the main challenges here is individual sensitivity: For those that are very sensitive, as little as 0.5 milligrams, when combined with stillness, has been shown to have a profound effect. Others report as much as 2 milligrams being required to feel an effect.
Another challenge is the actual measurement. At present, no vape pens detail the number of milligrams they deliver. Even if two vape cartridges are labeled as having the same percentage of 5-MeO-DMT, differences in vape pen design and diluents can significantly alter the amount of 5-MeO-DMT delivered, potentially doubling or tripling it.1
Therefore, our current approximation of a Low-5 dose as under 2 milligrams should be considered specific to vape pens and viewed more as a starting point for discussion and an impetus for further research, rather than a definitive measure.2
Give Low-5 a Try
We invite you to start using the term Low-5 when referring to lower doses of 5-MeO-DMT. This new term aims to clarify and streamline discussions about the subtler benefits of such doses, making the conversation more accessible and straightforward. By saying and writing “Low-5,” you’re helping to promote a more manageable and accessible approach to using psychedelics, improving communication within the therapeutic community and beyond.
It is also important to note that most existing dosage literature is based on inhaling 5-MeO-DMT using various pipe-like devices, not vape pens. Being more efficient and creating less waste of 5-MeO-DMT, vape pens deliver a more concentrated dose. Therefore, a milligram dose of Low-5 from a vape pen should not be directly compared to the doses experienced in research studies or with facilitators that use other routes of administration.
Future studies are also needed to determine how other routes of administration can elicit Low-5 experiences, their associated dosage benchmarks, as well as how set and setting and other factors can facilitate such effects.
Súper interesting. Thanks for this post