DOET
DOET is a potent, long-acting psychedelic stimulant of the substituted amphetamine and phenethylamine classes, belonging to the DOx family.1 First discovered by Alexander Shulgin in the 1960s,1 it is closely related to DOM and is a synthetic analogue of mescaline.1 DOET was briefly studied by Dow Chemical as a potential 'psychic energizer' before its development was halted following the 1967 DOM street drug crisis.1 Individual responses to this substance vary considerably.1
Contents
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Dosages are tentative and derived from limited anecdotal reports. Reports above 7 mg indicate escalating body load without proportional benefit increases.
Duration
Subjective Effects
DOET occupies an unusual position among the DOx compounds: at low doses it functions primarily as a subtle mood energizer, producing mild euphoria, enhanced self-awareness, and talkativeness with little overt hallucinogenic activity, while higher doses bring on a fuller psychedelic state with sensory enhancement, heightened emotion, and rich eyes-closed imagery. The onset is notably slow and gradual, with full effects taking around three hours to develop, and users may initially forget they have taken anything at all. Throughout the experience, intellect and emotional functioning tend to remain intact and usable, and sleep can be difficult afterward.
Physical
Mild mental and physical stimulation with little to no body load is characteristic, alongside pupil dilation, decreased appetite, muscle tension, and sweating or chills. Restlessness and insomnia are common, and a washed-out feeling can follow the experience.
Autonomic
Cardiovascular
Stimulation
Cognitive
The headspace is typically clear and functional, marked by euphoria, empathy, insight, a softening of the ego, and heightened emotions that can shift rapidly. Racing thoughts, talkativeness, and occasional confusion, anxiety, or restlessness are also reported, with nervousness becoming more prominent at higher doses.
Emotional
Enhancements
Visual
Visual effects range from simple color brightening and mild closed-eye imagery at low doses to rich, self-generating eyes-closed visions at higher doses; open-eye distortion is usually minimal but can occasionally become intense and disorienting.
Tactile
Olfactory
Reagent Testing
Loading reagent data
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
DOET acts as a selective serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonist with high affinity for the 5-HT2A receptor (Ki = 12 nM) and moderate affinity for the 5-HT2C receptor (Ki = 108 nM).2 It functions as a full agonist at the 5-HT2A receptor (Emax 99%) and as a high-efficacy partial agonist at the 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C receptors.2 Affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor is substantially lower (Ki = 9,727 nM). DOET shows very weak or no activity at human trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) and does not bind to the monoamine transporters.2
Pharmacokinetics
DOET crosses the blood-brain barrier in rodents3 and is metabolized by oxidation of the ethyl group at the 4 position.3 It appears to be metabolized more quickly than DOM.3 In humans, approximately 10 to 40% of the drug is excreted unchanged in urine within 24 hours, with the greatest excretion rate occurring between 3 and 6 hours after administration.3
Tolerance
Serotonergic psychedelics (DOM, LSD, psilocybin, mescaline), Other 5-HT2A agonists
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Psychological
LowEuphoria and stimulant-like subjective effects are reported, while low-dose literature did not mention disturbing hints of abusability.
Toxicity
Higher-dose effects include increased heart rate and blood pressure; low-dose clinical reports observed pupil dilation but no marked heart-rate or blood-pressure changes.
Rodent pharmacology findings report serotonin receptor-dependent hyperthermic effects.4
Psychosis Risk
Psychedelic effects, closed- and open-eye visuals, confusion, rapid mood changes, and difficulty finding a stable point of reference are reported. Persistent psychosis is not established.
History & Culture
Discovery and Development
DOET was discovered by Alexander Shulgin during the 1960s while he was employed at Dow Chemical Company. Following his synthesis of the structurally related compound DOM in 1963 and the subsequent recognition of its psychoactive properties in 1964, Shulgin began systematically assessing similar…
Legality
By Country
References
Source Pages
Citations
- (September 1991). PiHKAL: A Chemical Love Story. 978. https://erowid.org/library/books_online/pihkal/pihkal066.shtml123456789
- (November 2025). The 4-alkyl chain length of 2,5-dimethoxyamphetamines differentially affects in vitro serotonin receptor actions versus in vivo psychedelic-like effects. Mol Psychiatry, 31(3), 1799–1809. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-025-03325-1123
- (1978). Stimulants. 243–333. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0510-2_61234
- Huang, J., & Ho, B. T.. (1975). Some pharmacological actions of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine (DOET) in rats and mice. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 27(1), 18-22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7158.1975.tb09372.x1
- (December 2024). The origin of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM, STP). Drug Test Anal, 16(12), 1496–1508. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.36671234
- (n.d.). <ref name="SnyderFaillaceWeingartner1968" /><ref name="SnyderFaillace1969" /><ref name="WeingartnerSnyderFaillace1970" /> Some of the effects of DOET in the study resembled those o. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1971.0175007005200612
- (July 1974). Stereospecific actions of DOET (2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine) in man. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 31(1), 103–106. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1974.017601300790131
- (n.d.). 21 U.S.C. § 813 – Treatment of Controlled Substance Analogues. https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section813&num=0&edition=prelim1
- (n.d.). 21 CFR § 1308.11 – Schedule I Controlled Substances. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2019-title21-vol9/xml/CFR-2019-title21-vol9-part1308.xml1
Further Reading
Analysis of 2,5-dimethoxy-amphetamines, J Anal Toxicol 2022
Bonson KR et al., DOET human study
FASEB J 2022 - Monoamine receptor and transporter interactions
Monoamine receptor & transporter interaction, FASEB J 2022- Nature Communications 2020 - Structure of 5-HT2A complex
- Neuropharmacology 2020 - Head-twitch potency correlation
Novel Psychoactive Substances – progress review, Front Psychiatry 2017- PMC: 2016 - Psychedelics safety overview
- PMC: 2022 - Serotonin syndrome and MAOI interactions
Psychedelics & the Human Receptorome, PLoS ONE 2010- Psychopharmacologia 1975 - DOET discrimination study
Structure of hallucinogen-activated 5-HT2A complex, Nat Commun 2020
Structure-activity of 5-HT2A agonists, Wiley 2024
Tripsitter: DOET profile- Wiley 2024 - Structure-activity of 5-HT2A agonists
Automated synthesisInformation aggregated and synthesized using an autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins.
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