4-HO-MET

3-[2-[ethyl(methyl)amino]ethyl]-1H-indol-4-ol

Overview

4-HO-MET belongs to Psychedelics / Tryptamines.

Key safety note: Human safety data for 4-HO-MET are limited and it should be treated as a potent, unpredictable psychedelic.[3]
Effects
Subjective effects vary. What a substance feels like depends on dose, individual physiology, mindset, and setting. The points below describe commonly reported effects, not guaranteed, uniform, or desirable outcomes.
  • Fairly rapid onset (often within about 30 minutes) building to strong psychedelic effects
  • Open- and closed-eye visuals, synaesthesia, time dilation and intensified perception
  • Often described as relatively clear-headed and functional for a psychedelic of its strength
  • Moderate duration of roughly 4–6 hours, with tolerance building almost immediately
Dosing & duration
Harm-reduction note: These are commonly cited reference ranges, not a recommendation or a “safe” dose. Potency, purity, body chemistry, tolerance, and drug combinations vary widely. Start low, go slow, wait for full effects before redosing, and never assume an unknown product matches these figures. Missing data is not evidence of safety.

Oral. Shulgin gives an oral range of 10–20 mg. Community reports span a wider 2–45 mg. Tolerance builds almost immediately, so redosing within a session has little effect. Accurate low dosing is essential.

Dose ranges

Threshold

~5 mg

Light

5–15 mg

Common

15–25 mg

Strong

25–45 mg

Duration

onset

15–40 min

peak

2–3 h

total

4–6 h

Chemical & Physical Properties
FormulaC13H18N2O
Molar mass218.29 g/mol
StateNot reported
Melting pointNot reported
Boiling pointNot reported
DensityNot reported
Vapor pressureNot reported
pKaNot reported
LogP2.4 (predicted, XLogP3)
SolubilityNot reported
Refractive indexNot reported
Identifiers & Synonyms
CAS77872-41-4
CAS (enantiomer)
PubChem CID21786582
InChIKeyORWQBKPSGDRPPA-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChIInChI=1S/C13H18N2O/c1-3-15(2)8-7-10-9-14-11-5-4-6-12(16)13(10)11/h4-6,9,14,16H,3,7-8H2,1-2H3
SMILESCCN(C)CCC1=CNC2=C1C(=CC=C2)O

Synonyms

  • Metocin
  • Methylcybin
  • 4-OH-MET
  • 4-Hydroxy MET
  • 4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine
  • N-ethyl-4-hydroxy-N-methyltryptamine
Pharmacodynamics & Biochemistry

Serotonergic tryptamine psychedelic acting as a non-selective serotonin receptor agonist, with 5-HT2A agonism regarded as the primary driver of its psychedelic effects. Also binds 5-HT2C, 5-HT2B and 5-HT1A, with weaker activity at 5-HT6, 5-HT7 and H1 and little affinity for the monoamine transporters. A 4-hydroxytryptamine closely related to psilocin (the active metabolite of psilocybin), differing only in its N-ethyl-N-methyl substitution.

Biological targets

  • 5-HT2A
  • 5-HT2C
  • 5-HT1A

Binding & functional measurements

TargetMeasurementSpecies
5-HT2A receptorKi 57 ± 10 nMHuman
5-HT7 receptorKi 60 nMHuman
5-HT6 receptorKi 70 nMHuman
5-HT1A receptorKi 228 ± 60 nMHuman
5-HT2C receptorKi 141 ± 30 nMHuman
5-HT1E receptorKi 161 nMHuman
5-HT1D receptorKi 197 nMHuman
Serotonin transporterKi 200 ± 60 nMHuman
5-HT5A receptorKi 304 nMHuman
5-HT1B receptorKi 331 nMHuman
H1 receptorKi 820 ± 90 nMHuman
α2-adrenoceptorKi 2,400 ± 200 nMHuman
TAAR1Ki 3,100 ± 200 nMRat
D2 receptorKi 4,000 ± 200 nMHuman
D3 receptorKi 6,700 ± 2,000 nMHuman
α1A-adrenoceptorKi 9,700 ± 1,700 nMHuman
5-HT2A receptorEC50 4.0 nM
Emax 96.8 ± 1.1%		Human
5-HT2A receptorEC50 2.5 nM
Emax 98.2 ± 1.2%		Mouse
5-HT2B receptorEC50 2.6 nM
Emax 43.8 ± 0.6%		Human
5-HT2C receptorEC50 30 nM
Emax 90.8 ± 1.7%		Human
Pharmacokinetics
BioavailabilityNot reported
TmaxNot reported
Half-lifeNot established in humans
VdNot reported
Protein bindingNot reported
MetabolismHepatic. In vitro (pooled human liver microsomes) and in vivo human-urine profiling identified 12 phase I metabolites in vitro and 4 in vivo, dominated by mono-/dihydroxylation and N-demethylation, with monohydroxylation and glucuronidation detected in vivo[2]
ExcretionNot reported
Toxicology & Safety
Harm-reduction note: Toxicity and risk depend on dose, route, purity, combinations, setting, and individual health factors. Missing harms should never be interpreted as evidence of safety.

Not reported

Human safety data for 4-HO-MET are limited and it should be treated as a potent, unpredictable psychedelic. Reported acute risks include intense anxiety, confusion and perceptual overwhelm. A published case report describes acute drug-induced psychosis in an adolescent first-time user. Sympathomimetic effects (tachycardia, hypertension, mydriasis, nausea) and a physical body load can occur, and users report that tolerance builds almost immediately. Risk rises with higher or inaccurately measured doses, adulteration, difficult settings, and combination with stimulants or other serotonergic drugs. Limited literature must never be read as evidence of safety.[3]

Legal Status
Legal note: Legal status can change over time and may vary by country, region, formulation, analogue status, prescription context, and enforcement practice. Always confirm with current official sources before relying on this section.
Interactions & Contraindications

Drug interactions

SSRIs, SNRIs, Lithium, Tramadol, Other serotonergic drugs Can add to serotonergic load and, in principle, raise the risk of serotonin toxicity.
MAOIs May intensify and prolong effects unpredictably, warranting particular caution.
Stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine) Compound cardiovascular strain, anxiety and overheating risk.

Contraindications

Personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
Cardiovascular disease, hypertension or arrhythmia significant or uncontrolled disease or hypertension.
Concurrent MAOI, SSRI/SNRI or other serotonergic medication MAOIs or other strongly serotonergic drugs.
Settings where impairment or dissociation risks injury (driving, water, heights) unsupported settings, particularly for inexperienced or young users.
Usage & Context
  • Research.
  • Recreational.
Sources & Evidence

Further Information