2C-E

Vial of 2C-E with powder

2C-E is a chemical of the 2C-X series which is characterised by its particularly intense visuals and higher potency when compared with other members of the family.

History

2c-e, like many of its close analogues, was first synthesized by Alexander Shulgin and published in PiHKAL. He was quite fond of it, granting it a place in his "Magical Half Dozen" alongside of DOM, 2C-B, 2C-T-2 & 7 and mescaline.

Uses

2c-e is mainly a recreational entheogen. It can be quite introspective in appropriate doses and settings. It doesn't lend itself well to intense party-like surroundings, much like LSD or similarly intense psychedelics.

Dosage

Oral

Light	5-10mg
Common	10-15mg
Strong	15-30mg
Heavy	25-40mg+

Insulated

Light	1-3mg
Common	3-7mg
Strong	6-10mg
Heavy	10mg+

Duration

Note: Duration can be significantly longer with higher doses.

Anecdotal evidence has shown the oral onset of 2C-E may vary wildly for some users, taking up to three hours before first effects in some cases.

Oral

Onset	60-90 minutes
Total	9-14 hours

Insulated

Onset	20-40 minutes
Total	6-9 hours

Effects

2C-E is a psychedelic phenethylamine and as such has psychedelic and stimulant effects. As with all psychedelics, different users are likely to experience different sets of effects, which usually include some however very rarely would include all of the following effects.

Compared to other members of the 2C-X family, 2C-E is generally considered to have a heavier body load and to be more visual than its counterparts.

Note: The prevalence of negative effects increases with higher doses.

Positive

• Mood lift, euphoria, sense of well-being

• Enhanced sensory perception

• Increase in associative & creative thinking; introspection

• Life-changing 'spiritual' experiences

• Closed and Open eye visuals, patterning, tracers, color-enhancement, etc.

• Enhanced appreciation of music

• Increase in energy

Neutral

• Time dilation

• Slight increase in heart-rate and body temperature

• Inability to focus or difficulty focusing

Negative

• Tension

• Anxiety, restlessness, confusion

• Dizziness

• Nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, possible vomiting

• Over-sensitivity to music or other sensory stimuli

• Unwanted 'spiritual' experiences

• Racing thoughts

Harm Reduction

• As with all psychedelic drugs 2c-e carries with it the potential for a very powerful experience, and as such has the potential to create a very difficult experience ('bad' trip). Mindset and setting play important roles in governing the nature of a psychedelic experience, among other things.

See Psychedelic Harm Reduction for more information.

• As with all stimulants, care should be taken when dosing via different ROAs. The oral route has a much lower bioavailabity than those that bypass first pass metabolism i.e. Insulated, rectal, intramuscular, intravenous and subcutaneous.

See Stimulant Harm Reduction for more information.

Interactions

• As with all psychedelic phenethylamines caution must be exercised when used in conjunction with other drugs. In particular 2C-E is thought to carry risk of causing potentially life-threatening psychological and/or physiological problems when used in conjunction with certain types of medication, including MAOIs, SSRIs, NDRIs and possibly Lithium.

Note: This information is based on unconfirmed anecdotal reports and logical deduction based on pharmacological properties when compared with other potent psychedelics. We strongly suggest erring on the side of caution considering the lack of concrete evidence either way.

See the Drug combinations chart for more information.

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Chemistry

2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylphenethylamine is a colorless oil and analogue of mescaline. Similarly it is classified as a psychedelic phenethylamine. It shares the substituted amphetamine core found in the structure of many entactogens. Crystalline forms are obtained as the amine salt by reacting the free base with a mineral acid, typically HCl. It is soluble in both water and ethanol. Maximum concentration in H2O is reported at ~50mg/ml and it is said to be relatively stable in solution. A drop below normal ambient temperatures can cause particles to crystalize out.

Shulgin does not report an exact boiling point for the free base, stating only that during one synthesis the fraction boiling between 90-100 °C at 0.25 mmHg pressure was collected and converted to the hydrochloride salt. Shulgin reports the melting point of the hydrochloride salt as 208.5-210.5 °C. Similarly it is classified as a psychedelic phenethylamine. It shares the substituted amphetamine core found in the structure of many entactogens.

A full write up on Shulgin's synthesis for 2C-E can be found here

Pharmacology

Like most psychedelic drugs, 2C-E is a 5-HT2a Agonist; from that, we can presume the concurrent or pre-administration of SSRI’s may reduce the effects of 2C-E and may possibly increase the risk of Serotonin Syndrome. [Link to serotonin syndrome here] Like most other drugs in the methoxylated phenethylamine derivative class (such as the other 2C’s), 2C-E acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and is a serotonin, as well as a norepinephrine, agonist. 2C-E is one of the most potent of the 2C-X family, behind only 2C-P and 2C-T-4. The 2C-X family, specifically, 2C-E, 2C-I, and 2C-C all stimulated G protein binding, suggesting more of an activity similar to tryptamines such as 5-MeO-DMT and, interestingly, DPT. G Proteins are membrane proteins that effectively mediate interaction between hormone receptors and enzymes responsible for changes of metabolism as a result of hormonal changes.

In rats, Stage I metabolism involved deamination and O-Demthylation, which are related to the Monoamine oxidase (MAO) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. For virtually all the 2C’s, (B,I,D,E,T-2, and T-7), MAO-A and MAO-B were reacted upon; interestingly, ½ of the molecules in Shulgin’s Magical Half Dozen (2C-E, 2C-T-2, 2C-T-7, with the addition of 2C-D) also act to a small extent on the CYP2D6 enzyme. Because of the commonality of these receptors, the 2C-X family is likely to be more reactive with other concurrently administered chemicals.

LD50

The LD50 in humans is not currently known. Use caution when exploring high doses of this compound.

Legal status

• In Australia, 2C-E was added to the 'Dangerous Drugs' list of the 'Drugs Misuse Amendment Act 2008.

• In Denmark, 2C-E has been added to the list of Schedule B controlled substances.

• In New Zealand, 2C-E is illegal under the Analogues section of Schedule 3 / Class C, along with 2C-I, DOI, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

• In Sweden, 2C-E has been made illegal to sell or possess under their Act on the Prohibition of Certain Goods Dangerous to Health (lagen om förbud mot vissa hälsofarliga varor)
• In the UK, 2C-E is a Class A controlled Substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act's 2002 amendments and as such is illegal to possess to supply.
• In the USA, 2C-E is a Schedule I substance under the FDA Safety and Innovation act of 2012, and is illegal to possess, distribute or manufacture.

Links

• Erowid

• Pihkal Entry

• Wikipedia

• Lycaeum