25i (25i-NBOMe): Dangers of Synthetic Acid

The synthetic designer drug 25i—one of the nicknames for 25i-NBOMe and related substances—was developed as recently as 2003 at the Free University of Berlin as a method of mapping areas of the brain. Since its invention, however, 25i and other intoxicants derived from its base chemical have been recreated in clandestine laboratories and sold illicitly to the public for nonmedical misuse.

Unlike many other hallucinogens, this new designer drug can quickly lead to an overdose. It is often sold in place of LSD, so people who consume 25i often don’t know what they’re taking and are much more likely to take too much. As a new synthetic chemical, 25i is poorly understood, so there is no way to take this drug without risk of overdose.

In this article, you’ll learn what 25i is, its dangerous effects, and how it has affected people in Mississippi.

What Is 25i?

Also known as N-bomb, Solaris, Wizard, and Smiles, 25i is one of the derivatives of N-methoxybenzyl-methoxyphenylethylamine (NBOMe). This is a class of intoxicating and often deadly substances that made their way into the U.S.’s illicit drug market in 2010, although the drug 25i itself was first noticed by officials in 2011 around Virginia.

Like related NBOMe chemicals, 25i acts on serotonin receptors (specifically 5-HT_2A/C and 5-HT_1A)  found in large clusters in the frontal cortex and scattered throughout the brain. The 5-HT_2A receptors, in particular, are involved in working memory and cognitive processes; they process serotonin differently when one struggles with an affective disorder like schizophrenia.

When these receptors are overwhelmed by a drug like 25i, the rush can cause serotonin syndrome. This condition can occur with other substances, especially antidepressant medications (when taken in large amounts), by causing too much serotonin to be released into the brain while receptors are unable to absorb it.

Unlike antidepressant-caused serotonin syndrome, the heart palpitations, severe agitation, aggression, and seizures caused by 25i have been documented to last for up to three days.

Forms of 25i

Because NBOMes, including 25i, are sold to mimic LSD, one of the most well-understood, though illicit, synthetic hallucinogens available, these new designer drugs are often found on blotter paper. They can be consumed:

• Orally.
• Sublingually or buccally (through the lining of the cheeks).
• Sometimes via snorting or smoking.

There have been a small number of documented instances of intravenous injection, too.

Although 25i is allegedly ineffective when consumed through the digestive system, this does not appear to be the case, as at least one documented overdose death involved oral consumption.

The equivalent of a few grains of salt in 25i is enough to cause intense hallucinations and intoxication.

There have been at least 19 known overdose deaths involving 25i in the United States, predominantly among young adults.

In fact, 25i has proven deadly for so many people that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classified the substance a Schedule I drug. This is the most restricted class of drugs, according to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), including a list of intoxicants the federal government has deemed dangerous and addictive, with no medical use.

Effects of 25i

25i effects can last for 6-10 hours when taken under the tongue or dissolved against the cheek. When snorted, the substance’s effects last for 4-6 hours. Again, 25i is a new synthetic drug with unpredictable effects, and some doses have reportedly lasted as long as 12 hours.

Signs of 25i intoxication include:

• Hallucinations.
• Euphoria.
• Mood changes.
• Facial flushing.
• Dilated pupils.
• Chills or shivering.
• Frantic physical energy.
• Delirium.
• Muscle spasms.
• Change in perception of time or surroundings.

Dangers of 25i

This particular substance can cause the onset of some serious and potentially life-threatening effects. 25i dangers can include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Heart rate increase
• Hypertension, or high blood pressure
• Overheating, or hyperthermia
• Seizures
• Metabolic acidosis

Serotonin Syndrome From 25i

Two dangerous effects that can be caused by 25i misuse can include serotonin syndrome and rhabdomyolysis. Serotonin syndrome, as mentioned before, occurs when too much serotonin is produced and the brain is unable to absorb it, causing a bevy of dangerous symptoms that can be fatal if left untreated.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:

• Restlessness.
• Agitation.
• Rapid and/or irregular heartbeat.
• High blood pressure.
• Dilated pupils.
• Loss of muscle coordination.
• Muscle rigidity.
• Excessive sweating.
• Diarrhea.
• Headache.
• Shivering.
• Fever.
• Seizures.
• Loss of consciousness.

Rhabdomyolysis From 25i

Rhabdomyolysis occurs when muscle tissues break down, flooding the bloodstream with the contents of the muscle fibers, which can be toxic. In response, the kidneys become overwhelmed as they attempt to filter toxins out of the blood, and they begin to fail.

Dehydration, seizures, and high fevers—aspects of being intoxicated on 25i—can all cause this life-threatening condition.

Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include:

• Dark or bloody urine.
• Decreased urine output.
• General physical weakness.
• Myalgia, or muscle stiffness or aches.
• Tenderness in the muscles.
• Fatigue or exhaustion.
• Joint pain.
• Unintentional weight gain and muscle loss.
• Seizures.

25i Overdose in Mississippi

The first reports of 25i being misused recreationally and leading to overdose deaths came from Virginia, but the dangerous synthetic intoxicant quickly spread across several other states, including Mississippi.

Under Mississippi legislature, 25i is considered a substance that has “no legitimate medical use and has a high potency with great potential to cause harm.” However, it still remains a substance that has been misused and led to serious outcomes.

Initially, the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit (LCMNU) reported that two people were hospitalized due to ingesting the drug, and an investigation began into where the two acquired 25i.

In 2014, four students at Mississippi State University were arrested for selling the dangerous chemical as LSD to fellow students. One of the arrested students reportedly had 700 hits of the synthetic hallucinogen on him at the time.

Several colleges around the state reported students suffering harm from abusing 25i, including by lacing joints with the drug and smoking two drugs at once. While the students recovered, not everyone in the U.S. has been so lucky.

Treatment for Synthetic Drug Addiction

If you or someone you love is struggling with 25i addiction or any other form of addiction, help is available. Call our inpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Mississipi at to be connected to one of our compassionate rehab admissions navigators. They can help answer questions regarding the different levels of rehab we provide, rehab insurance coverage, and other options regarding paying for addiction treatment.

Whether you choose to attend Oxford Treatment Center or one of American Addiction Centers’ other rehab facilities across the United States, we will be there with you at every step of the way. Do not hesitate to reach out for the help you deserve. Call us right now.