Methoxetamine (MXE) – A Phenomenological Study of Experiences Induced by a “Legal High” from the Internet

Figures & data

TABLE 1 Comparison between MXE and Ketamine: Based on User Reports from http://www.erowid.com

	Methoxethamine	Ketamine
Common dosage (recreational use)	20–60 mg insufflated	30–75 mg insufflated
	40–60 mg oral	75–300 mg oral
	15–30 mg intramuscular	25–50 mg intramuscular
Duration	2,5 – 4 h insufflated	45 – 60 min insufflated
	3 – 5 h oral	60 – 120 min oral
	2 – 3 h intramuscular	30 – 60 min intramuscular
Positive effects	euphoria	euphoria
	sense of calm and serenity	sense of calm and serenity
Neutral effects	distortion or loss of sensory perception	distortion or loss of sensory perception
Negative effects	severe dissociation, depersonalization,	severe dissociation, depersonalization
	loss of consciousness,	loss of consciousness
	nausea, vomiting	nausea, vomiting

TABLE 2 Sites that Contained Reports Regarding Experiences Resulting from MXE Ingestion, and Reports Remaining after Exclusion Criteria had been Applied

Website	Language	Reports found	Reports after exclusion
www.erowid.org	English	33	11
www.shroomery.org	English	0	0
www.bluelight.ru	English	39	13
www.partyvibe.com	English	0	0
www.opiophile.org	English	0	0
www.thetripreport.com	English	0	0
www.hipforums.com	English	0	0
www.reddit.com	English	3	0
www.zoklet.net	English	0	0
www.dmt-nexus.com	English	0	0
www.waytomany.com	English	0	0
www.tripme.co.nz	English	0	0
www.flashback.org	Swedish	19	9
Total	−	94	33

TABLE 3 The Categories and Themes that Emerged During the Analysis Applying the Empirical Phenomenological Psychological Method by Karlsson (1995)

Theme	Included categories
1. Preparation, motivation and anticipation	1. Anticipation and nervousness prior drug effects (9 MU)
	2. Motivation and intention (7 MU)
	3. Preparation (35 MU)
2. Initial effects	4. Decreased control over body (21 MU)
	5. Disorientation and confusion (12 MU)
	6. Increased appreciation of music and film (19 MU)
	7. Initial effects (10 MU)
	8. Intensified sensory perception (16 MU)
	9. Social interaction (21 MU)
	10. Somatic effects (33 MU)
3. Malfunction of cognitive processes stabilizing normal state	11. Decreased ability to concentrate and focus (8 MU)
	12. Difficulties comprehending and expressing language (22 MU)
	13. Effects on memory (8 MU)
	14. Effects on time perception (19 MU)
4. Inner personal processes and learning	15. New perspective (9 MU)
	16. Personal psychological insight (22 MU)
	17. Strategies for coping with experience (16 MU)
	18. Thoughts regarding constitution of reality (7 MU)
5. Emotional processes	19. Emotional opening (11 MU)
	20. Euphoria (11 MU)
	21. Free from fear and worry (11 MU)
	22. Wellbeing and elation (26 MU)
	23. Worry, anxiety, and fear (22 MU)
6. Altered sensory perception	24. Altered perception of body (11 MU)
	25. Altered perception of external reality (35 MU)
	26. Synesthesia (4 MU)
7. Dissolution and transition	27. Experience of dying and losing self (13 MU)
	28. Loss of contact with outer reality (8 MU)
	29. Merging of inner and outer reality (9 MU)
	30. Transitional experience (19 MU)
8. Spiritual and transcendent experiences	31. Entrance into new worlds (26 MU)
	32. Inner interaction with other subjects (10 MU)
	33. Mystical insight (14 MU)
	34. Upheaval of time and space (9 MU)
9. Effects and processes after the experience	35. After-effects (28 MU)
	36. Re-becoming (3 MU)
	37. Reflections after the experience (42 MU)
10. Re-dosing and addiction	38. Re-dosing (28 MU)
	39. Addiction (33 MU)

Karlsson , G. 1995 . Psychological Qualitative Research from a Phenomenological Perspective , Stockholm : Almqvist & Wiksell International .

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