2C-I is a psychedelic hallucinogenic drug and entheogenic phenethylamine that was developed and popularized by Alexander Shulgin. Its full chemical name is 4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine. It was described in Shulgin’s book PiHKAL. The drug is used recreationally, and perhaps as an entheogen, however no medical or industrial uses have been reported. It is mostly commonly encountered in the form of its hydrochloride salt, a fluffy white powder, and has also been pressed into tablet form. As it has only recently been popularized slang terms for 2C-I vary, including the terms "eyes", "ice", and "twice", although the word "hyperglitter" has been preferred.

Recreational Use

In the early 2000s, 2C-I in powder form became available for purchase from several online vendors of research chemicals in the United States, Asia, and elsewhere. In 2002 and 2003, tablets of 2C-I were being sold illegally in nightclubs and at raves in Denmark and in the United Kingdom as a club drug, with tablets often being sold under the guise of being MDMA or a mixture of some Amphetamine (which it is not) and LSD.

Effects

2C-I is almost always taken orally, although it can also be insufflated, smoked, or administered rectally as well (As with all phenethylamines of the 2C class, 2C-I is incredibly painful upon insufflation). A recreational dose of 2C-I is commonly between 10 and 25mg, although doses as low as 2mg have been reported to be useful. The onset of effects usually occurs within an hour, and the effects of the drug typically last somewhere in the range of 5 to 10 hours. The effects of the drug are often described as quite similar to those of its close chemical analog 2C-B, combining psychedelic or hallucinogenic effects typical of drugs such as LSD with the empathogenic or entactogenic effects of drugs such as MDMA (ecstacy). Some users report that the effects are more mental and less sensory than those of 2C-B. Users of 2C-I do, however, tend to report a physical stimulant effect, often quite strong. Although unpleasant physical side effects such as muscle tension, nausea, and vomiting have been reported, their incidence in the use of 2C-I appears to be less common than in the use of some of the other closely related phenethylamines such as 2C-T-2 and 2C-T-7. User reports have said that 2C-I produces flashbacks in the weeks following its use. These flashbacks can last anywhere between seconds and hours, and manifest as a return of the hallucinogenic effects of the drug. Some users report being able to trigger the flashbacks at will. Note however that these flashbacks do not occur in the majority, but have simply been observed in a selection of users. They are thought to be similar in nature to LSD flashbacks, and not particularly harmful or even remarkable (for a psychedelic drug).

Dangers

Virtually no research has been conducted on the toxicity of 2C-I. As of 2004, no scientific studies of 2C-I users have yet been conducted, and no deaths have been attributed to the drug. There have been no reports of physical dependence or addiction. Comparisons with similar compounds suggest that use of 2C-I is unlikely to result in physical dependence.

Legality

2C-I is an illegal, controlled substance in several European nations, including Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. In December 2003, the European Council issued a binding order compelling all EU member states to ban 2C-I within three months. 2C-I is unscheduled and unregulated in the United States, however its close similarity in structure and effects to 2C-B could potentially subject possession and sale of 2C-I to prosecution under the Federal Analog Act. A court case in the US involving the prosecution of several online vendors in ongoing as of 2004 (for further information, see The Burton Legal Defense Fund).

See also

• empathogen
• entactogen
• phenethylamine
• psychedelic
• recreational drug use
• Alexander_Shulgin

External links

• Erowid 2C-I Vault
• 2C-I Entry in PiHKAL

Categorization